Read Online This Is Not a Drill by Beck McDowell - Free Book Online

proud of being the keeper of this information; then he looks worried. “She told me not to tell anybody. She said it might scare the other kids.”
    “Good job, Mason. That’s important information,” Emery says as she reaches inside Mrs. Campbell’s sleeve. “You did the right thing telling us. Jake, look.” She turns the medic alert bracelet so I can read it.
    Emery looks up at Stutts. “She’s diabetic. We’ve got to get her out of here.”
    “She has Die-BB’s?” Olivia yells, alarmed.
    “It’s okay, honey. She’ll be fine,” Emery says.
    “This is some kinda trick,” Stutts shouts, pacing back and forth. “You just want to let the cops in.”
    “Mr. Stutts, Mrs. Campbell needs medical attention,” Emery tells him.
    “Diabetic comas are dangerous.” I stand up so I can look him in the eye. I’m almost as tall as he is. “This is serious, man.”
    Stutts stares back at me. I move closer so I can talk low without the kids hearing.
    “Look, she could die. We can’t let that happen.”
    “Don’t tell me what to do,” he says.
    I stare him down because I know that one way or another, I’m
going
to get help for her.
    “I’m not letting anybody in here,” he says.
    “Just let me carry her out, man. I can take her down to the office and they can call the paramedics.”
    “Jake, can you bring me her purse?” Emery asks. “She keeps it under her desk.”
    I move to the desk, pick up the purse, and toss it at Emery. “You looking for insulin?”
    “Yeah, I guess that’s what she needs, but I’m not sure what to do with it if we find any.” She digs through the bag. “Nothing here.”
    “I’ll try her desk,” I say.
    I search quickly, plowing through notepads and rulers and pencils and Band-Aids. Nothing.
    “Hey, does it have to be refrigerated?” I ask, moving toward the back of the room.
    “I don’t know . . . maybe,” Emery says.
    I open the minifridge. “Nothing but Diet Cokes.”
    I walk back toward Stutts. Mrs. Campbell needs help, and we’re the only ones who can get it for her. “Mr. Stutts, let me carry her to the front office and I’ll come right back. I give you my word I won’t bring anyone back with me.”
    Stutts glances at Patrick, like he’s looking for an answer, his face blotchy red.
    “We may not have much time,” I tell him, turning my back to the kids, hoping they don’t hear.
    He gives me a long look. I stare back. Finally, he says, “Okay. Just you. You come right back. And don’t try anything. You hear?”
    “No problem,” I say, springing into action. Emery helps me lift the teacher as I bend down, slide my arms under her shoulders and knees, and pick her up from the floor. I shift Mrs. C.’s weight onto me and Emery drapes her arm over her body.
    “Where are you going?” Natalie asks.
    “Jake’s going to take her to find a doctor, sweetie,” Emery tells her.
    “Does she have to have a operation?” Alicia asks.
    “No, they’re just going to give her the medicine she needs.”
    “You okay here?” I ask Emery.
    She hesitates, then nods. “I’m fine. Go.”
    “Can we go, too?” Carlos asks.
    “Not right now, but maybe in a little bit,” Emery tells him. His lip trembles, and she leans down to speak to him; I notice she’s leaning on the desk, like she needs the support.
    “Emery, you sure you’re okay?” The color’s gone from her face, and I hate leaving her.
    “
Go
, Jake! I’m fine.”
    She realizes she’s snapped at me, and she changes her tone as she reaches out and pulls Carlos to her. “I need you to help me with these coloring puzzles,” she says to him. She turns to the other kids. “Will y’all show me what you’ve done so far?”
    The kids flock around her, several talking at once. They love to show off their work. She’s herding them to the back of the room as I turn to leave.
    I pause at the door, realizing I have no idea what’s going on in the hallway. It seems like a good time to give them a