TOGETHER STRONG | JUMANJI • ALEX VREEKE | ON HOLD

Two

FRIDGE AND RAE walked into the main office to see Martha Kaply, Bethany Walker, and Spencer Gilpin all sitting there.

Rae sat at the edge of the five chairs, and Fridge sat next to her.

As the group waited for Principal Bentley to arrive, Rae was looking around the office to pass some time.

"Ah, look at this fun group." Principal Bentley walked in and sat on his desk. "Welcome to detention."

Spencer raised his hand, before speaking. "I just wanna say that I'm sorry."

"Principal Bentley, all I did was make one-" Bethany started to speak, but Principal Bentley stopped her.

"Bethany, please. You're all here for a reason. And you all know what it is." He started. "But this is what you should be thinking about; who you are and who you want to be. You get one life. You decide how you're gonna spend it. Fortunately, there is no better place for self-reflection than detention."

Principal Bentley made everyone stand up, and follow behind him to a dirty room with newspapers scattered around, and dust bunnies just waiting to be swept up.

"We are turning this into a new computer center, but before we can, it had to be cleaned lit. These old magazines are bound for the recycling plant, but they have to be prepped before they go." Bentley started explaining.

"Prepped? What is this the frickin emergency room?" Rae muttered under her breath.

"It seems all the staples must be removed. Whatever you don't finish today, you will finish tomorrow." Bentley said.

"Yeah, that ain't happening. Tomorrow's Saturday." Rae said, sitting on top of one of the desks.

"All because I wouldn't play football?" Martha finally spoke up.

"I don't think that'll work." Fridge said.

"That's fair." Spencer gave in. Fridge grabbed him by the collar of his jacket.

"Shut up," Fridge muttered into Spencer's ear.

"I suggest you all get started. Choose your weapons." Principal Bentley held out a small plastic container holding stapler removers.

MARTHA AND SPENCER were the only ones who were doing the work.

Bethany was on her phone the entire time, and Fridge and Rae were looking around the place.

"Hey, what the hell they need with a bowling ball?" Fridge asked.

"They had a bowling team before we all got here. My dad was a part of it. The team was disbanded because they would use the bowling balls to roll in the hallway at the band geeks." Rae explained, before looking through the shelves herself.

"Seriously, no reception? Can today get any worse?" Bethany complained.

"Are you gonna help? Or are you too pretty?" Martha asked Bethany.

"I'm too pretty," Bethany answered, making Fridge and Rae chuckle.

"Hey. I was watching you with Coach Web today. I mean, I wasn't watching you, I wasn't, not like weirdly. I was just in the room. We're in the same class. I just, I thought you were saying some really smart thing about why P.E. sucks, and about other subjects." Spencer rambled on, making Fridge and Rae glance at each other.

"Thanks," Martha answered, obviously unsure of what to say.

"Yo, what's this?" Fridge questioned, pulling out an older-looking console with a game sticking out of it.

"I don't know," Spencer answered, walking up to us.

"It can't be some old-school Nintendo system, right?" Rae asked, crossing her arms as she and the boys looked the console over.

"I don't think so. I don't recognize it." Spencer said. Rae looked at the console and noticed writing.

"A game for those who seek to find a way to leave their world behind. Jumanji." Rae read off.

"Staples, people. Staples." Martha reminded, but no one listened.

"JUMANJI? What does that mean?" Fridge questioned, as Spencer started to plug it into the tv and then the wall.

The screen lit up and then flashed several orange circles with names inside of them.

"Which one should I pick?" Fridge questioned.

"I don't know," Spencer answered him.

"I don't think it matters that much." Rae continued, scanning the words on the screen.

"Jefferson 'Seaplane' McDonough. Pilot and rascal." Fridge read off and then tried to click it. "It's not working."

"Try another one," Rae responded.

"Franklin 'Moose' Finbar. Sounds like a badass." Fridge smiled and then confirmed his answer.

"And he's a zoology expert, which is awesome," Spencer said in awe. Fridge and Rae shared a look, before shaking it off.

"Spencer, you pick." Rae offered, making the boy nod.

"Dr. Smolder Bravestone." Spencer read off before he confirmed his answer. "Rae, your turn."

"Uhm. Victoria Reinsheild. Military Personnel. Military people are hot." Rae smiled, before selecting her choice. "Blondie, you in?"

"I guess so." Bethany put her phone in her pocket. "I'll be... Shelly Oberon. The curvy genius." Bethany smirked.

"Hey, yo, staples. Come on. It's your turn." Fridge called out to Martha.

"No. No thanks." Martha declined, continuing the staples job.

"Wait, just for a few minutes?" Spencer pleaded. "It'll be fun."

"She's not big on fun." Bethany sighed, making Rae glance over at her.

"Okay. Fine." Martha caved in. She chose the only character left which was Ruby Roundhouse.

"This may be the lamest thing I've ever done." Bethany started complaining.

"I highly doubt that," Martha said.

"Welcome to Jumanji." The tv spoke, and then sparks started to come out of the console. Repetitive drums came out of nowhere, along with animal noises.

"What's going on?" Rae questioned, clutching her controller.

"I think it's shorting out," Spencer answered.

"Unplug it!" Bethany yelled. Spencer just stood there, so Rae jumped in and unplugged it from the tv.

It stayed silent for a second, and then something started happening to the group.

"Woah! What's happening to your hands?!" Fridge looked over to Spencer. Spencer lifted his hands, to see a green light absorb them slowly.

It started happening to everyone one by one until everyone had disappeared into the green light.