stood next to Madeleine, trying their best to breathe regularly as she sprayed copious amounts of repellent. The
Punchalowers, seated in the pew across from Garrison, maintained severe expressions while Lulu focused on Theo’s quivering
cheeks. Lulu found it indefensible to cry in public. She was a Punchalower and Punchalowers didn’t cry. As a matter of fact,
she wasn’t even sure they had tear ducts.
The bus station’s arched wooden door creaked open with the guttural growl of a feral cat. All four children turned, expectantly
waiting to see the next School of Fear student arrive. Their eyes focused on the dark brown cowboy boots before moving up
to khaki slacks and finally stopping on an obscenely large gun holster. Theo’s heart beat fast, as it always did, in the presence
of a deadly weapon. On the verge of screaming, he noticed a shiny badge on the man’s chest; this was the sheriff. He was approximately
forty-five years old with a long moustache that hung over his mouth. As if preparing for a speech, the sheriff cleared his
throat to get everyone’s attention.
“Hello, I’m Sheriff John McAllister, Farmington’s law enforcement, dog trainer, and driver for the town’s only car service.
I will be escorting the four of you to School of Fear’s campus a few miles out. As stated in the brochure, parents are not
allowed to accompany students to the campus, so you are going to need to say your goodbyes here.”
“Hey Sheriff,” Garrison said while raising his hand, “will we be driving over any water? Or next to it?”
“Son, I have been made aware of all of your situations and have taken precautions so that each of you will have an enjoyable
journey.”
“Would anyone object to a covering of bug repellent in the automobile?”
“I assume, miss, that you are Madeleine Masterson — fear of spiders, insects, and generally anything that crawls.”
“That is most accurate, sir.”
“As long as no one else objects, you are more than welcome to spray away. It’s the white van out front.”
“Are we waiting on other students?” Lulu asked hopefully.
“Today’s trip is only the four of you. Remember, you must leave all electronic equipment such as cell phones, computers, BlackBerries,
Sidekicks, pagers, Game Boys, et cetera with your parents.”
Theo opened his mouth, then scrunched his face in a silent howl while frantically clinging to his mother’s leg. Life without
a cell phone meant being completely removed from all that he held dear, and he simply couldn’t stand for that. Theo was many
things, but a passive observer of life was not one of them.
“Mom,
please
let me keep my cell phone. I will put it on silent and hide it from them. This man is suspicious, don’t you think? He looks
a lot like that guy we saw on the FBI’s most wanted list at the post office. Actually, on second glance, it
is
him! I’d recognize those child-hating eyes anywhere. I’ll distract him while you get the car. Go!”
“For Heaven’s sake, Theo, he’s the sheriff!”
“That’s his cover — smart, isn’t it? But not smart enough to fool us. Let’s get out of here.”
“You are not going anywhere.”
“Don’t you remember the poster? We are in the presence of a certified class-A maniac who tortures chubby kids with glasses.”
“I don’t remember the poster mentioning anything about chubby kids with glasses.”
“We don’t have time to debate this; we need to hit the road. Seriously, we should have left three seconds ago!”
“Your imagination is out of control.”
“Some say imagination, others say psychic vision. Are you really willing to take that chance on your youngest, most sensitive
son?”
“I’m pretty sure we ruled out all psychic abilities after the Yosemite trip. Now listen carefully, you aren’t getting out
of this, do you understand me?”
“Then show some mercy, woman! Let me keep my cell phone!”
Theo’s plump face was fraught
Punchalowers, seated in the pew across from Garrison, maintained severe expressions while Lulu focused on Theo’s quivering
cheeks. Lulu found it indefensible to cry in public. She was a Punchalower and Punchalowers didn’t cry. As a matter of fact,
she wasn’t even sure they had tear ducts.
The bus station’s arched wooden door creaked open with the guttural growl of a feral cat. All four children turned, expectantly
waiting to see the next School of Fear student arrive. Their eyes focused on the dark brown cowboy boots before moving up
to khaki slacks and finally stopping on an obscenely large gun holster. Theo’s heart beat fast, as it always did, in the presence
of a deadly weapon. On the verge of screaming, he noticed a shiny badge on the man’s chest; this was the sheriff. He was approximately
forty-five years old with a long moustache that hung over his mouth. As if preparing for a speech, the sheriff cleared his
throat to get everyone’s attention.
“Hello, I’m Sheriff John McAllister, Farmington’s law enforcement, dog trainer, and driver for the town’s only car service.
I will be escorting the four of you to School of Fear’s campus a few miles out. As stated in the brochure, parents are not
allowed to accompany students to the campus, so you are going to need to say your goodbyes here.”
“Hey Sheriff,” Garrison said while raising his hand, “will we be driving over any water? Or next to it?”
“Son, I have been made aware of all of your situations and have taken precautions so that each of you will have an enjoyable
journey.”
“Would anyone object to a covering of bug repellent in the automobile?”
“I assume, miss, that you are Madeleine Masterson — fear of spiders, insects, and generally anything that crawls.”
“That is most accurate, sir.”
“As long as no one else objects, you are more than welcome to spray away. It’s the white van out front.”
“Are we waiting on other students?” Lulu asked hopefully.
“Today’s trip is only the four of you. Remember, you must leave all electronic equipment such as cell phones, computers, BlackBerries,
Sidekicks, pagers, Game Boys, et cetera with your parents.”
Theo opened his mouth, then scrunched his face in a silent howl while frantically clinging to his mother’s leg. Life without
a cell phone meant being completely removed from all that he held dear, and he simply couldn’t stand for that. Theo was many
things, but a passive observer of life was not one of them.
“Mom,
please
let me keep my cell phone. I will put it on silent and hide it from them. This man is suspicious, don’t you think? He looks
a lot like that guy we saw on the FBI’s most wanted list at the post office. Actually, on second glance, it
is
him! I’d recognize those child-hating eyes anywhere. I’ll distract him while you get the car. Go!”
“For Heaven’s sake, Theo, he’s the sheriff!”
“That’s his cover — smart, isn’t it? But not smart enough to fool us. Let’s get out of here.”
“You are not going anywhere.”
“Don’t you remember the poster? We are in the presence of a certified class-A maniac who tortures chubby kids with glasses.”
“I don’t remember the poster mentioning anything about chubby kids with glasses.”
“We don’t have time to debate this; we need to hit the road. Seriously, we should have left three seconds ago!”
“Your imagination is out of control.”
“Some say imagination, others say psychic vision. Are you really willing to take that chance on your youngest, most sensitive
son?”
“I’m pretty sure we ruled out all psychic abilities after the Yosemite trip. Now listen carefully, you aren’t getting out
of this, do you understand me?”
“Then show some mercy, woman! Let me keep my cell phone!”
Theo’s plump face was fraught
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