Read Online Circle of Silence by Carol M. Tanzman - Free Book Online Page B

Council, thinks it might be
an advertisement,” Raul tells us. “For a new gym or something.”
    “They can’t do that, can they?” Henry asks. “Advertise in
school?”
    I perk up. “Wait! The Board of Ed is considering a motion to
allow companies to hang banners in public schools. Paint lockers with their
logos. They’d give the district a ton of money if it passes.”
    “How do you know?” Raul asks.
    “Channel 5 did a piece about it last week. But I don’t think
the Board voted yet.”
    “How can Wilkins let some business put up weird ads on our lockers?” Marci’s pissed. “Honestly, what does he do all day except go around with that stupid
bullhorn and yell at people in the cafeteria?”
    “Good point. We should get the administration view,” Omar says.
“I’ll check it out with my new friend Mrs. Fairy.”
    “Cool. Go with…Jagger?” The boys nod. “Raul, Marci’s got a long
shot idea to tell you about.”
    “Wait up!” Henry gets tongue-tied the instant everyone
turns.
    “Do you have a suggestion?” I ask gently.
    He shakes his head and points to the flyer. “A question. It
says ‘Join Us.’”
    “Yes. It does.” Marci wrinkles her eyebrows. “What are you—oh,
I get it! Us . If MP is someone’s initials, why
didn’t he write ‘Join Me’?”
    Henry gives her the puppy dog eyes. “Exactly. Who’s us? ’Til
now, we’ve assumed it’s one person. And there’s a second question. How does
someone join? There aren’t directions.”
    Marci chews the string on her WiHi Girls’ Soccer sweatshirt.
“Maybe this is the first flyer. There could be more with instructions.”
    “Hold on!” Raul points. “Henry, are you saying MP isn’t the
bird in the corner? It’s the group of birds?”
    “Flock,” Jagger notes.
    “Group, flock, whatever.”
    Henry’s scruffy hair flies as he nods. “The flock’s definitely
MP.”
    “Why are you so sure?” Omar asks.
    With a Sharpie, Henry traces a pattern on the flyer. “Check out
the feet. See the two letters on each claw? MP. The corner bird doesn’t have
that.”
    Raul whistles. “I’d never have noticed that in a million
years.”
    “Doesn’t prove anything.” Jagger taps the paper. “Maybe ‘Us’
means if you join Me, MP, then it’s an us.”
    “Whatchu smokin’, bro, and can I have some?” Omar laughs. “That
makes no sense.”
    “It does. If it’s rhetorical,” Jagger insists.
    “Rhetorical or not, you guys sign out a camera and talk to Mrs.
Fahey during lunch so we can rule out a company looking for publicity,” I tell
them. “If it’s a dead end, at least we have another way to go.”
    * * *
    Skipping the cafeteria, I pop into the Media Center to
digitize the locker footage during lunchtime. Just before the bell rings, the
rest of the team appears. Nobody looks happy.
    “What happened?” I ask.
    “Mrs. Fairy told Omar that she won’t be interviewed on camera
again,” Jagger says.
    Omar lightens his voice for a very credible imitation of the
assistant principal. “‘What I can tell you right now is that Mr. Wilkins
wouldn’t think of allowing advertisements without the Board’s approval. And I
hope, no, insist, that Campus News refrain from
spreading rumors. I refuse to speculate regarding the nature of the
flyers.’”
    Before we stop laughing, the intercom squawks. Mr. Wilkins.
    “Teachers, please excuse the interruption. At this time, I need
to remind all students that postering on lockers is not permitted. Approved
flyers must be placed on bulletin boards designated
for that purpose. Thank you for your cooperation.”
    Marci shakes her head. “Let’s see if I get this straight.
Cut-up plastic body parts are fine with Wilkins as long as they’re not hanging
from lockers.”
    I laugh. “The mysteries of WiHi are…”
    “Mysterious. I know. But—” The bell cuts off whatever else
she’s about to say. Marci waits as I hit Save and then Close.
    “Raul and I struck out, too, Val. Trey’s