Senior Prank (9781620957295) by Tom Bunevich Read Free Book Online Page B

them cash and some of his food. The youngster looked scared and wanted to avoid harm. He handed over his two slices of pizza.
    Elvis told Jose and Lamont to follow him. As they neared the table where the shakedown had taken place, Elvis approached the two thugs who were walking away with the pizza.
    â€œFellows, you need to give that back to the kid,” Elvis stated. “He didn’t do anything to you. I saw you take it, now give it back.”
    â€œElvest, or whatever your name is, stay out of this,” one of the thugs answered, “or else you’ll be wearing this pizza on your face.”
    â€œFirst, the name is Elvis. Second, it’s called stealing. Third is the kid doesn’t deserve it. Someone’s got to stand up to what’s wrong. You know you’re wrong.”
    It looked as though we might have an old western stand off, but after a few seconds, one of the thugs said,”It ain’t worth it. Here’s your pizza, kid. Now let’s go elsewhere.” He handed the pizza to Elvis. The other thug followed tossing his slice at Elvis who caught it with both hands.
    Elvis returned the pizza to the shakedown victim. A few of the students nearby clapped. They knew of Elvis’s reputation for mischief, but often saw the other side. He knew right from wrong, the limitations, and how to handle almost any situation. Although bullying was ignored by many students, Elvis always stood up for those being bullied.
    Once a bully took a swing at Elvis when Elvis did an intervention. The bully missed and Elvis tackled him before a teacher came to the situation. The bully was suspended, but when students that witnessed the incident stood up for Elvis, he wasn’t punished.
    Interestingly, the cafeteria was a place of action. If one ever wants to see the real high school, sit in the cafeteria during lunch time. First, everyone complains of the food, but because it’s free to most students, it is consumed. About 40 per-cent of the school’s enrollment was qualified for the free lunches as a result of family income but somehow almost 75 per-cent of the students received them.
    It was well known that since the administrators did not check on the validity of income that people often lied on the application in order to qualify their children for the freebies. The school benefitted because the more students in the lower income areas, the more the federal government paid to the school. The more the school received from the feds, the less it had to obtain from local taxpayers. School districts love money; the more the merrier. School systems never have enough money.
    The cafeteria is the place where dates are arranged; food is sold, stolen or shared; homework is sold, stolen, done or shared; tests are discussed; fashion shows unknowingly take place; fights are started, and causes and activities promoted and marketed. In the last 20 minutes of the lunch period, students are permitted to play on the nearby basketball courts and open field. It’s the time to burn some steam and testosterone.
    Elvis, Jose and Lamont returned to their table after the thug encounter to finish their lunches and work on their master plan.
    â€œI think we ought to use Missy in the Honor Society gathering, Hian in Ms. Heron’s class and Bear with the football team,” Elvis said. “Those would be perfect for our plan. We’ve got to get people that will make an lasting impression.”
    Jose and Lamont nodded in agreement. Ten minutes before the bell was to ring ending lunch, a few members of the school newspaper came by delivering a special four-page edition of the school newspaper to promote the governor’s visit.
    The trio opened to the second page where there was a story about how a school receives its All American school score. There were 10 categories worth 10 points each, a total of 100 possible points. Usually a score of 90 or better was needed. A panel of two judges who traveled