The Burners

Chapter 5

I hear movement coming from the front of the library. I turn to see the janitor entering the library with his radio playing music. He made his way into the office and picked up the rubbish bin.

'Brian,' he calls with a smile, 'how you doing?' he asks. Brian remains quiet.

'Your dad work here?' Bender asks, I look over at Brian his cheeks tinted red. The janitor heads back into the office to return the now empty rubbish bin. 'Uh Carl?' Bender calls, so that's the janitor's name I think.

'What?' Carl answers.

'Can I ask you a question?' Bender wonders, I roll my eyes knowing whatever bender's going to say is going to be stupid.

'Sure,'

'How does one become a janitor?' Bender questions.

'You wanna be a janitor?' Carl asks in disbelief.

'Oh no, I just wanna know how one becomes a janitor, because Andrew here,' Bender jerks his thumb at Andrew. 'Is very interested in pursuing a career in the custodial arts.'

'Oh really? You guys think I'm just some untouchable peasant? Peon? Huh?' Carl says, I sigh I knew it was going to be stupid. 'Maybe so, but following a broom after shitheads like you for the last eight years, I've learned a couple things, I look through your letters, I look through your lockers, I listen to your conversations, you don't know that, but I do. I am the eyes and ears of this institution my friends.' Carl says with a smirk. 'By the way. That clock's twenty minutes fast.' He says pointing to the clock before looking at his watch and then leaving the library.

'Shit!' Andrew groans.

11:30

I whistling broke the silence we were in. I look over at Bender to see him whistling a tune with his scarf wrapped around his head thanks to me. Brian joins in the whistling so I decide to join in as well, soon Andrew, Claire and Allison begin whistling as well. It sounds like the six of us had rehearsed it before. Suddenly everyone but Bender stops as the door opens. Mr V walks in towards us as Bender changes the tune he is whistling to Beethoven's fifth.

'Alright girls, that's thirty minutes for lunch.' Mr V tells us.

'Here?' Andrew asks, I roll my eyes at his stupidity.

'Here.'

'Well, I think the cafeteria would be a more suitable places for us to eat lunch in, sir.' Andrew tries to persuade Mr V. I sigh out loud, did he really think his opinion mattered to Mr V.

'Well, I don't care what you think, Andrew.' Mr V says scowling at Andrew.

'Uh, Dick?' Bender calls, causing me to bite back a smile. 'Excuse me, Rich, will milk be made available to us?'

'We're extremely thirsty sir,' I say.

'I have a very low tolerance for dehydration,' Claire adds.

'I have seen her dehydrate sir, it's pretty gross.' Andrew conforms.

'Don't worry, I'll get it.' I say while I stood up.

'Ah, ah, ah!' Mr V exclaims stopping me from moving any further. 'Grab some wood there, bub! What do you think I was born yesterday? I don't want you roaming my halls.'

'Well we all know you weren't born yesterday, I don't think anyone that deaf could have been born that recently.' I mutter to Bender.

'What did you say, miss House?' Mr V questions.

'See what I mean.' I say to Bender as he starts laughing.

'You just bought yourself another detention.' He tells me, I sigh as I slump in my seat. Mr V points at Andrew, 'you,' he scans the room, 'and you,' he says pointing to Allison. 'Hey.' He calls Allison 'Whats her name? Wake her. Wake her up! Come on, on your feet missy. Let's go, this is no rest home.' He snaps at Allison, as she gets up.