Read Online Fabulous Five 014 - The Seventh-Grade Menace by Betsy Haynes - Free Book Online

all these things?" Mr.
McNatt demanded.
    "I saw her take Whitney's homework."
    "Can you prove it?" Geena joined in the
cross-examination.
    "No! But I saw it." Jana was getting scared. No
matter what she said, they didn't seem to believe her.
    "My daughter doesn't lie, Mr. McNatt." Jana's
mother's voice sounded as crisp and hard as his had.
    He raised his hand. "I'm sure she thinks she's telling
the truth, Mrs. Pinkerton, but sometimes what we see isn't always what
happened. We just need to come to an understanding."
    "And she thinks she's such a big deal because she runs
around with that group that calls themselves The Fabulous Five, and she is
running for Miss Seventh Grade!" snapped Geena. "She thinks she can
run over anybody she wants."
    "Now, Geena!" Her father silenced her with a
frown. "That's not going to help a thing."
    Turning to Jana's mother, he said, "I believe that what
we have here is a failure to communicate. I'm sure your daughter is a very nice
young lady, and I know mine is. Ever since my wife died when Geena was three
years old, I've had to be both mother and father to her and her brothers.
Believe me, I run a tight ship.
    "Now," he said as if he had reached a conclusion
that they should all listen to. "I think the two girls should get to know
each other better. That's the first thing I do when I go out to one of my
construction sites. I get to know the men, and they get to know me, and
everything is hunky-dory from then on. If they don't like my rules, I fire 'em,"
he chuckled. "But they know I'm a fair man. Why don't you girls try
spending a little time together. It might do you some good to get to know some
other people, Geena. And you, Little Miss," he said to Jana. "It
might help you to meet some people outside of this group you call . . . what's
their names? The Fabulous Five? It will help broaden your understanding of
people. Make you a better person."
    Jana sank back into her chair and shivered in her anger. She
didn't need to broaden her understanding of people. She knew that
The Fabulous Five were the most wonderful friends in the world, and that Geena
McNatt was a bully. He didn't understand at all! Tears bubbled up in her
eyes, and she fought to keep them from falling.
    "I don't agree with your total assessment of the situation,
Mr. McNatt," said Jana's mother. "I do, however, agree that if Jana
and your daughter get to know each other better, it might help. I'm sure they
will both reevaluate their actions after this afternoon," she said,
looking at Geena.
    Mr. McNatt got up and touched his fingers to his forehead in
a symbolic tipping of his hat to Jana's mother. "We'll be going now. It's
been nice to meet you both. Don't take it too hard now, Little Miss. These
things go away with time," he said, smiling and putting his hand on Jana's
shoulder warmly.
    Jana watched as her mother walked Geena and her father to
the door. She couldn't believe it. Not only was she being picked on by Geena
McNatt, but now Geena was making it look as if Jana was the bully. It was
totally unfair.

CHAPTER 13
    Jana's mother's face was full of anger when she walked back
into the room.
    "Mom, I'm not picking on Geena! Honest!"
    Her mother's face softened. "I know, sweetheart.
You would never do a thing like that. It's obvious, however, that Mr. McNatt
totally believes his daughter, too." She reached out and took Jana's hand.
"Come on. Let's sit down and talk about this."
    The tears finally leaked out as Jana told her side of the
story, and her mother put her arm around her comfortingly.
    "Was I wrong to bawl Geena out in front of Bumpers?"
Jana asked.
    "No, you weren't." Her mother looked thoughtful for
a moment. "I just wonder what makes Geena do those things. Her father
seems like a nice enough man. Still, there has to be a reason why she acts the
way she does. What do you think it is?"
    The thought startled Jana. A reason for Geena's picking on
Mona and Whitney and squirting catsup in lockers? She was starting to