No Rules by R. A. Spratt Read Free Book Online Page B

insect,’ said the Headmaster. ‘For the next ten weeks, while I’m on professional probation for the debacle of the sackings, I want you to be so inactive that you go completely unnoticed.’
    â€˜I’ll try my best,’ said Friday.
    â€˜No, I want you to do far better than your best,’ said the Headmaster. ‘I’ve seen your best up until now and it isn’t impressive. I want you to stop being yourself and do your very best impersonation of a normal student at this school.’
    â€˜There are no normal students at this school,’ Melanie pointed out.
    â€˜There are a great deal who are more normal than you two,’ said the Headmaster. ‘For the next ten weeks, copy them!’

Chapter 8

The New Regime
    The next morning an assembly had been called. Melanie was pleased because she had some of her best naps during assembly. Friday was happy too. She was going to observe the other students and see if she could get a better understanding of what ‘normal’ looked like. She was putting in a concerted effort. She had given up her brown cardigan, indeed all her own clothes, and was wearing an outfit of Melanie’s. But it did not fit. Not just in terms of size. Melaniewas a lot taller than Friday. It didn’t fit her personality, either. Friday did not look right in clothes that were ironed and neatly presented.
    The music started and all the students stood as the teachers paraded in from the back of the hall. The Headmaster led the way and the new vice principal followed him. VP Pete wasn’t wearing tie-dye today. He was wearing a very bright floral Hawaiian shirt.
    â€˜I don’t understand why I have to dress like a normal person when VP Pete doesn’t,’ said Friday.
    â€˜Because you’re not in charge,’ said Melanie.
    â€˜They should seriously think about asking me,’ said Friday. ‘I can handle quantum mechanics, DNA coding and Russian syntax, so school administration can’t be too hard.’
    â€˜I think school administration is less about knowing the right answer and more about putting up with people,’ said Melanie.
    The music stopped as the teaching staff found their seats on stage.
    â€˜Good morning,’ began the Headmaster. ‘As you know, we have had chaos here at the school for the past few days.’
    â€˜Hurray!’ cheered the more high-spirited members of the school community.
    â€˜No, “hurray” is not the correct response,’ snapped the Headmaster. ‘The appalling behaviour of Ian Wainscott specifically and the rest of you generally has seriously jeopardised the standing of this school.’
    The students were listening now.
    â€˜Several of the teachers are threatening to sue,’ continued the Headmaster. ‘Two students got sprained ankles while trying to break into the kitchen, the local pizzeria has taken an apprehended violence order against all the fifth form girls, and Vice Principal Dean has been hospitalised because of the strain.’
    Several students sniggered.
    â€˜This is not good!’ yelled the Headmaster. ‘We are now under immense scrutiny. The school council and the police will be watching everything that goes on at this school closely. Highcrest Academy has long had a tradition of mediocre academic standards, but if we degenerate into anarchy again, these official bodies will take action and close us down. Sebastian Dowell was the school’s founder, and according to the terms of his will, the school can be disbanded if the student body are decided to be dangerously undisciplined.’
    There was muttering in the assembly hall. Just because the students didn’t try hard in their lessons did not mean they didn’t have great affection for the school.
    â€˜In fact, they have already taken action,’ said the Headmaster. ‘They have appointed a new interim vice principal. I have been told things need to change here