#Wattys2015 The Ghost of James Fitzpatrick

Chapter 37

Sarah's AP Psych class was silent, except for the soft rustle of turning pages and an occasional pencil tap. Their teacher, Mrs. Harrison, sat upright at her desk, her fingers clicked lightly at a keyboard as she looked up every so often to observe her students.

Sarah was relaxed and reading, her chin cupped in her left hand, she was taking notes from her book with her right. The classroom door opened softly, but the click of the doorknob drew 100 percent of the student's attention away from their work.

A girl in a ponytail and sneakers shyly walked up to the teacher and handed her a note. Each student held their breath in anticipation to see who would get the much desired reprieve from class.

The teacher looked directly at Sarah, and Sarah felt her heart beat kick up a notch. She had never been called unless her mother was in the office to pick her up for a dentist or doctor appointment.

"Sarah?" said her teacher softly.

Sarah hesitantly stood, and her teacher nodded to her again to confirm. She instinctively began to pack her books away.

"Just leave them," said her teacher.

Sarah followed the other girl down the long hall to the school office. Her face was flush and she felt as if she may be sick. Even her fingers were trembling with what she could only describe as a sense of dread.

"Does Mr. Zwicki know?" she asked herself, "How could he possibly know?"

Sarah followed the younger student into the office and made her way up to the counter and the office manager, Mrs. Bonick.

"Hi Sarah," said Mrs. Bonick. "Mr. Zwicki has asked to see you for a moment,"

"Do you know about what?" asked Sarah. Her mouth was as dry as a cottonball.

Mrs. Bonick smiled as she limped her way to the door to the principal's office. "No, I don't know, but if it makes you feel any better," she turned to look at Sarah, "I don't think you're in any trouble."

Mrs. Bonick opened the door to let Sarah in. Sarah walked into the tidy office, with the dark wood desk, his degrees in frames on the wood paneled wall behind the desk, and a wooden bookshelf housing a hundred books and several philodendron plants. It was all very typical, and what she would have imagined. It was the first time Sarah had ever been in the Principal Zwicki's office, or any principal's office for that matter.

Mr. Zwicki stood up from his faux leather swivel chair and smiled from behind his desk.

"Sarah Netherby?" he asked extending his hand. Sarah took it reluctantly and gave it a steady shake. His hands were soft and strong, and Sarah felt as if she were petting a water moccasin. Sarah pictured that most venomous of all southern snakes skirting itself along the shores of the lake among the trees and grassy shores, and she felt a chill run up her neck.

"I bet you're wondering what in the heck Mr. Zwicki wants with you?" he said continuing to smile. He acted as if he was trying his best to put her at ease. "Would you like to sit down?"

"No, thank you, I should get back to class as soon as possible," said Sarah nervously, "we are taking a review test in Psych."

"Oh, no, no, this won't be long," said Zwicki as he took a seat again. "We're starting up an exchange program with the Junior High," he motioned his head as if to point to the school next door, "and I thought you might be interested."

Sarah looked around, "I don't understand," she said.

Just then his office door opened and Mrs. Bonick ushered an Arden Junior High 7th grader into Zwicki's office.