Brian Walker and his girlfriend Patricia Monet were starting to leave their fourth period class. Somehow, the young couple not only managed to have Sophomore lunch and study hall together, but also every even hour class period this semester.
"What do you want to do after school today?" Brian asked with a smile, knowing they would soon have to split to go to their respective fifth period classes.
"You mean besides studying and homework?" she teased, knowing what was on her boyfriend's mind.
"Well..." he began to say, when their cellphones began to chime receipt of an incoming text.
Knowing that specific ring tone well, both stopped and looked at the message.
EMERGENCY COUNCIL MEETING IN SESSION. YOUR SERVICES REQUIRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER SCHOOL.
"Change of plans," Brian realized. "I'll have to call my mom and give her the heads up. Otherwise, would you like to walk over to the Council building together?"
"No," said Patricia, surprising him, "but I will share the taxi ride with you. I set some money aside from my council wages for an emergency like this."
"Smart woman. Most of my pay goes to help my mom fight all the debt my no good father left us," replied Brian. "No wonder I—" he started to say, then stopped himself in mid-word.
"No wonder you what?" asked Patricia, hoping for what he was about to say was exactly how she felt too.
"No wonder I—" and then the tardiness warning bell rang, indicating everyone only had two minutes left to get to their next class.
"Dang!" exclaimed Brian. "Gotta go," he added, before leaving Patricia in the hallway. No wonder I love you so much, thought Brian, silently expressing the love in his heart as he headed for his fifth period class.
I love you too Brian Walker, Patricia Monet thought to herself, as if knowing what was on her boyfriend's mind before turning to head for her next class.
MEANWHILE...
"Hi bab. Dust detting dressed," said Eric Anderson, now defurred and getting dress within the emergency room of Moon Lake General Hospital. ("Hi dad. Just getting dressed," for those who don't speak broken nose.)
"How you feeling son?" William asked, turning his head so Eric might have a bit of privacy.
"Okay. Doc daid dose should be dell by morning." ("Okay. Doc said nose should be well by morning.")
"Listen, son..." began William, not sure how to say what he wanted to.
"Dat derk in dail?" asked Eric, referring to Jeff Wilson, the werepig teacher who punched him in the nose once the private detective Benton Knight hired exposed Wilson's secret of actually not having a teaching degree. ("That jerk in jail?")
"Should be by now. Listen Eric," said William.
"Deah?" ("Yeah?")
William turned and saw that his son was now dressed from the waist down. "I'm proud of you."
"For what?"
"I know you transformed out of instinct when you were hurt, but you kept your cool and didn't give into your anger. A lesser man like Wilson..."
Eric just nodded his head and smiled before reaching to put his shirt on.
"But where did you get an investigator?"
"Detting de detective was Frieda's idea. Not only for me, dut everyone who might have him in de future doo, like her and Spencer. It was dust quicker to use one of her bab's." ("Getting the detective was Frieda's idea. Not only for me, but for everyone who might have him in the future too, like her and Spencer. It was just quicker to use one of her dad's.")
"I see. What are your plans for the rest of the day?" asked William hopefully.
"I dow it's late, dut I want to finish de school day. Show de Wilsons of de world I'm tough. After all, I am a Senior dow," said Eric, referring to the fact that he had been rapidly promoted to that grade level just this year, skipping the Sophomore and Junior levels completely because of his intelligence. ("I know it's late, but I want to finish the school day. Show the Wilsons of the world I'm tough. After all, I am a Senior now.)
"Okay. Sure," agreed William, after figuring out what Eric had said.
"Bab?" ("Dad?")
"Yes son?"
"Do you have any dans for after school? I'd like to hang out with you, if you don't mind." ("Do you have any plans for after school? I'd like to hang out with you, if you don't mind.")
"I'd like that Eric. But what about Spencer and Frieda?" asked his father.
"After dey see dat I'm all right, dey'll understand," said Eric, before hugging his father. ("After they see that I'm all right, they'll understand.")