Three Brood Instigators

17. By Order, By Will

Nanny entered Wilkes' room, he was biting his own teeth.

"Oh, thank you, Nanny Villa; you are the best," Wilkes approached for the uniform in which the scout badge has just been knitted, but Nanny refused to give it.

"Wilkes, how did the badge lose one thread?" she asked. Wilkes was about to reveal. "Speak honestly."

Wilkes couldn't reject Nanny's powerful words. "I... I was bullied," he said. And he immediately reminded, "But, but Nanny, please, I don't report it to the teachers; they, they—"

"Of course, dear," Nanny accepted and hugged him warmly. "Of course," she said once more. "At least you chose to be honest; that is what matters," she said. She let go. "Why did this bully do this?"

Wilkes then revealed, "They were making fun of me having one badge, I am sorry... "

"For what?" Nanny asked. "Getting a badge is a gift, not many children can get a badge, you know," she said. She kneeled to Wilkes, "If you couldn't stand their opinions towards you, surprise them with another. Wilkes, I believe you can do it."

"Thanks, Nanny," Wilkes thanked, until he checked the clock and rushed for breakfast.

Fortunately for Wilkes, James was also in a hurry, so James had no choice but to walk with him knowing that Nanny is watching him. They arrived just before Mr. Alan could press the door lever. The seats were full; James moaned sitting with an annoying kid very youthful than he can ever be.

"That was a close one," Wilkes relieved.

"Wilkes, can you chill, man?" James asked. "I am nearly late to see a friend."

"To see a friend?" Wilkes asked. "Who? Why?"

"Shut up," James said.

"Please," Wilkes spoke with that tone.

James looked around the bus, and every boy and girl scout was busy talking in their seats. "Wilkes," he spoke softly. "Do you know why you only have one badge, while I have five?"

Wilkes accepted and asked, "Uhh... why?"

James then whispered, "Because I cheated."

"W. W. What?" Wilkes reacted.

"It saves time, man," James smiled.

"Yeah, but, but isn't that against the rules?" Wilkes questioned.

James moaned. "Wilkes. Do you know that nearly everyone you know has cheated?"

"What?" Wilkes reacted.

"Yes. I cheated. My friends cheated. Those beastly-faced jerks cheated. Heck, even the girls cheated too," James revealed. "We just secretly print out a paper behind their backs, copy our teacher's signature, ask someone better to fill the papers sometimes for free, and we do the rest: videos, crafting stuff, and we're golden, man."

"Shouldn't the teachers know?" Wilkes asked.

"Why would they?" James amused. "They don't even recognize most of our faces; it is like they have short-term memory, Wilkes," he amused again. "I am serious, Wilkes; it is very short and effective."

"I don't believe it," Wilkes was unconceived what most scouts did.

"Well, Wilkes, my advice, if you want a quick badge, you should do it. I am gonna meet Jared to take the papers, then we'll meet Colvin at the club to edit the video in our favorite cafe; we just did a badge under a week, that's impressive, don't you think?"

"Uhh... yeah... I... I guess," Wilkes accepted.

Wilkes' vision was too focused and blurred with his self-rhetoric of nearly all the boy and girl scouts in the academy cheated to get the paper, whilst the Star-Spangled Banner plays in anthem, as Wilkes watched and saluted the American flag rising up the pole slowly, looming and blurring the further it went up.