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in that dreamlike state between waking and slumber  when a strange feeling
came over him. And he knew with absolute certainty that he was being watched.
Disturbed, he opened his eyes and saw, in somealarm, that there were two dark
figures standing by the side of his bed.
"Good heavens!" He sat bolt upright and switched on the light. There stood
Bruno Walton and Boots O'Neal. "Have you both lost your minds?" the Headmaster
raged. "How onearth did you get here?"
"A taxi," Bruno admitted. "That got us to the commuter train. We took the
subway once we hit town."
"We had a little trouble figuring out the subway map," Boots added. "Sorry to
be bothering you so late. How do you feel, sir?"
"I am furious, of course!" Mr. Sturgeon exploded. "How should I feel when I
run into two of my students, after lights-out, forty miles from school?"
"Notthat kind of feel, sir," Bruno corrected. "How do you feel medically?"
The Headmaster ignored the question. "This goes beyond anything, even for you
two! How dare you defy my rules to such an appalling degree? And then dance
around in my face like you're proud of it?"
"Shhh!" cautioned Bruno. "Sir, this is a hospital."
"Explain yourselves!" bellowed the patient.
The boys exchanged a meaningful look. When Bruno spoke again there were tears
in his eyes.
"Sir, we talked it over and we decided that we don't care if we get in
trouble, or wash dishes, or even get expelled. You've been our Headmaster for
a long timeand we couldn't pass up the chance to see you one last time."
"One last time?" Mr. Sturgeon repeated, bewildered.
"Well," Bruno explained gently, "the operation is tomorrow so we wanted to
see you tonight just in case you don't make it."
The Headmaster frowned. "Don't make what?"
"You know," Bruno persisted. "What if you  like _ well  uh  die ?"
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Mr. Sturgeon's eyes bulged. "Die?"
Both boys nodded somberly.
"But it's only an ingrown toenail!"
Bruno and Boots stared in shock.
"It is?" gasped Boots. "You mean, like, a sore foot?"
The Headmaster was genuinely touched. "What in the world gave you the idea
that I was at death's door?"
Bruno shrugged. "Well, the cane and the limp. And then we started hearing
stuff about hospitals and operations and how nothing else was going to do any
good  so we put two and two together."
"And came up with five," concluded the patient. "Boys, this is a very simple
surgery. I'll be back at my desk by the end of the week." He added, "You seem
disappointed, Walton."
"Oh, no, sir," said Bruno. "It's great news that you're okay. It's just that
 well, we're going to wash
a lot of dishes for this and an ingrown toenail sort of isn't worth it."
"I'm sorry," Mr. Sturgeon said sarcastically. "How inconsiderate of me.
Perhaps I should ask the doctors for a new spleen. Would that do?"
Boots studied the floor. "We're really going to get creamed over this one,
aren't we, sir?"
The Headmaster was disposed to be kind. "I suppose your hearts were in the
right place." He sighed. "And at least you didn't involve anybody else in this
lunatic enterprise."
"Right," agreed Bruno. "I mean, sort of& uh, not too many."
The Headmaster sat foward in alarm. "Do you mean to tell me that there are
Macdonald Hall students roaming around this hospital?"
"Oh, no, sir," Boots blurted. "They're all waiting downstairs in the lobby.
We're the only ones who could outrun the security guard."
"If you see anybody, sir," Bruno requested, "could you kind of pretend to be
sicker than you really are? Because we all went through a lot of trouble to
get here and the others are going to be pretty steamed if they find out you're
not dying."
"I most certainly will not!" Mr. Sturgeon exclaimed angrily. "This is not a
television sitcom  "
The door flew open and in bounded four young doctors in green surgical
scrubs. The four ripped
away their masks and stood before their Headmaster  Pete Anderson, Larry
Wilson, Mark Davies, and Wilbur Hackenschleimer.
"Sir, how are you?" asked Pete anxiously.
"I'm feelingvery tired" said Mr. Sturgeon through clenched teeth."
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"How do you stop this thing?" cried a familiar voice. Sidney Rampulsky sped
into the room, riding an out-of-control wheelchair. He executed a spectacular
wheelie and bailed out a split second before the chair smashed into the wall.
Sidney sat up, rubbing his head. "Is there a doctor in the house?"
Pete nudged Larry. "Boy, Mr. Sturgeon reallyis sick," he whispered. "His face
is turning purple."
Next came Edward O'Neal, pushing a long medical gurney. The sheet on top
stirred and out peered Cathy Burton and Diane Grant.
"Hello, sir!" called Cathy. "We came to wish you luck!"
Mr. Sturgeon looked daggers at Bruno and Boots. "You neglected to mention
that a few of the young ladies came along for the ride." His bedside phone
began to ring. "Ah, that must be Miss Scrimmage now. No doubt she's just
noticed that some of her students are missing."
"Don't answer it, sir," Diane pleaded.
"Believe me, Miss Grant, I do not wish to deal with your Headmistress tonight [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]