Read Online The Secret Life of Ms. Finkleman by Ben H. Winters - Free Book Online
Authors: Ben H. Winters
Tags: Suspense
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hello? Big whoop?
Stupid universe.
Two rows back and almost all the way over at the window, Bethesda Fielding was drawing a cool squares-and-stars pattern on the back of her music folder and thinking about last night.
At the food court, in the shadow of Chef Pilverton, Ms. Finkleman had made a surprising proposition to her and Tenny Boyer. Bethesda had agreed with no hesitation,and she was sure that her end of the bargain would be no problem. But there was one thing about Ms. Finkleman’s deal that didn’t make sense … one thing that didn’t add up….
Stop it,
she warned herself sharply.
Stop right there. No more mystery solving for you!
She looked around the room for Tenny, who had sat there with her at the food court last night and had also agreed to Ms. Finkleman’s plan. She wondered if he’d been struck by the new mystery, too, and whether it plagued him as much as it did her.
There he was, sitting in the last row as always, wearing that ratty blue-hooded sweatshirt and his usual blank expression. As she watched, he absentmindedly poked his pencil eraser around in his ear.
Okay then. I guess he’s not plagued.
“Good afternoon, children,” said Ms. Finkleman. “I have an announcement to make.”
First, she explained quickly and with a note of sadness in her voice, sixth-period Music Fundamentals would not be performing traditional English folk ballads at the upcoming Choral Corral after all. “I know some of you will be disappointed at this development,” she added,though she had to admit to herself that no one looked all that disappointed. The reaction seemed more along the lines of collective relief. Smiles blossomed on seventh-grade faces all over the room, and happy, curious whispers burbled to life like rippling streams. Chester Hu, who two days earlier had apologetically explained that his dog had peed all over his copy of
Greensleeves and Other Traditional English Folk Ballads,
looked particularly relieved.
“Instead of our previously planned program,” Ms. Finkleman continued, “We will be devoting our slot at the Choral Corral to …” She paused, and took a deep breath, and continued. “A rock-and-roll show.”
There was a long, astonished silence as the news sunk in. And then Todd Spolin, he of the stringy hair and squinty eyes, leaped up out of his seat, pumped both fists in the air as if he had just won a marathon, and hollered, “Yesssssss!”
What followed was five solid minutes of total chaos. Suddenly half the class was out of its seat, and everyone was shouting. Natasha kicked her leg out and played an air-guitar riff on her folder. Violet Kelp and Bessie Stringer held hands and jumped up and down, both repeating, “Oh my god oh my god oh my god,” like two little girls whojust got ponies for Christmas. Shelly Schwartz shared an excited hug with Lindsey Deming. Braxton Lashey, who since the beginning of the period had been trying to fix a pen that had exploded while he was chewing on it earlier, looked up and shouted, “Wicked,” ink smeared all over his face. Even Kevin McKelvey in his navy blue blazer nodded enthusiastically, adjusted his tie, and grinned.
“This is so wicked!” proclaimed Rory Daas.
“You know what it’s gonna be like?” Chester Hu said to Victor Glebe. “Like that movie? About that school? Where the kids rock? ”
“School of Rock,”
answered Victor.
“No,” said Chester. “That’s not it.”
Ms. Finkleman tapped on her music stand, trying to reclaim the room’s attention, but it was no use. Every time it seemed like the excitement was dying down, someone would yell out, “This is so cool! ” and it would all start again.
Throughout this extended period of gleeful chaos, people were constantly smiling grateful smiles and shooting enthusiastic thumbs-up at Bethesda Fielding. It wasn’t entirely clear how one thing was connected to the other, but obviously it was no coincidence: This change of plan was all thanks to Bethesda. If
Stupid universe.
Two rows back and almost all the way over at the window, Bethesda Fielding was drawing a cool squares-and-stars pattern on the back of her music folder and thinking about last night.
At the food court, in the shadow of Chef Pilverton, Ms. Finkleman had made a surprising proposition to her and Tenny Boyer. Bethesda had agreed with no hesitation,and she was sure that her end of the bargain would be no problem. But there was one thing about Ms. Finkleman’s deal that didn’t make sense … one thing that didn’t add up….
Stop it,
she warned herself sharply.
Stop right there. No more mystery solving for you!
She looked around the room for Tenny, who had sat there with her at the food court last night and had also agreed to Ms. Finkleman’s plan. She wondered if he’d been struck by the new mystery, too, and whether it plagued him as much as it did her.
There he was, sitting in the last row as always, wearing that ratty blue-hooded sweatshirt and his usual blank expression. As she watched, he absentmindedly poked his pencil eraser around in his ear.
Okay then. I guess he’s not plagued.
“Good afternoon, children,” said Ms. Finkleman. “I have an announcement to make.”
First, she explained quickly and with a note of sadness in her voice, sixth-period Music Fundamentals would not be performing traditional English folk ballads at the upcoming Choral Corral after all. “I know some of you will be disappointed at this development,” she added,though she had to admit to herself that no one looked all that disappointed. The reaction seemed more along the lines of collective relief. Smiles blossomed on seventh-grade faces all over the room, and happy, curious whispers burbled to life like rippling streams. Chester Hu, who two days earlier had apologetically explained that his dog had peed all over his copy of
Greensleeves and Other Traditional English Folk Ballads,
looked particularly relieved.
“Instead of our previously planned program,” Ms. Finkleman continued, “We will be devoting our slot at the Choral Corral to …” She paused, and took a deep breath, and continued. “A rock-and-roll show.”
There was a long, astonished silence as the news sunk in. And then Todd Spolin, he of the stringy hair and squinty eyes, leaped up out of his seat, pumped both fists in the air as if he had just won a marathon, and hollered, “Yesssssss!”
What followed was five solid minutes of total chaos. Suddenly half the class was out of its seat, and everyone was shouting. Natasha kicked her leg out and played an air-guitar riff on her folder. Violet Kelp and Bessie Stringer held hands and jumped up and down, both repeating, “Oh my god oh my god oh my god,” like two little girls whojust got ponies for Christmas. Shelly Schwartz shared an excited hug with Lindsey Deming. Braxton Lashey, who since the beginning of the period had been trying to fix a pen that had exploded while he was chewing on it earlier, looked up and shouted, “Wicked,” ink smeared all over his face. Even Kevin McKelvey in his navy blue blazer nodded enthusiastically, adjusted his tie, and grinned.
“This is so wicked!” proclaimed Rory Daas.
“You know what it’s gonna be like?” Chester Hu said to Victor Glebe. “Like that movie? About that school? Where the kids rock? ”
“School of Rock,”
answered Victor.
“No,” said Chester. “That’s not it.”
Ms. Finkleman tapped on her music stand, trying to reclaim the room’s attention, but it was no use. Every time it seemed like the excitement was dying down, someone would yell out, “This is so cool! ” and it would all start again.
Throughout this extended period of gleeful chaos, people were constantly smiling grateful smiles and shooting enthusiastic thumbs-up at Bethesda Fielding. It wasn’t entirely clear how one thing was connected to the other, but obviously it was no coincidence: This change of plan was all thanks to Bethesda. If
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