Crimes, Robbery's, and Detention.

3. Toast Please??

Hiii! I apologize profusely for not doing another part till now, but hopefully you'll agree this chap was worth the wait. So, without further ado, here it is.

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A Reader Lives
A Thousand Lives
Before he dies.
The Man
Who never Reads
Lives only One.
George R.R. Martin

                                   ***

"Now Polly,"

"Po." Polly said stubbornly.

She and Elizabeth were sitting in Mr. Varnbery's (the principal at 'Moc's Orphanage for the Lonely') Office. He had just stated that if Polly didn't go to school, they would be forced to take action. To this Polly replied by crossing her arms, glaring at the little elephant paper weight on Mr Varnbery's desk, and muttering some very impolite words.

The principal sighed, leaning back in his chair and rubbing his temples. The man was large, but not intimidating. His black hair was balding and his brown eyes looked immensely tiered. He shook his head and said something about needing a vacation.

"Po," he tried again. "Your education is very important to us. If your not getting it, we are held accountable. Do you understand that?"

Polly looked at Elizabeth, who was starting at her hands, folded in her lap. She had gone to school a fare few times and had told Mr Varnbery that it "didn't suit her". At this he had turned on Polly. Po had a record of not attending one day of school—a recorded she was profoundly proud of, and determined never to break.

When Polly didn't answer, Mr Varnbery sighed again and said, "I'm going to have Mrs Calcuttar escort you to school today. And I don't want you running off ether."

At this Polly gaped at him. Waving her hands in the air she yelled, "But that's basically being a prisoner! You can't do that! It's a free country!"

After a few minutes Mr Vanbery got her to quiet down, and she sat fuming in her chair.

"Nevertheless Polly. It's what is going to happen. Now, have a good first day of school."

"Po." She said again.

***

Outside they found Mrs Calcuttar waiting. She looked rather like a egret, and had been compared to one on many occasions. Dressed in a long grey dress, wearing little spectacles and her mouth in a thin, disapproving line, it was no surprise that Polly and Elizabeth didn't like her much.

"Come along children." She had a rather low, tenor voice. "Let's go to your room so you can collect your school things."

Once in there room, Polly muttered, "I feel like I'm going to a hanging. My Own."

"Oh, Po, don't be so morose. It's not that bad."

"What about my record, huh?!" Polly shook her head. "No, I won't. I won't!"

"What are you muttering about?" Liz asked.

"Nothing."

But today Polly was mad at Liz. She had been mad even before the conversation in the principals office, where in Liz had done nothing to help Polly.

In the principals eyes she was the better one, because she was more likely to follow orders then Po—but not by much—and she was more likely to follow the adults, if they were the ones in charge of the situation. But only if they seemed to be handling it correctly.

~~~

They had been sitting under one of the stunted walnut trees outside—discussing that very subject. Liz had been trying to get Polly to listen about school, that they would make her go eventually.