Mr. Sturgeon was true to his word. Three days after SectorWatch Inc. removed the Fortress Ultra-Deluxe from Miss Scrimmage's Finishing School for Young Ladies, he checked into Toronto General Hospital for the operation on his ingrown toenail.
It was a simple procedure. He would spend the night at the hospital, undergo surgery at eight the next morning, and be home by late afternoon.
In his private room, the Headmaster did a little reading, telephoned his wife to say goodnight, and switched off his bedside light. He was almost asleep — in that dreamlike state between waking and slumber — when a strange feeling came over him. And he knew with absolute certainty that he was being watched.
Disturbed, he opened his eyes and saw, in some alarm, that there were two dark figures standing by the side of his bed.
"Good heavens!" He sat bolt upright and switched on the light. There stood Bruno Walton and Boots O'Neal. "Have you both lost your minds?" the Headmaster raged. "How on earth did you get here?"
"A taxi," Bruno admitted. "That got us to the commuter train. We took the subway once we hit town."
"We had a little trouble figuring out the subway map," Boots added. "Sorry to be bothering you so late. How do you feel, sir?"
"I am furious, of course!" Mr. Sturgeon exploded. "How should I feel when I run into two of my students, after lights-out, forty miles from school?"
"Not that kind of feel, sir," Bruno corrected. "How do you feel medically?"
The Headmaster ignored the question. "This goes beyond anything, even for you two! How
dare you defy my rules to such an appalling degree? And then dance around in my face like you're proud of it?"
"Shhh!" cautioned Bruno. "Sir, this is a hospital." "Explain yourselves!" bellowed the patient.
The boys exchanged a meaningful look. When Bruno spoke again there were tears in his eyes.
"Sir, we talked it over and we decided that we don't care if we get in trouble, or wash dishes, or even get expelled. You've been our Headmaster for a long timeand we couldn't pass up the chance to see you one last time."
"One last time?" Mr. Sturgeon repeated, bewildered.
"Well," Bruno explained gently, "the operation is tomorrow so we wanted to see you tonight just in case you don't make it."
The Headmaster frowned. "Don't make what?"
"You know," Bruno persisted. "What if you — like _ well — uh — die?" Mr. Sturgeon's eyes bulged. " Die?"
Both boys nodded somberly.
"But it's only an ingrown toenail!" Bruno and Boots stared in shock.
"It is?" gasped Boots. "You mean, like, a sore foot?"
The Headmaster was genuinely touched. "What in the world gave you the idea that I was at death's door?"
Bruno shrugged. "Well, the cane and the limp. And then we started hearing stuff about hospitals and operations and how nothing else was going to do any good — so we put two and two together."
"And came up with five," concluded the patient. "Boys, this is a very simple surgery. I'll be back at my desk by the end of the week." He added, "You seem disappointed, Walton."
"Oh, no, sir," said Bruno. "It's great news that you're okay. It's just that — well, we're going to wash
a lot of dishes for this and an ingrown toenail sort of isn't worth it."
YOU ARE READING
Macdonald Hall #7: The Joke's on us
Teen FictionBoots' little brother, Edward, has arrived to start his first year at Macdonald Hall. Bruno can't wait to teach him all he knows, but Edward thinks they are "over the hill" and "old men". At the same time, Mr. Sturgeon is thinking about retirement...
