Cool School by John Marsden Page A

class.
    â€˜He’s scared of germs,’ a kid tells you again. ‘Terrified of them.’
    You don’t see the big guy for the rest of the day, but a boy tells you that he’s spent all the time in the bathroom, scrubbing himself with Dettol. Next morning you find he’s swapped lockers with another kid so that he’s now on the other side of the school to you. You laugh.
    You can’t believe that you fooled him so easily. But later that day you start to feel funny. You feel all hot and dizzy. By the time you get home you can hardly stand up. When your mother gets in you stagger across the room to her. ‘Err, I don’t feel so good,’ you tell her.
    She takes a close look at you. ‘Let’s see your chest,’ she says. You unbutton your shirt and to your shock there’s a big red rash there.
    â€˜Oh no!’ you groan. You don’t need your mother to tell you. Yes, you’ve got German measles!

ou’re lying,’ he says.
    â€˜That’s not very nice,’ you say, trying desperately to think of something else to scare him with. He’s taken another step towards you, and his hands are reaching for your throat.
    â€˜All right, I’ll tell you the truth,’ you shout.
    He hesitates, and you just have time to think of something to say.
    â€˜I’ve got hypoimaginoliosis,’ you say.
    â€˜You do?’ he growls. But there’s just the faintest trace of uncertainty in his eyes.
    â€˜Yes!’ you cry. ‘I didn’t want to tell anyone, but I’ve got an extreme case of it. The doctors have given me . . .’ you try to squeeze a tear out of your eye . . . ‘they’ve given me three months. If I’m lucky.’
    â€˜Oh gee.’ The big guy stands there looking embarrassed. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t know.’
    â€˜Well,’ you say heroically. ‘I don’t like to talk about it. I don’t want any fuss.’
    For the rest of the day the big guy carries your bag around the school for you. Next day he gives you a box of chocolates. Next day he beats up a kid who doesn’t hold a door open for you. You enjoy being looked after like this, so you don’t complain. There’s only one problem. What are you going to tell him in three month’s time?

o your amazement he actually stops. As you’d have trouble spelling kung-fu, let alone doing it, you’re very amazed. You stand there on your one leg, still balanced but not sure what to do next. Then a slight breeze comes blowing through the door. You feel yourself swaying. ‘Oh no!’ you think. ‘Not that!’ But yes, it is that. Before you have time to consider a plan of action you fall straight over. How stupid do you feel? One minute you’re a martial arts warrior, the next minute you’re on the floor. Through dazed eyes you see the towering figure of the Incredible Hulk standing above you. You close your eyes in terror.
    You’re about to cop severe punishment!

on’t be such a wimp. Take the risk and go to 53. I mean, after all, it’s only a story.

ell, you’ve talked Sam into it, though you half wish you hadn’t. Still, it’s time you used your electronics knowledge for something.
    You give Sam the easy job of getting information, and by the next morning it’s done. It’s all there: Ms Janzen’s desk is third from the door in staff room two. ‘Pretty impressive, Sam,’ you say, after studying the info. Then you proceed to eat the note. ‘Can’t be too careful,’ you say. ‘We should have eaten the last one.’
    Later that morning you ask permission to leave class. ‘Touch of gastro,’ you say, making glugging noises deep in your throat, just to show you’re serious. Once you’re out in the corridor you race to staff room two. You knock on the door and wait. There’s no answer. That’s cool. If there had