Flying Solo {Completed}

Chapter 35 | 8:15 A.M. Room 238

Monday, May 1st

          Mr. Garrison stood staring at his students. Wendy had never seen his face so somber. He hadn't spoken once since she and her classmates filed into the room and quietly took their seats. Now they sat stiffly at their desks, looking at him. And he stared back. 

          Wendy glanced around the classroom. She noticed that Stan was wearing what looked like a clean t-shirt. He looked over and flashed a big smile. 

          "GOOD MORNING" Principal Victoria shouted over the loudspeaker. The class sat in silence while the principal made the announcements. Principal Victoria made the announcements. Principal Victoria made no mention of the parents, reporters and TV cameras stationed in front of the school. 

          Everyone stood up the Pledge of Allegiance. Wendy heard Mr. Garrison's voice. With liberty and justice for all. 

          "Attendance" Mr. Garrison started. 

           "Kyle?"

          "Here"

          "Red"

         "Here"

           "Clyde"

          "Present" he smirked. 

           "Is something funny, Clyde" Mr. Garrison sternly asked, looking up from the attendance sheet. Something we all need to know about?"

          "No sit" Clyde replied quietly, looking down. 

         Pause. Mr. Garrison glanced down at the attendance sheet once again. 

          "Eric...? Oh yes, he moved" He wrote something on the sheet and moved on. 

          "Kevin?"

          "Here"

          "Kenny?"

          "Here"

          "Lola?"

          No reply. 

          "She's sick today sir" Heidi replied in a quiet voice. 

          "Heidi?"

          "Here"

          "Annie?"

          "Here"

          "Wendy" he glanced up and marker her as present. 

          "I'm here" she said quietly. 

          Everyone turned. Wendy blushed and lowered her eyes, trying to hide her face. She felt a little retarded. Mr. Garrison stood up. 

          "You spoke!"

          "Yes" she said. She glanced over at Bebe, who looked as if she had seen a ghost. The expression of shock softened into a grin soon after. 

           "Hi Wendy!" Bebe whispered. 

           "Hi!" she replied smiling. 

           "it is so good to hear your voice" Mr. Garrison, said, smiling brightly. 

          She looked up for a few seconds before realizing he was waiting for her to say something more.  

          "I know" she answered at last. 

           "A time to keep silence and a time to speak" Mr. Garrison quoted. "To everything there is a season" he nodded "That's from the bible"

           "I know" she said again, and kids laughed, as if now there were the only two words she could say. 

           "It seems that we have lots to talk about" Mr. Garrison said to the class. He spoke in a calm voice. "I wasn't here on Friday. But It had come to my attention that Friday was not your typical day. Something happened. Right here in this classroom. Something un-usual. Something serious. And I would like to know about it"

          He got up and walked slowly towards the back of the room. At Butters Stotch's empty desk he stopped and sat down. Kids swiveled around to look at him. 

          "I want you to write me a letter" he explained "What I want to know is this: What happened? Nobody has a monopoly on the truth. Each of you will have your version"

          He pointed at a sign on one of the walls. CHARACTER IS HOW YOU ACT WHEN NOBODY'S WATCHING. 

                  "You've read this sign about a hundred time, right? All right then. How did you act when no teacher was watching? Write. Don't just give me a bunch of fluff. Dig under the surface. Tell me something I don't know. Don't rush. See how much you can get down in twenty minutes. Then we'll get together and share"