Fabulous Five 032 - Class Trip Calamity (8 page)

The trip back home was pretty quiet. Laura slumped against
the window of the bus and didn't look at anyone. After a while, Jana leaned her
head on Randy's shoulder and went to sleep.

But at school Monday morning no one could stop talking about
what had happened on the school trip.

"And I mean to tell you, she was absolutely blotto,"
said Dekeisha, describing what had happened when Laura got sick again in the
rest room. "She could hardly stand up."

The Fabulous Five and some of their friends were clustered
at the fence before school.

Jana looked around, frowning. "Has anyone seen Laura
this morning?"

"Are you kidding?" asked Katie. "I'll bet she
couldn't show her face."

"I'll bet she couldn't, either," said Beth. Jana
was surprised to see that Beth was looking at her as if she had something else
to say.

Jana looked back at Beth, trying to say with her eyes that
she would listen.

"I just want you to know," Beth began in a shaky
voice, "that I did not drink anything on the bus after all. I decided you
guys were right. In fact, I'm sure more kids
said
they drank on the bus
than actually did."

Jana rushed forward and gave Beth a big hug. "I'm so
glad you didn't," she whispered, and the others murmured their agreement.

"What do you think Mr. Bell will do?" asked
Melanie. "Mr. Neal said they would deal with it today."

"The entire seventh grade will have to appear before
Teen Court," piped up Beth. When no one laughed, she shrugged and said, "Who
knows?"

"Well, one thing's certain," said Melanie, "school's
out day after tomorrow, so he can't punish us by cancelling any more trips or
anything like that."

"Are you forgetting the seventh-grade dinner dance this
Saturday night?" Katie reminded them.

"Wow," said Jana. "I did forget about that,
but surely he won't punish the whole class for something only a few kids did."

"I hope you're right," said Katie, "but we'll
have to wait and see."

It didn't take long to find out. The bell had no sooner rung
and the students gone to their homerooms when the public address system
crackled to life.

"This is Mr. Bell. I would like all seventh-graders to
go to the auditorium immediately for an emergency assembly."

Jana swallowed hard as the PA system went silent again. This
was it. What if the whole class got in trouble for what just a few kids had
done? It wouldn't be fair. She glanced across the room at Randy. He looked
worried, too.

Anything could happen she told herself. She thought about
the seventh-grade dinner dance again. It was a Wakeman tradition, and she and
her classmates had been looking forward to it all year. Or what if Mr. Bell did
something even worse. Could the kids who drank get held back in seventh grade?

Jana was amazed at how subdued the students were as they
filed into the auditorium and found seats. Usually kids were horsing around and
making lots of noise. But not today. They walked in in an orderly fashion and
sank into seats, talking barely above a whisper.

She and Randy managed to save seats for Katie, Melanie, and
Beth in the middle section near the back. There was still no sign of Laura,
although Jana could see Tammy and Melanie coming down the aisle, and she had
waved to Funny earlier in the hall.

Mr. Bell was sitting on the stage with the four teachers who
had been on the class trip. Behind them was a blackboard on wheels.

Jana fidgeted nervously in her seat. This is silly, she
scolded herself. Why should I be nervous? I didn't do anything.

When everyone was finally seated, Mr. Bell walked up to the
podium and adjusted the microphone. "Good morning, boys and girls,"
he began cheerfully.

Nobody answered.

"I'm sure you know why I called this assembly, so let's
get right down to business. It has been reported that while most of you behaved
yourselves very well and had a great time on the class trip last Saturday, a
few of you chose to break the law."

There was a stirring in the audience,

"That's right," Mr. Bell went on. "Alcohol
consumption by minors is against the law. It is also extremely dangerous."

He paused for a moment, and Jana suspected that it was to
let his remarks sink in.

"Now I'm going to ask you to help me make a couple of
lists." He nodded to Mr. Neal and Mr. Naset, who rolled the blackboard
forward. "The first one is all the reasons you can think of
for
drinking alcohol." He wrote "FOR" at the top of the board on the
lefthand side and then drew a line down the center. "Next, let's think of
all the reasons
against
drinking, especially by students your age."
This time he wrote "AGAINST" on the right side of the board. "Who
can give me a reason for drinking?"

The auditorium was as silent as a tomb. Kids looked around
wide-eyed, waiting to see if anyone would have the courage to speak.

Mr. Bell cleared his throat, and a few kids shuffled their
feet, but no one said anything.

"Can't anyone give me a reason for drinking?"
urged Mr. Bell.

Just then, to Jana's amazement, Randy got slowly to his
feet. "I think sometimes kids drink to forget about their problems,"
he said, and then sat down again.

Jana beamed at him.

"Thank you, Randy," said Mr. Bell. He turned and
wrote "To forget problems" under "FOR." "Does anyone
have any other ideas?"

This time there was whispering in the audience, as if a lot
of kids had ideas but were afraid to speak up.

Jana looked down the row at her friends and was surprised to
see Beth leaning forward in her seat. The next instant Beth jumped up.

"I have another one, Mr. Bell," she announced in a
loud, clear voice. She flicked a quick glance at Jana before she went on. "A
lot of kids do it because other kids pressure them and tell them it's cool."

Beth looked at Jana again as soon as she sat down. Her eyes were
shining, and Jana gave her a big smile.

When no one could think of any other reasons for drinking,
Mr. Bell moved over to the column labeled "AGAINST."

This time five kids stood up. Mr. Bell called on Shane
first.

"It can embarrass you and make you look stupid,"
said Shane.

"And it's against the law," offered Whitney
Larkin.

Standing next to Whitney, Curtis added, "It's
addictive."

"That's what I was going to say," said Alexis, and
then she sat down.

The only one left standing was Dekeisha. "It can make
you
sick,
" she said, making a terrible face.

When Mr. Bell had written all the reasons against drinking
on the board, he turned back to the audience and said, "I am going to deal
with those of you whom we know were drinking on an individual basis. Contrary
to the rumor floating around, the seventh-grade dinner dance will not be
cancelled."

A cheer went up, and Jana and Randy nodded and smiled at one
another.

"But," Mr. Bell went on in a serious voice, "I
hope all of you will make a copy of these reasons for and against drinking
alcohol and take them home with you. And then I hope you'll remember them the
next time someone pressures you to drink. I also hope you'll remember them when
you come back to school next fall, because you're going to be the
eighth-graders
."

A small cheer went up, and Jana and Randy nodded and grinned
at each other.

Mr. Bell smiled, too, and went on, "That means you're
going to be the role models for all the younger students. They're going to look
up to you and copy what you do. You're going to have a big responsibility, but
I know you can do it. I hope when school is out Wednesday, you'll all have a
wonderful summer and look forward to coming back to Wakeman Middle School in
the fall."

Jana walked home later that day thinking about the school
year that was ending. It had been scary at first, leaving Mark Twain Elementary
for junior high. In elementary school everyone had known each other and felt
secure, but junior high had changed all that, they had had to start all over,
meeting new friends, testing old relationships, and establishing new places for
themselves.

"But it was fun," she said aloud. "And next
year's going to be fun, too." Still, she couldn't help wondering how
different it would be when they were the oldest—the big deals on campus, as
Clarence had said. Will The Fabulous Five stay as close as they are now? she
wondered, especially now that Christie was coming back. Would they still stand
in their special spot by the fence? And would their class be able to be a good
influence on the younger kids? And what about Laura McCall? Would she change
over the summer or come back the same?

Jana was still thinking about these things when she reached
her apartment building. When she stepped inside the foyer, Mrs. Grogan, the
mail carrier, was stuffing letters into the boxes.

She looked up and smiled at Jana. "Hi there. You're in
luck today. I have a letter for you."

Jana looked at Mrs. Grogan in surprise. She hardly ever got
mail. "Thanks," she said, and took her own letter plus the stack of
bills and catalogs addressed to her mom and Pink.

There was no return address, but Jana held her breath as she
looked at the postmark.
Poughkeepsie
, New York.
She swallowed
hard. It was from her father.

Her mother and Pink weren't home from work yet, and Jana
dropped the rest of the mail on the kitchen counter and hurried to her room.
Sitting down on the edge of her bed, she examined the envelope. It was
definitely her father's handwriting.

Had he found all of her letters that Erma had hidden from
him? Had he written to her in secret so that Erma wouldn't find out?

Jana carefully opened the envelope and took out the letter.
She held her breath, almost afraid to read it.

Dear Jana
,

I know it's been a long time since I've written, and I'm
sorry about that. Erma wanted me to write sooner, but I honestly didn't know
how to tell you our big news.

Jana
,
honey
,
Erma and I are expecting a
baby in the fall. Isn't that wonderful? Sometimes I have to pinch myself to
believe it. I can't imagine what it's going to be like with a house filled with
baby bottles and diapers again. I hope I'm up to the responsibility; I'm sure
going to try. It's as if my life is starting all over again. As if I'm getting
a second chance now that I've sobered up.

Erma says you'll have to come and see us after the baby
is born
,
and I want that
,
too.

I love you
,
Dad

Jana stared at the letter until misty tears made the words
impossible to read. Her father did still care about her, and Erma hadn't been
hiding her letters from him, after all. She had been wrong to blame her
stepmother.

But a baby! Jana sank back against her pillow, trying to
comprehend what that was going to mean. For an instant she was angry. How dare
he have a new baby to love and take care of after ignoring her all her life! It
was obvious that this new person would come between her and her father now that
they might be starting to get acquainted again.

Jana shook her head resolutely. "No!" she said out
loud. "I won't let it be a problem. Besides, it's going to be wonderful
having a sister or brother, and it's even better that Dad's getting a second
chance."

Jana took a deep breath and thought of Beth. It was a shame
that Beth felt so worried about the prospect of a new baby in her family.
Babies, in Jana's opinion, were wonderful. Then she sat up and grinned. She ran
to the phone and dialed Beth's number.

"Have I ever got something to tell you!" she
practically shouted into the phone when Beth answered.

"What?" demanded Beth.

"I can't tell you over the phone," said Jana. "Can
I come over right now?"

"Of course," replied Beth. Then she added, "Just
a minute.

"Mom, Jana's coming over. Can she stay for supper?"
Jana heard Beth call out.

Jana didn't hear Mrs. Barry's response.

"Pleeeease," Beth begged.

"Well, I guess so," said Mrs. Barry.

"Jana? Mom says terrific," Beth told her, and Jana
chuckled.

A little while later the two girls were in Beth's room.

"So, what's the big secret?" asked Beth.

Jana looked at her friend and felt a smile stretch her mouth
all over her face. "You're not going to believe this," she began.

"Believe what?" demanded Beth.

Taking a deep breath, Jana said, "You're not the only
one who's going to have a new baby in the family."

"What!" gasped Beth. "Your mom and Pink?"

"No," said Jana. "I got a letter from my dad
today. He and Erma are going to have one. Isn't that great?"

Beth looked at Jana with concern. "So that's why you
haven't heard from your dad in a while. I'm glad he's not drinking again or
anything like that, but are you sure you're happy about it? I mean, that little
kid is going to have the dad you never had. Aren't you jealous?"

"No," Jana said quietly. "I'm glad my dad's
getting a second chance. Besides, I've got Mom and Pink, and Erma's already
said I have to come and see the baby as soon as it's born. That means you and I
will be able to compare baby pictures."

"Yeah, but you're still luckier than I am. You live too
far away to baby-sit!"

The girls were still giggling to themselves at the dinner
table later on. It seemed as if Beth was feeling better about the possibility
of her own family's new baby now. In fact, she had said just before they came
downstairs that she thought she could handle the whole idea now.

They had barely filled their plates when Beth gave Jana a
goofy smile and said, "Mom, there's something I need to tell you."