Read Online Go Jump in the Pool by Gordon Korman - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Gordon Korman
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cheered madly, and the last sight Boots saw before he slid, fireman fashion, to the ground was Miss Scrimmage standing on the balcony waving her arms at him.
Students from both schools converged on the road and stood looking down in great glee at the wreckage of Miss Scrimmage’s hat. It was as flat as a pancake, newly decorated with white ribbon and a cardboard sign which read:
Good Luck Mary and Frank
. A group of girls picked up the hat and carried it home to their Headmistress.
“Boy!” Bruno exclaimed to Boots, “I wouldn’t be in your shoes! Is Miss Scrimmage ever mad at you! It’s a good thing she doesn’t have her shotgun!”
Boots began to shout, “Mad at me? Why me? I didn’t do anything! You sent me up there! It’s all your fault!”
“Oh, quit your crabbing,” said Bruno, “and grab a bucket. We’ve got to go and hand in this money.”
The two boys crossed the lawn to the small white cottage on the edge of the campus. “A chance to make points with Miss Scrimmage,” Boots was muttering. “We made points, all right! Demerit points!”
Bruno rang the doorbell.
Mrs. Sturgeon opened the door. “Well, hello there. Come right in. We were just talking about your wonderful show.” She led them into the living room. “Mr. Sturgeon is on the telephone at the moment. He’ll be with you shortly.”
“We’ve brought the money,” said Bruno. “Mr. Sturgeon said he would take it up to the bank tomorrow to add it to our account.” He held out the gold bankbook and a prepared deposit slip.
From the other room they overheard the Headmaster’s voice. “Yes, well, thank you, Miss Scrimmage. I’ll look into it right away.” There was a click as he hung up the receiver, and then he appeared in the living room. “I thought I heard the doorbell,” he said. “Ah, O’Neal. I just had a conversation with Miss Scrimmage and your name came up.
“The hat, sir?” Boots offered meekly.
“Yes. I’m told you threw it on the highway where it was destroyed by the traffic.”
“I can explain everything, sir,” said Bruno quickly.
“I’m sure you can,” said the Headmaster smoothly, “but I would much rather hear O’Neal’s version.”
“Pole,” said Boots. “Hat … flag … wind … road … wedding … Mary and Frank …”
Mr. Sturgeon held up his hand for silence. “On second thought,” he said, “perhaps I’d better hear Walton’s translation of all this.”
“It’s really very simple, sir,” explained Bruno. “When Melvin saw the hat up on top of the flagpole, he wanted to do something nice for Miss Scrimmage because she got banged around so much last night. Sir, I couldn’t hold him back. He was almost at the top of the pole when the wind blew the hat down onto the road. Then Mary and Frank’s wedding procession came along and squashed poor Miss Scrimmage’s hat. You see, sir, it was all a misunderstanding.”
Mr. Sturgeon turned to look out the window in order to hide from the boys the expression that Miss Scrimmage’s mishaps always brought to his face — part amusement, part disgust. When he turned back, his face was fully composed. “I see,” he said. “Very well. Now, to what do I owe the honour of this visit?”
“The talent show raised $1,689,” said Bruno proudly, indicating the two buckets. “We’ve brought the money so that you can bank it for us tomorrow.” He paused. “We’re still a little short, of course, but don’t worry. We’ll think of some other way to raise the rest.”
“I’m sure you will,” replied the Headmaster gravely. “Uh — a question before you go, boys. Had you seen the Scrimmettes’ — uh — costumes before they went on stage?”
Both boys studied the carpet and shuffled uncomfortably.
Finally the Headmaster said, “I think I understand what happened there. You may leave. Good afternoon.”
When Bruno and Boots had departed, Mr. Sturgeon turned a bewildered face to his wife and asked, “Mildred,
Students from both schools converged on the road and stood looking down in great glee at the wreckage of Miss Scrimmage’s hat. It was as flat as a pancake, newly decorated with white ribbon and a cardboard sign which read:
Good Luck Mary and Frank
. A group of girls picked up the hat and carried it home to their Headmistress.
“Boy!” Bruno exclaimed to Boots, “I wouldn’t be in your shoes! Is Miss Scrimmage ever mad at you! It’s a good thing she doesn’t have her shotgun!”
Boots began to shout, “Mad at me? Why me? I didn’t do anything! You sent me up there! It’s all your fault!”
“Oh, quit your crabbing,” said Bruno, “and grab a bucket. We’ve got to go and hand in this money.”
The two boys crossed the lawn to the small white cottage on the edge of the campus. “A chance to make points with Miss Scrimmage,” Boots was muttering. “We made points, all right! Demerit points!”
Bruno rang the doorbell.
Mrs. Sturgeon opened the door. “Well, hello there. Come right in. We were just talking about your wonderful show.” She led them into the living room. “Mr. Sturgeon is on the telephone at the moment. He’ll be with you shortly.”
“We’ve brought the money,” said Bruno. “Mr. Sturgeon said he would take it up to the bank tomorrow to add it to our account.” He held out the gold bankbook and a prepared deposit slip.
From the other room they overheard the Headmaster’s voice. “Yes, well, thank you, Miss Scrimmage. I’ll look into it right away.” There was a click as he hung up the receiver, and then he appeared in the living room. “I thought I heard the doorbell,” he said. “Ah, O’Neal. I just had a conversation with Miss Scrimmage and your name came up.
“The hat, sir?” Boots offered meekly.
“Yes. I’m told you threw it on the highway where it was destroyed by the traffic.”
“I can explain everything, sir,” said Bruno quickly.
“I’m sure you can,” said the Headmaster smoothly, “but I would much rather hear O’Neal’s version.”
“Pole,” said Boots. “Hat … flag … wind … road … wedding … Mary and Frank …”
Mr. Sturgeon held up his hand for silence. “On second thought,” he said, “perhaps I’d better hear Walton’s translation of all this.”
“It’s really very simple, sir,” explained Bruno. “When Melvin saw the hat up on top of the flagpole, he wanted to do something nice for Miss Scrimmage because she got banged around so much last night. Sir, I couldn’t hold him back. He was almost at the top of the pole when the wind blew the hat down onto the road. Then Mary and Frank’s wedding procession came along and squashed poor Miss Scrimmage’s hat. You see, sir, it was all a misunderstanding.”
Mr. Sturgeon turned to look out the window in order to hide from the boys the expression that Miss Scrimmage’s mishaps always brought to his face — part amusement, part disgust. When he turned back, his face was fully composed. “I see,” he said. “Very well. Now, to what do I owe the honour of this visit?”
“The talent show raised $1,689,” said Bruno proudly, indicating the two buckets. “We’ve brought the money so that you can bank it for us tomorrow.” He paused. “We’re still a little short, of course, but don’t worry. We’ll think of some other way to raise the rest.”
“I’m sure you will,” replied the Headmaster gravely. “Uh — a question before you go, boys. Had you seen the Scrimmettes’ — uh — costumes before they went on stage?”
Both boys studied the carpet and shuffled uncomfortably.
Finally the Headmaster said, “I think I understand what happened there. You may leave. Good afternoon.”
When Bruno and Boots had departed, Mr. Sturgeon turned a bewildered face to his wife and asked, “Mildred,
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