Macdonald Hall #2: Go Jump in the Pool

Lucky Donald McHall

"We're well over the four thousand mark, sir," said Bruno.

"I have seen the figures in your bank statement," said Mr. Sturgeon. "Twenty-nine cents over, isn't it?"

"$450.29," Bruno said happily. "Mr. and Mrs. Stratton are buying Rob Adams' refrigerator. And there's plenty more where that came from."

Mr. Sturgeon leaned back. "The — uh — plenty more is what I have been wanting to discuss with you. Sit down, boys — no, not on the bench. The chairs will do." He paused to collect his thoughts. "So far you have been extremely successful with your fund-raising. However, you must face the fact that most of the money is coming from the same pockets — those of our own students and staff. In the past week I have been receiving telephone calls and letters from many of the parents complaining that their sons are repeatedly sending home for more money. It simply will not do."

"But, sir," argued Bruno, "a lot of the money from the rummage sale came from outside the school. And there's the contest prizes. And then there's Miss Scrimmage's."

"Yes," replied the Headmaster, "but the bulk of what you have came from the Macdonald Hall students. As for the contents, luck is a very fickle thing. You have been lucky, but you cannot seriously expect any more revenue from contests. The point that I am making is not open to argument, Walton. It is this: our own resources have been tapped and tapped again. I cannot allow it to go any further."

"Does this mean we're not allowed to raise any more money?" asked Boots anxiously. He saw himself packing for York Academy.

"Not exactly," said the Headmaster. "But in future, any funds raised will have to come from outside sources."

Bruno cleared his throat carefully. "As a matter of fact, sir, we just so happen to have a hundred dollars coming to us from an outside source." From his shirt pocket he produced a lottery ticket and a crumpled newspaper clipping. "We matched the last four digits."

Mr. Sturgeon's eyes glared with cold disapproval. "You are well aware of my feelings concerning gambling," Jie said. "I fail to recall giving my consent for the purchase of a lottery ticket. May I ask how you came by the ticket?"

"One of the girls from Miss Scrimmage's bought it for us when they went into town," Bruno confessed.

"And no doubt she sent it to you here by mail," Mr. Sturgeon added sarcastically. "Let me see the ticket." He examined it carefully. It was made out in the name of Donald McHall at the school's address, and was indeed a $100 winner. "Why Donald McHall?" he asked finally.

"Well, Cathy — uh — the girl just put it down that way," Bruno explained. "You know, Macdonald Hall — Donald McHall..."

"Yes, yes, I understand." The Headmaster sighed. "Since the money belongs to the pool fund, I shall collect it this afternoon when I am in town."

"Thank you, sir," said Boots.

"Sir," said Bruno, "I have an idea about how we can raise money from other sources. It's fruit harvest time, and we could set up a rent-a-student service for the farmers around here. We could take a couple of weeks off school and — "

"That will do," interrupted Mr. Sturgeon. "Your parents did not register you at Macdonald Hall to turn you into farm labourers."

"Yes, sir," chorused Bruno and Boots.

* * *

A dejected Bruno Walton sat on the small hill on Macdonald Hall's front lawn and stared absently at the cars going by. There was no way, no way at all, that the school could have a pool now.

A figure approached and sat down beside him. "Bruno," said Boots, "you've been sitting here for over an hour. There's just no way. We gave it a try and it can't be done. Maybe it'll all work out."