April Fool's

April Fool's

As I walk into Principal Taylor's office, I wonder who glued Mrs. Shoemaker to her chair. It would have been a hilarious April Fool's prank if the old, faded glue bottle hadn't been hidden in my desk. My best friend, Sarah, sits on a bench in the office with other students, crying like a baby. " I didn't write those things, " she moans, tears streaming down her face. " I was practicing my tuba all morning! " She explains how someone wrote nasty messages about Mr. Kendall on the board in her handwriting. Each of the other students is in trouble for some prank they claim they didn't commit.

Someone covered the gym floor with vegetable oil and blocked the toilets in the bathrooms with handfuls of dead leaves. Someone also stuck old bologna under the cafeteria tables, so the whole place stinks like a garbage dump. The phone rings, and Ms. Nathan, the secretary, answers it and swiftly hangs up. " All morning, kids keep calling and laughing, " she says.

Principal Taylor waves his hands to silence us, but as he's about to speak, the phone rings. Ms. Nathan answers it with an abrupt " Hello! " She points to Sarah and says, " It's for you. ' Sarah takes the phone and says, “ Hello? I can barely hear you. Jake, is that you?" When my little brother's name is mentioned, I go to the phone, and Sarah cradles it between us so I can listen. " Basement . . . find . . . are . . . tee . . . " It's a young boy's voice, but I can't tell if it's Jake's. " Basement . . . find . . . the . . . are . . . tee, " he repeats before the phone suddenly floods with laughing children and then goes dead.

" I've spoken with your teachers, and they have some pretty compelling evidence, " Mr. Taylor continues. “ As punishment, you will stay after school until all these pranks are cleaned up. " We all groan, and a few of us offer more protests of our innocence. " I'll call all your parents to inform them you'll be remaining late on school grounds today and why. Now, return to class. "

As Sarah and I shuffle down the hallway, she groans, " I'm in so much trouble. " “ What was with that phone call?" I ask. " We've heard that creepy laughter before. " " I was trying not to think about it, " Sarah whispers. " It seems to follow us. The voice said we need to look around the basement. " “ No way I'm going down there! " Sarah hisses. " The principal thinks we're in class, and our teachers think we're in the office, so now's the perfect time. "