Chapter 23

We are so going to be in trouble, thought Arthur.

Calm down, thought Ursus. It was a snowball fight. Even bureaucratically constipated minds can overreact only so much.

"Mr. Dean, sir," I said, "I cannot tell a lie. I have nothing to say that I believe you need to know."

I could see him repressing a smirk. "Let me rephrase. What do you know that I believe I need to know?"

"As you heard, a massive snowball fight took place during lunch."

"And what do you know about this snowball fight, Mr. Powyr?"

"I was there, Mr. Dean. I saw it all."

"I see. Did you, by any chance, participate in said snowball fight, Mr. Powyr?"

"Mr. Dean, sir, I cannot tell a lie. I have nothing to say that I believe you need to know."

He actually let a brief chuckle escape. "I believe you just told me everything I need to know. In any case, patrolling the playground after lunch is not part of my responsibilities. All right class, get ready to copy down the vocabulary words for the week after break."

Alas, I did not dodge the bullet. About fifteen minutes later, Carol returned and Sean MacDougle, Michelle Palermo, John Marcello, Chris Townshend, and I were summoned to the office. We got up out of our seats to the traditional calls of "busted" from some of the other students. Unfortunately, this time they were correct.

It looked as if the evil snow-fight perpetrators were being called in a few at a time, which I suppose kept people from missing too much class as they waited around for their meeting with the principal. The secretary sent Sean in first and told the rest of us to take a seat in the waiting area. Having both Ursus and Arthur in my head was an even more surreal experience than normal in this case. One was faintly amused, while the other was worried sick. I didn't know whether to chuckle or throw up. I tried to settle into calm neutrality.

"What do you guys think will happen?" John whispered.

"No talking," said the secretary, who was in late middle age and gave the impression that she was sick of children.

In a few minutes, Sean came out, but before he could say anything the secretary said a peremptory, "No talking." Sean just shrugged and left. John was next, and then Michelle. Finally, it was my turn.

I went in and waited in front of Mr. Gattison's desk. He had black hair with a bit of grey and wore glasses.

"I've been informed that you took part in the snowball fight during lunch period."

"I understand."

"Well, what do you have to say?"

"I have nothing to say, sir."

"Do you deny the allegation?"

"I neither deny it nor confirm it, sir."

"Are you being smart with me?"

"No, sir, certainly not."

"Then answer my question. Did you take part in the snowball fight?"

"According to the Student Code of Conduct, sir, I cannot be compelled to give testimony against myself." I wasn't sure if what I'd just said was correct--Arthur had only skimmed through the Code once--but between Ursus's experience and Arthur's brief read through, I figured it was a good bet.

Mr. Gattison glared at me. "Very well, sit." He pointed at the chair across from his desk. I sat. "I want you to telephone one of your parents." He pressed a button on the phone and handed the receiver to me. I began dialing. "Which parent are you calling?"

"My mother." Mom picked up. "Hi, Mom, this is Arthur. Nothing seriously is wrong," that earned me another glare, "but the principal, Mr. Gattison, wants to speak with you. Here he is." I gave him the phone.

He went through the snowball fight allegation. I heard Mom talking, but I couldn't make out what she said. "No he hasn't admitted to taking part; he has chosen to remain silent, as is his right." More Mom. "He is the first student I've had stand on that right in years." Mom. "Yes, I had his record pulled. He does appear to be a smart boy.

"In any case, we need to take snowball fighting seriously. Children might be hurt." Mom. "Yes, the school also might be sued." Mom. "I propose suspending Arthur's cafeteria privileges for the rest of the week." Mom. "Yes, you will be expected to come get him." Mom. "Yes, that is the same penalty the other students are receiving." Mom. "Very well, here he is."

He gave me the telephone back. "Yes," I said.

"I'll see you after school, smartass."

Mr. Gattison dismissed me. The nurse's office was right next door to the main office. On impulse, I stepped inside. The nurse was on duty. She had a pleasant face. "May I have two aspirins, please?"

"Why? Have a headache?"

"Muscle pain from snow shoveling."

"When did you last have aspirin?"

"About eight this morning."

"How old are you?"

"Eleven, twelve in February."

"I'll have to take your temperature." She shook the alcohol off the glass rod and stuck it in my face. After a minute or so, she glanced at it and gave me a couple pills. "There's a water fountain just outside the door."

After school, Kirsten wanted to hear about the big snowball fight she missed. I told her about it in graphic detail. When I emphasized how thoroughly I'd managed to pelt Carol, she laughed. "I can't eat at school the rest of the week, but I still should be able to eat lunch at your house tomorrow."

We began walking toward the van with Sean. "Maybe you can eat lunch at my house for every day this week and save your mother the trouble of picking you up. I'd have to check with my mom, but I'm pretty sure she'd be fine with it."

"Given recent history, are you sure you want your mother to know that I'm a snowball-flinging desperado?"

"I don't think she'll be too upset about you being the instigator of a snowball fight."

"I wouldn't emphasize the instigator part."

"Leadership qualities are supposed to be a good thing, right?" she said.

"I'll rely on your judgment," I said.

"I'll tell you tomorrow if Mom says it's OK."

"My mom was pissed off," Sean said.

"Mine sounded more amused than anything," I said.

Kirsten gave me a quick hug when we parted at Mom's van. Because I sat in the back corner, Mom didn't try to ask me anything. She just shook her head. When we got home, Mike and Terry were just leaving their house. "Do either of you want to walk to the mall with Marry and me?"

"Nah," said Mike, "I think I'll go to Danny's."

"I'll go to the mall," said Terry.

"Arthur, I want to talk to you," Mom called.

"We'll see you in a few, Terry. Or would you rather step inside?"

"I'm all right. I don't want to get overheated in my winter clothes."

I went in. Mom asked me about the great snowball battle, and I answered her fully. Of course, all the kids listened. When I was finished, she said, "You knew you weren't supposed to throw snowballs."

"Yes I did. I'm so sorry. Next time Carol comes at me, I'll give him another sound thrashing instead."

That made her think. "Get out of here, smartass."

"Mary and I were going to walk to the mall with Terry."

"You can have a ride after supper."

"The crowd will be worse then."

"I really don't want you walking home after dark from that far away."

"Can you have Dad pick us up right before supper, then?"

"That'll work. Be at the main entrance at 5:40 sharp. Don't keep your father waiting; he puts in a long day."

I changed my clothes and stuffed my money into my pockets. All the coins made my trousers hang somewhat strangely, but I didn't much care. As Mom had recently pointed out, I was the opposite of a fashionable clotheshorse. Mary and I set out with Terry.

Infinity Mall, located on the southeast corner of Cord and French, was about a mile away from our house. It wasn't large for a shopping mall, but it was handy and kid friendly. My friends and I visited it every once in a while. The walk started out painfully, but as I got moving, my muscles lost a lot of their stiffness.