Just Another Hero by Sharon M. Draper Page A

were harder;
    His mind was flooded with fear…..
    In the darkness, the horrible shrieks of pain
    And defeat, the tears torn out of Grendel’s
    Taut throat,…caught in the arms
    Of him who of all the men on earth
    Was the strongest.
    â€œNow is that a hero or what?” Spoon asked the class triumphantly. “I might want to marry this guy!”
    â€œHe couldn’t handle you, Spoon!” Roscoe teased. The class laughed.
    Jericho raised his hand. “Yeah, but at the end Beowulf died! What good was all that hero stuff if he gets killed anyway?” The look in Jericho’s eyes was intense. Kofi figured he must be thinking about his cousin Josh.
    Mrs. Witherspoon paused and looked thoughtful. “Even heroes die, Jericho,” she said sadly.
    â€œMaybe a dude’s gotta kick it before he can be called a hero,” Cleveland suggested.
    â€œOr maybe it just makes the story better,” said Rosa.
    â€œLots of stories end when the hero marries the girl and they live happily ever after,” Olivia said, shooting a glance at Jericho.
    â€œAw, people think that stuff is real, but it’s only in fairy tales,” Cleveland scoffed. “That’s why there’s so many divorces.” He got more than a few approving nods.
    â€œTrust me. ‘Happily ever after’ is not what it’s cracked up to be,” Arielle said with a frown. “Sometimes the good-looking hero turns out to be the beast.”
    â€œCould the beast be the hero?” Spoon asked.
    â€œNot in my house,” said Arielle quietly.
    Mrs. Witherspoon looked at her strangely. “Let’s have a little talk one day soon, Arielle, all right?”
    â€œOkay,” Arielle replied, but she didn’t look up.
    Spoon then asked, “Does the monster get to have feelings and desires and live a nice, long life gobbling people up?”
    Susan raised her hand. Everything about her was graceful, Kofi noticed, even her arm movements. “I don’t think so,” she said clearly. “Bad guys need to be punished.”
    The teacher nodded with approval. “Let’s take a look at the section where the dragon takes a bite out of crime, a.k.a. Beowulf.” She read:
    Then the monster charged again, vomiting
    Fire, wild with pain, rushed out
    Fierce and dreadful, its fear forgotten.
    Watching for its chance it drove its tusks
    Into Beowulf’s neck; he staggered, the blood
    Came flooding forth, fell like rain.
    The class, stunned into silence, said nothing for a second. Then another fire alarm shattered the mood and power of that moment. Everyone jumped, including the teacher.
    â€œI’ve had about enough of these interruptions!” Mrs. Witherspoon cried out in frustration as she gathered her grade book, her coat, and her purse. “How am I supposed to teach? We may as well hold class out in the snow! Let’s go, pups. Out the door, down the hall, and outside. Don’t forget your coats.”
    â€œYou think it’s another false alarm?” Dana asked Kofi as they hurried out, holding hands.
    â€œProbably.”
    â€œWhat does Crazy Jack have this bell?” she wondered.
    â€œMath, I bet,” Kofi replied, remembering what Jack had told him earlier.
    Roscoe trotted up to them. “Hey, didn’t Jack have a French test today?” he asked.
    â€œAw, man! Every time that dude has a test he can’t pass, he pulls the alarm. What’s up with that?” Cleveland complained.
    â€œDo you think the teachers know?” asked November.
    â€œProbably not. And ain’t nobody gonna narc on Crazy Jack. He’s just silly.” Cleveland buttoned up his coat.
    â€œWhat about Eddie? Could it be him?” Dana suggested.
    â€œThe fire drills started way before Eddie got back, but you never know. He might be messin’ with everybody’s minds.”
    â€œWell, at least we’re on the first floor, and I can roll out by myself