Class Is Not Dismissed! by Gitty Daneshvari Page B

going to be arrested, I would want it to be with my
     besties! Oh my gosh, we’re besties behind bars!”
    Ignoring Hyacinth’s comments, Theo started walking around the small room. “All I can say is thank heavens I caught that
Law & Order
marathon, or I’d be pretty freaked out.”
    “We almost crashed a hundred times on the highway, we’re in a police station waiting to be questioned, and we’re late for
     a beauty pageant where one of Mrs. Wellington’s rivals may out the school. How is this my life?” Garrison asked, throwing
     his hands up in the air.
    “I feel the answer to that question may take longer than we really have time for here. Do you mind if we come back to that?”
     Theo asked earnestly.
    As Garrison shook his head at Theo, a large and intimidating female police officer entered the room with a tray of candy and
     a really big smile.
    “Hi, guys. How’s everyone doing today?” she asked as she pulled out a chair. “I’m Officer Patty, and I’m going to ask you
     a few questions. But first, does anyone want any candy?”
    “I do!” Theo said quickly.
    “Didn’t your mother teach you not to take candy from strangers?” Lulu asked severely.
    “Weren’t you listening? Her name’s Officer Patty, so she’s hardly a stranger.”
    “A stranger is someone you don’t know, and we don’t know Officer Patty, so put down the chocolate bar.”
    Theo’s face was racked with misery and torment as he dropped the chocolate bar back on the tray. After all the shenanigans
     and near-death experiences on the road, he could really have used a sugar rush.
    “I’m a police officer. You can trust me,” Officer Patty said with a smile toward Theo. “Now, who wants to tell me what happened?”
    “Hello, Officer Patty,” Theo began. “My name is… Th—Hank… yes, my name is Thank… like Thank you… my parents are big on politeness.
     I would really appreciate it if we could not do the whole fingerprinting thing or mug shot… I really want to keep this out
     of theschool paper if possible… could make reelection pretty tough…”
    “Thank,” Lulu said, “she’s not arresting you, so you can relax. Your hall monitor status is safe.”
    “It’s true, Officer Patty, I’m one of yours… a fellow badge-carrying… well, actually, mine is more of a sash, but—”
    “Thank? Maybe you could stop talking for a second?” Lulu interrupted. “Officer Patty, we need to be released and so does Mrs.
     Wellington.”
    “About this Mrs. Wellington,” Officer Patty said as she pulled out a notebook. “Who exactly is she?”
    “She’s our—”
    “Don’t say it!” Madeleine interrupted.
    “She’s our camp counselor,” Lulu finished.
    “Yes, she’s our camp counselor!” Madeleine seconded enthusiastically.
    “What’s the name of this camp?” Officer Patty asked doubtfully.
    “Camp Theo,” Theo said with a huge smile.
    “Camp Theo? I’ve never heard of it.”
    “Oh, yes, it’s a small little place in the woods where everyone hugs hello, the kitchen never closes,” Theo saidwith a reflective expression, “and there’s always a chocolate on your pillow.”
    “That sounds like
sooo
much fun!” Hyacinth added.
    Nearby Mrs. Wellington and Schmidty sat in a small and dingy holding cell. Mrs. Wellington held her nose as Schmidty attempted
     to fan the area in front of her face. Two officers sat on the other side of the bars staring at the odd pair, much as one
     would watch animals at the zoo.
    “Excuse me, young men, but I must get out of here. There is something extremely important happening today, and I haven’t the
     time to be arrested. Couldn’t we reschedule this whole thing for a later date? I could even bring tea sandwiches and pastries.”
    “Lady, you are a real piece of work,” one officer said, shaking his head in disbelief. In all his years as a cop, he had never
     dealt with a woman in a tutu, let alone one accompanied by a man with the most elaborate comb-over