Read Online Screw Loose by Chris Wheat - Free Book Online Page B

school, we are going to live by that lyric. Black is black!’
    He waited in silence for the school to absorb the message.
    â€˜Next, something pleasant. I would like Angelo Tarano to come up on stage.’
    There was a spontaneous roar and then thunderous stamping as Angelo got up and walked down the aisle to the stage.
    Georgia could barely look at him. Everyone thought he was so wonderful, but not her. It was those pleading eyes. She still looked away whenever she saw him coming. Angelo leapt up the steps and stood beside Darryl Dunn, looking bashful as the cheering washed around the hall.
    â€˜Angelo, as I’m sure everyone knows, was selected in the National Draft to play for the Hobart Cockatoos. I saw his face on the front page of the paper following his first game recently, and I’m sure you did, too.’
    Another cheer.
    â€˜I remember Angelo, in Year 8, crying outside my office because someone had taken his football. Now look at him! No crying now. No one is going to take his football today.’ Darryl laughed to himself.
    â€˜But remember, in our school Angelo Tarano is just an ordinary Year 11 student who lives an ordinary life. The fact that he is earning more money than me does not mean you can ask him for a loan.’ Darryl laughed again and a few Year 7s did, too.
    â€˜So I want us all to wish Angelo’s little finger a very speedy recovery.’
    Darryl clapped as the school cheered once more. Angelo raised his little finger, then jogged off the stage, head down and grinning. Georgia rolled her eyes.
    â€˜Now, three exciting new SRC initiatives: firstly, Vistaview Secondary College is going to have a rowing team. Chelsea Dean, your president, has kindly volunteered to coach a rowing team and has already procured the boats and started to train our group. But she needs more boys! She’ll be running a meeting for interested young men at lunchtime today in Room 27. Vistaview Secondary College is a school that is striving and thriving, as you can see. We are certainly going to get ahead.’
    His voice rose with the exhortation.
    â€˜Next year our rowers will be competing against all the other rowing teams from those big expensive private schools.
    And we will beat them! Yes!’ He threw back his head and raised his arms.
    There was a smattering of applause and an outbreak of discussion.
    â€˜Next ...shoosh... next, Chelsea has very kindly offered to organise a combined formal for senior students at Vistaview and our two neighbouring schools, St Ethelred’s Boys’ Grammar and Mary Magdalene Ladies’ College.’
    There was another outbreak of discussion – much louder this time – and the teachers all moved forward and started calling out names.
    Darryl went on. ‘This formal will put our school on display.
    To that end, Chelsea has also offered to run lunchtime etiquette classes. Quite a student, our Chelsea. She will offer some good advice on correct manners. That way, no Vistaview student need feel embarrassed when he or she meets a student from one of those other schools. A round of applause for Chelsea Dean’s initiative!’
    Booing, cheering, laughter and applause dissolved into another hubbub. Georgia looked at Chelsea. She was smiling and jigging her legs.
    â€˜Shoosh! Shoosh! SHOOSH!’ Silence slowly descended.
    â€˜Finally, I have another very serious matter to deal with.’ Darryl cleared his throat. ‘Pay absolute attention! You all remember how we celebrated Deaf Week by not making any sounds for an afternoon? And before that we had Quadriplegic Week, when we didn’t use our arms and legs for an hour? Well, this week we will be celebrating Gay Week!’
    Uproar.
    Boys began waving their arms extravagantly. Some were lisping. What on earth was this idiot doing? Darryl raised his arms for silence and looked stern.
    â€˜Quiet! Quiet at once!’
    The Rotties were adding to the noise by demanding