Usman Grant and the Cheater

A Lockerside Chat

When the bell rang at 1:15, Dana realized she hadn't been paying attention to anything Mr. R had said in History. She kept thinking about Troy, trying to think of any way to prove he stole the answers. She caught herself glancing over at him from time to time. She hoped he hadn't noticed.

Usman was no help. He was focused on the English presentation. Anything about Troy dropped out of his mind. Out of habit, he fell in beside her as they walked to the lockers. Of course, he also hadn't addressed their conflict, tried to explain himself or apologize. He hadn't even demanded that she apologize. That would have pissed her off, but at least it would be some kind of recognition. But then he wouldn't be Usman if he wasn't hyper-focused on grades and tests!

So she wasn't surprised when he stopped at his locker without saying anything. Well without saying anything to her. Under his breath, he was reciting quotes from The Great Gatsby, practicing his presentation as he mindlessly took his English books out of his locker.

She opened her locker and pulled her Odious Oddballs T-shirt out so she could put her history book in first. Then she put her T-shirt on top of the book, carefully folded. She didn't want anything to crush her precious band shirt. As she was thinking about what she needed to take to English, Troy walked over to her.

He had a contrite look on his face. He really did have a very sweet face, Dana noticed. As she was standing there tapping her lip with her lock and thinking, he spoke.

"Look," Troy said, "I saw you looking at me in class. I know you've been talking to Mr. R.. That makes me feel bad, you know. I get it. I'm not a great student, but I really worked hard for that test. Just like you and Usman said. I even skipped the soccer game over the weekend."

He raised his right hand in the air as if to swear innocence.

"I really just need my pencil case. I can leave my backpack in the locker", she said. "Wait, I meant to just think that!"

"Here, let me help you," Troy said.

Troy grabbed the lock from her hand, allowing Dana to use one hand to hold her backpack and grab her pencil case with the other. She put her backpack carefully next the T-shirt. Then she held her hand out for the lock. Instead of handing it to her, Troy bowed dramatically. He then placed the lock on her locker himself and smiled at her as he , said, "M'lady.". She clicked it shut and he bowed again.

He could be sweet, Dana had to admit. Had they misjudged him?

***

Usman's presentation was brilliant, as always and she tried to be supportive, smiling and nodding at key moments. Even though he wasn't supporting her as she tried to solve this case!

At 3:00pm, the bell rang and Dana made her way back to her locker. She had 10 minutes to get her drumsticks, stop off in the bathroom to change T-shirts, and get to the band room for practice. Dana opened her locker and gasped. so loudly even Usman forgot they were giving each other the cold-shoulder and ran over.

"What is it?"

"My shirt! It's gone!" Dana said.

"What?" Usman asked.

"My Odious Oddballs shirt is missing."

"You're sure?"

"I saw it right before History class when Troy came to talk to me."

"He did?"

"You didn't notice? He came over to say he didn't cheat. I was starting to believe him, too. But Troy is the only person who could have taken it."

"You're sure no one else could have done it?"

"I don't think so. He came right up and talked to me, even helped me with my lock."

"Aha! Maybe he didn't really close it."

"Yes! ... No ... I closed it myself.."

Usman thought for a second. "Ok, but why would Troy take it? He hates that band, remember?"

"But Glenn loves that band."

"OK, Glenn wants the T-shirt, but Troy must have stolen it...And Troy wanted the answer key, but Glenn was the only one who could have taken it." Usman looked down as he thought. Dana's lock caught his eye.

"Go get the vice principal! And Mr. R. I figured it out!"