Chapter Four - You'll Be Hearing From My Lawyer!

Principal Rockwell herded the monstrosity of kids out of the building. 

A pile of wet, paint-ish, looking, snotty kids. Mr Toby would not be pleased.

And also why was a boy wearing a Cinderella dress in school? If he wasn't right, this had to be the month of July. Halloween was still a long yet. 

Oh. It looks like that boy Josh. The boy he caught with an improper description of a nude woman. The boy he'd bullied into his numerous tasks. The boy who didn't let him under his skin.

Most of the kids fashionable clothes were already streaked with stumps of paints. Red mixed with blue, amber, spots of pink and bubbles were floating out of the school. The younger kids giggled and tried to catch them, clearly enjoying the scene. One particular kid streaked the paint on his face like he'd seen Dwayne Johnson do in the movies. 'I'm indestructible' he said, giggling. 

The principal stood on the water fountain outside the school, the only dias high enough for everyone to are him. The slabs of bricks were thin though. "Hey!" He screamed, waving his hands so he'd get their attention. A few cars passing by had cast uninterested glances from time to time. 

A teacher handed him a mobile loudspeaker to him. Better you than me' his grim face mocked him.

He cleared his throat into the loudspeaker, checking if it was on. "Students" his voice boomed in the crisp air of the morning, turning the remaining heads who'd point blanked ignored him.

"I don't know what this is all about" he continued "this is The Greatest Showman shit". The older members snickered among themselves.

He covered his mouth. This were kids, they weren't supposed to cuss yet. "I meant sheep". More snickering.

"I don't know who did all these but if you think you just pranked a whole school, then you're jolly wrong. The bubble bath will be used to clean all germs you guys have brought here". All that in one breath.

"I know who did this. And I'll point him out. You think you're really smart, aren't you? But you left your bag outside the crime scene. Taylor Presley step out".

A lot of pushing and laughing later, a little meek boy stepped out, singled out by his peers. He had skin the color of chocolate. He was short for his age and was sporting dark disheveled hair. "I didn't do anything!" He sniffed.

The principal's face hardened. "Can you explain why I found your bag near the scene of the crime?" You're suspended for a week. I hope that teaches you a lesson".

"Some boys took it from me!" He defended. "I don't even know how it got there!"

"Then can you explain this?" He raised a half full bottle of itchy powder high in the air. A loud 'ooooooh' erupted from the students. Busy hands were still scratching their bodies.

"Taylor didn't do it". Jamie Trent, his best and equally short friend shouted from the crowd. "He can't even hurt a fly". More snickering. The teachers were inside the school, trying to stop the water from pouring.

Taylor inwardly facepalmed. Thank you Jamie, for letting everyone know I can't hurt a fly".

"Good point". Principal Rockwell said."but technically, he didn't hurt anyone. He pranked the whole school".

"You've got to believe me. That one time he caught a bug for science class, he made friends with it and let it go".

"That doesn't matter. For all I know, he could have been spray painting his neighbourhood".

"I'm his next door neighbor and we've never had to complain of anything".

The principal rules it out. "I'll like to see your parents tomorrow. Maybe you should see a guidance counselor". He nodded absentmindedly. "Maybe you should even see a psychiatrist..." He mumbled. 

His sentence was cut short when a blue Peugeot screeched and slammed into the curb. White fumes of smoke belched out the exhaust. A tall brunette lady wearing Harry Potter glasses, opened the door and slammed it so hard, the hinges rattled.

One kid shuddered.

Her feet was clothed in flats and a small, black handbag dangled from her shoulder. She was wearing a business suit. A smart, black skirt sat attractively on her figure. She didn't look like someone with kids.

Her long, dark curly hair bounced in front of her face, and as she approached, she pushed it behind her ears. Her sharp eyes seemed to miss nothing as they darted about. If anybody hadn't seen her, they'd definitely be staring now.

She sucked in a breath before she spoke. She looked like an amanuensis. "What in the name of God is going on here?" She breathed.

"Why aren't you inside learning"? She brushed her fingers tenderly over Taylor's forehead. "And why are you wet?"

A tear slipped from Taylor's eyes. "Ma'am, your son was involved in all this. He pranked the school". 

She jerked away in surprise. "Taylor wouldn't do that. He couldn't kill a fly". Taylor rolled his eyes. 

Thanks mom for embarrassing me in front of my friends.

"This" Principal Rockwell raised the incriminating piece of evidence up high "was discovered in his bag near the storage room. Our water system has been tempered with and I'm sure he deliberately set off the fire alarm system".

"So you saw my son's bag lying around and you automatically assumed he did it? She poked his chest in annoyance. He teetered over the edge but balanced himself in time. 

"W-well no-"

"Did you see him doing anything you implied?"

"N-no no-not really" he stuttered. 

"Bullshit!" She gritted her teeth. "And give me that!" She snatched Taylor's bag out of his hands. "I'm withdrawing Taylor from this school". She grabbed Taylor's hand with her free one.

"You'll be hearing from my lawyer soon". She promised. The principal's face turned ashen. More 'oooooohs' from the students.

She poked his chest again then whipped around and dragged him with her. Jamie accompanied them.

She didn't see the principal topple off his makeshift dais and fall into the water fountain. He landed with a thud and lots of splashing.

The car screeched once again, raising dust in the air, little wisps of smoke lingering in the air.

After realizing he wasn't about to drown, he stood and wrung water out of his shirt. 

"He wasn't particularly bright so I shouldn't be sad". He added wistfully.

"Hey look!" One kid piped "the mean lady is coming back". The kid pointed to a similar car, cruising silently down the road.

He toppled over again.