Finding Cassie Crazy (43 page)
Read Finding Cassie Crazy Online
Authors: Jaclyn Moriarty
| Judge Koutchavalis: | At any rate. (leans to the microphone again) Well! Ladies and gentlemen, I am sure you are all as surprised as we are by this turn of events, and as relieved to discover the true culprit. But there is still work to do! It is imperative that we discuss the bestâ ( She looks to the audience, they seem to have lost interest in herâparents are now gathering their handbags, continuing to chat animatedly; I hear many references to the refreshments in the staff room. ) |
| Judge Koutchavalis: | ( pretending this is all as she planned ) So now might be a good time to partake of refreshments. We will reconvene in half an hour and brainstorm some ideas for forging ties between our schools again. ( The teachers all begin to stand up too; there is an array of chatting and scraping, footsteps. âCh, I forgot my glasses!' âIs this them on the floor?', etc., etc. ) |
| Bindy: | When can I stop typing? |
| Emily: | ( with a trace of sarcasm? ) Now would be a good time, Bindy. |
ASHBURY HIGH
YEAR 10
NOTICEBOARD
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Isn't it great that Ashbury was not to blame!
Turns out it was Brookfield who lit the flame of the dispute.
Students: On Friday night, a three-hour meeting was held with the objective of restoring unity and peace between our schools. As you will no doubt have heard, it emerged that the ENTIRE conflict was set up by a single, somewhat unhinged Brookfield student. Nevertheless, steps must be taken to ensure that peace reigns true between our schools.
The Spirit of Co-operation!
In the second part of the meeting, Mr Botherit argued (passionately) for the reinstatement of his AshburyâBrookfield Pen Pal Project. He also suggested that his students be asked to meet and co-operate with their Brookfield Pen Pals, in order to demonstrate (to parents) the success of that programâand so that the first step may be taken towards peace and unity.
Accordingly, each of Mr Botherit's Year 10 English students must join with his or her Brookfield penfriend and prepare a contribution to the Ashbury Spring Concert! (I shall give the Spring Concert an appropriate new name.) The contribution may be a dramatic, musical or artistic act, to be performed on stage. Or it may be behind-the-scenesâpainting backdrops or decorating the hall etc.
This has been a message from your Form Mistress
EMILY AND
CHARLIE
Dear Charlie
Well, I am so happy I feel confused!
It was so much fun on the weekend having a party at Lyd's place and getting to know you and Seb, and everyone drinking, laughing, talking etc, and celebrating happily!
Really, I have to say again though, that you and Seb and Cass were AMAZING the way you came skidding up in your teacher's Audi, bringing the evidence with you! It was the sexiest thing that ever happened in my life.
I'm just glad that nobody mentioned that Cass had broken in through Paul Wilson's bedroom window, as that might have put some confusion into my privacy argument.
Speaking of which, I only wish you had seen me be a lawyer, as I think (modestly) that I was a real hit. Everyone has been congratulating me today, shouting praise from various distances, and I have been shouting back thanks in every direction! I have even thanked
people I'd never heard of
! It is a true taste of fame.
And get this, the Legal Studies teacher was at the meeting and she tracked me down today so she could have a really intense conversation in the corridor. About how she hopes I'm planning to do Legal Studies next year. So I told her I dream of being a lawyer but I'm scared my marks won't be good enough. You should have seen her gasping denial! She was like a fish! âThere are
so many ways to become a lawyer
!' she proclaimed, âand getting good marks is
just one of those ways
!' She said that anyone determined enough could become a lawyer, as long as they went to see her in her office so she could explain the options.
She also said I had the talent for restraint, which means I don't talk too much.
Have you noticed how bad teachers look close up? Very wrinkled and some unexpected blackheads on the nose.
Well, I have to arrange something with you as our joint contribution for the Spring Concert. So I have put us down as running the refreshment stall during intermission, selling cakes, chocolates etc, etc. Okay? Great.
Guess what, Cass says she is going to SING as her contribution! I was just nonplussed, as I thought she was too afraid of singing on stage, but she told me she's not.
You should hear her sing, Charlie. She is an angel in disguise, and I CAN'T WAIT FOR EVERYONE TO HEAR HER. I will be so proud I'll cry my eyes out. You'll cry too, Charlie. For sure.
I'm not sure how she got around the joint AshburyâBrookfield obligation though! I mean, she's supposed to do something with her pen pal, and we all know who that is.
I just hope she hasn't started some kind of secret liaison with Paul Wilson. Imagine.
Speaking of secret liaisons, do you want to have one? We could have one at the Blue Danish. I don't really think we should have lessons, where I teach you how to Date a Girl and so on. I think we should just be us. If that is fine with you.
Great.
And soon it will be holidays!
Speaking of holidays, the only thing needed to make everything perfect is if I could get to see my horses for a couple of days, as I think they have probably forgotten my name. But for sure my parents will have to work during the holidays. Still, at least my dad got to see me be a lawyer. Not that he has said anything about it. Maybe he could see that I
wasn't actually any good? I guess that's why he hasn't said anything. I guess the Legal Studies teacher doesn't know what she's talking about. What have I been thinking?
Oh well, you should never trust happiness. Don't even get me started.
Love
Emily
Dear Emily
I'm sorry, Em, but the weirdest thing I have heard all year has got to be that teacher saying you're a girl who has restraint.
You can be as unrestrained as you like with me, though, Em.
And even if your dad doesn't realise that you're a good lawyer, I believe you're a genius. I might have to rely on your legal talents in relation to a particular stolen Audi. Although the Rattler seems to be thinking about letting it go, since I've promised him free tune-ups for the next five years.
If your parents abandon you for the holidays, I'll take charge of entertaining you. I'll take you for a spin on Kevin's motorbike if you like. You just say the word.
Wilson isn't at school today, by the way. My contact in the principal's office says his parents withdrew him from the school first thing this morning, probably to pre-empt getting expelled. It's so weird that every Ashbury attack on our school was actually caused by our form captain, whereas the Brookfield attacks on your school were all by Brookfield criminals.
Anyhow, looking forward to crying on your shoulder when we hear Cass sing at the concert.
Love
Charlie
LYDIA AND
SEBASTIAN
Dear Seb
Have you heard that Cass has signed up to sing in the concert next week? She's got an amazing voice, you know. I just saw her at a rehearsal. I was walking past the hall where a lot of people are testing out microphones, stacking chairs, talking etc. Except then I heard Cass testing out a microphone. I looked around the doorway into the hall and she was standing on the stage, with her eyes closed, singing softly, and the entire room had stopped breathing.
I couldn't believe how calm she seemedâshe used to be afraid of singing in front of anyone except Em and me. But there were about fifty people in the room and every single one was staring at her. She only sang one verse of this Placebo song she likes and then she stopped, and right away everyone was begging her to keep going. But she just smiled and looked embarrassed, and put the microphone back.
The only thing I don't understand is how she convinced the teachers that this is a joint act with her Brookfield penfriend. She told me to stop stressing when I asked her.
Anyway, Seb, we have to do something for the concert ourselves. Do you want to just sell tickets?
I've been thinking about what you asked me before you went home on Saturday night. And sorry it's taken me a few days to answer but okay, the answer is yes. We can give it a try.
But if I start to forget my identity, that's it. We go back to writing letters.
Love
Lydia
Hey Lyd
If Cass sings like you say she does, she'll have every guy at that concert falling at her feet. She's cute, eh, and a nice girl, too, though she doesn't say much. But, as we said at your party on Saturday, she picked the locks at Wilson's place in approx 0.5 seconds, which was one of the coolest things I ever saw.
In relation to you and me, that's an excellent decision you've made there, Lyd. No way will you regret it. And if I catch you losing any personality, I'll give you a heads up, and you can go back and get it.
Love
Seb
PS I have an idea for something you and I can do for the concert. Maybe I could come by your place tomorrow and run it by you?