Friday Barnes, The Biggest Mystery Yet

The punishment

This takes place during book 5, hope you enjoy! And please vote!

So Friday Barnes couldn’t keep herself out of trouble and her almost drowning was the last straw! Albeit it wasn’t her fault but still, the girl really needed to avoid danger. The headmaster was definitely going to have a word with Ian about attempted murder, however unintentional, but he has a different punishment for Friday, which he was going to relish.

A week after the incident, the package had arrived. The punishment he had planned was originally just for Friday, but Patel was also being a pain, so why not kill two birds with one stone. No killing was inappropriate after the whole drowning incident, so injuring with minimal harm, yeah, that seems more acceptable, maybe 50 years ago.

So he called them into the office, right before Wednesday, to the dismay of both of them because 1) it was at 7 in the morning and 2) they could smell Mrs Marigold making PANCAKES! Friday was the first to arrive and sat in her usual seat on the bench outside the headmaster’s office, which in all honesty should have her name engraved in it somewhere. About 10 minutes later, a zombie version of Patel was making his way, so slowly one could assume he was sleep walking.

One eternity later, Patel had decided that Friday’s lap made the perfect pillow, and he was sure going to mention that to Ian, to whom Friday was not ‘on speaking terms’. Friday didn’t even seem flustered by this, she was even stroking his hair as if it was a cat, a messy black cat. The headmaster was doing his same old trick, making them wait an unusual amount of time to ‘ponder on their misgivings’ but they had both been there multiple times, so they had the idea to bring something to keep them occupied, Friday, a book, Patel had Friday.

‘So what do you think he wants?’

‘If it was only me then a mystery needing to be solved, or some weird art showing up again, but having you here makes me think its something else’

‘What that I’m not smart enough to be your side kick’

‘Not in that sense, but I do find you very valuable’

‘Valuable? Me? No-one’s ever called me that’, resulting in a now blushing Patel, still resting on Friday’s lap

“Yeah, it’s never boring whenever you’re there, I actually quite enjoy any time we spend together’

This resulted in Patel to get up from her lap still blushing and giving her a hug, which made the situation a little awkward, for Friday at least.

‘That’s crazy, cause I think the same thing whenever I’m in the same place as you, how crazy’, snuggling closer.

Now Friday was the one blushing. And what better timing for the headmaster to finally open the door, than when Patel hooks her fringe behind her ear.

“I knew you weren’t speaking with Wainscott, but I hadn’t known you had moved on already, guess a near death really can change a person’

Friday, still in Patel’s embrace, couldn't recollect what the headmaster meant by ‘moved on’. She detangled herself from Patel and moved to stand up, walking towards his office. Patel just shrugged, saluted the headmaster and followed behind her.

They settled into their respective chairs, awaiting the punishment they no doubt would be receiving.

‘I’m sure you can guess why you are here’

‘You are going to send us away from school via the AMUSEMENT PARK!’ Patel asked rather enthusiastically. 

The headmaster simply shook his head in disappointment but when Patel looked at Friday, she just smiled, Patel’s energy was contagious after all.