"No...wait!" Edwin cried, reaching out to grab the bag before Ms. Santos could.
Instead, she gave his hand a harsh slap and snatched the bag from the spot where it lay. "Mr. Dias, you had your chance to explain yourself! If you want this back, come see me after detention!"
Edwin found that long-forgotten need to obey authority welling up inside him again and he backed down, leaning against the wall and putting his hands in his pockets.
Meanwhile, Jack continued to panic on the floor, putting his front paws on Ms. Santos's legs and pointing his snout at Edwin. She looked up at the group and shook her head. "You boys ought to be ashamed, torturing this poor animal like this. Why have you put a shirt on him? He could get tangled!" She quickly slipped the shirt off and lifted Jack up into her arms. He squirmed and made small whines of destress. "Now, all of you go to your seats!"
Jack's cronies took one look at Edwin and ran to their desks, sitting as far away from him as possible. He half smiled. On one hand, he was sure Jack's bullying days were over. On the other hand, if he didn't get the emitter back, Jack would be a dog forver and he himseld would have to repeat six whole years of his life! Did he really want that? "Has anyone seen Jack Russel?" Mrs. Santos asked, checking the role sheet. Everyone that had witnessed the transformation kept their heads down.
Edwin spent the rest of class, easy to his advanced brain, watching the book bag on top of Ms. Santos's desk. Jack stayed in the corner, giving small yips and trying to jump up and grab the bag.
At the end of class, everyone cleared out and Ms. Santos ordered Edwin to go see the principal. While he was talked to, all he could think about was the classroom. What if his teacher discovered the emitter and fiddled with it? What if Jack somehow got to it first? He shivered wondering what Jack would have in store for him.
Finally, twenty agonizing minutes later, he was let go. Rushing down the hallway, he threw open the door of Ms. Santos's room.