Storymania - Q by Don F Vaccarino

Q (6)
Don F Vaccarino

“This prom maybe the highlight of our lives,” says Fergy.
“It is only just the beginning,” says Q.
“Any hints Q?” asks Art.
“Yes,” Q answers. “Keep your eyes open, you won’t want to miss anything.”
After all the students have their food, the teachers and chaperones have their turn in the buffet line. Miss Floozy is behind the food table helping to serve. Mr. Ferris says he is not real hungry, he wants to try a little soup and fresh bread. Miss Floozy is ladling some soup into his bowl.
“Do you know about the missing hydrochloric acid from the chemistry lab?” Mr. Hobbs asks Ferris. “That stuff can eat right through metals.” “No,” says Ferris.
“I’ll keep checking,” says Mr. Hobs.
During the exchange of words, Miss Floozy puts a spoon handle in Mr. Ferris’s soup. Ferris walks over to the teachers table and places his soup down. After he is seated, he speaks to Manferd’s father.
“Some students must have taken some kind of dangerous acid from the chemistry lab today,” Ferris states.
Ferris picks up his spoon to put some soup in his mouth, but all he gets is air. When he sees the end missing from his spoon, Ferris quickly gets up from the table and heads for the rest room.
“I have lost my appetite,” says Ferris when he returns from the rest room.
“Can I have your soup?” asks Mr. Hobs.
“I wouldn’t eat that if I were you,” Ferris answers.
Mr. Hobs picks up the bowl of soup and places it in front of himself. When he picks up the spoon to get some soup, the whole spoon is there. Ferris walks over to the desert table and picks out some cookies and pastry. When he sits down on his chair, a loud familiar sounding noise fills the room. Ferris quickly gets up to examine the chair. Looking around the table he apologizes.
“It was the chair, not me,” he says.
Spying another unoccupied chair near by, he switches chairs. When he sits down again, the same loud noise repeats. Angrily he takes his desert dish and walks outside to eat.
He walks briskly all the way to the back lot near his auto before he slows his pace. As he looks down, he sees his auto has more antifreeze leaked out again. He kicks a rock into the nearby woods.
He picks up a cookie to eat from the plate he is carrying with him. It is as hard as a stone. He flings the entire dish into the woods. He is trying to decide how to get back at Q and Art. He is sure they have done these things to him. Looking up he sees Art’s Bentley and Stuts Bearcat in the main parking lot. His mind races as he walks toward them. Miss Floozy and Mr. Hobs walk out into the parking lot for a little air as Ferris nears the autos. Not wanting any witnesses, Ferris keeps walking toward the school. Mr. Hobs comments to Miss Floozy as they pass near Mr. Ferris.
“These really are good cookies!” he states.
As Ferris reenters the school he smells the food again. His appetite comes back from the aroma. When he reaches the auditorium, the cleaning crew has just finished clearing away the food and desert tables. Ferris walks down the hall to his office. He has a candy bar in his desk. It was a little stale, but still eatable.
As Ferris finished up his candy, the music from the auditorium changed from dinner mode to dance mode. He thought about saying he didn’t feel well and leaving.
“That’s what they want me to do,” he says to himself.
He heads down the hall to the janitors room. The electrical fuse box is in that room. He loosens the fuses from the holders marked ‘auditorium’. The music continues and no one makes any commotion about it. He walks down the hall to peek into the auditorium, forgetting his keys in the janitors room. The auditorium is lit up with extra candles on stands around the dance floor, and a hanging candelabra with about fifty large candles on it above the dance floor. The heat from the candles causes a circle of colored mirrors to rotate slowly around the candelabra. This created a romantic atmosphere of dancing lights on the dance floor as the young couples enjoyed the music.
Ferris went back to the janitors room to replace the fuses. When he got there, the door was locked. When he reached into his pocket for the keys, he remembers he left them on the table in the room.
“Good thing my auto and apartment keys are on the key ring in my other pocket,” he says to himself.
He felt the keys through his pants to be sure. He breathed a sigh of relief when he felt them there. He headed back to his office to look for more to eat, but that door was locked too. The keys for it were in the janitors office. Still hungry, Ferris headed to the kitchen to see if there was any left over food. The kitchen help was just finishing up when he got there.
“Is there any left over food,” Ferris asks. “We packed it up and sent it over to the orphanage a few minutes ago,” was the reply.
Ferris went back to the dance. Everyone was happy and having a good time. He didn’t feel that was right, because he was so miserable. He decided to leave the prom. When he got back to his auto, the antifreeze puddle under it was even bigger. Now he was even afraid to drive it. Maybe it really was leaking. His mind went back to thinking about how to get even with Q and Art. Then it struck him. Three of the teachers were giving multiple choice final exams. The students would just circle the number of what they thought was the correct answer. Ferris went back into the school. The keys he would need were in the janitors room, but he was going to get them anyway.
When he reached the janitors room, Ferris put his heal of his shoe through the window next to the door knob. He carefully reached in and unlocked the door. He brushes the broken glass to the side with his shoe before stepping into the room. His keys were on the table where he left them. He felt powerful again. He checked the hallway before leaving the room. When all he heard was the music from the auditorium, he proceeded on his quest for revenge! Slipping up the back stairway he made his way to Mr. Hobs room first.
His master keys did their job. He found the final exam for math locked in the bottom drawer. A smile found its way to his face. Three of the six pages were multiple choice.
“This is perfect,” he says to himself.
The top page has the place for the student’s name. All he would have to do is remove the staple, change the three pages, then put a staple back in the same holes! Ferris took the master sheets to the exams to the mimeograph machine. After running off six pages each of the Multiple choice questions, he replaced the masters exactly as he had found them.
Next he went off to check out the chemistry and history exams. He found several pages he could change on those too. Armed with copies of the final exam multiple choice questions, Ferris spent the next two hours locked in his office taking Q and Art’s tests for them. He had to put wrong answers on at least half the questions, the problem was, he didn’t know the correct answers to most of them. He figured that guessing one out of four, he would be wrong at least half the time.
“I haven’t had this much fun in a long time,” he says to himself.
When he finished, he locked all the papers in his safe. It was almost midnight. The prom was almost over, so he headed back to the auditorium.
The last dance was in progress when he arrived. From the dance floor, Art saw a smile on Ferris’s face.
“He’s been up to something,” Art tells Q, who is right next to him on the dance floor.
“We will figure that out tomorrow,” Q responds.
Q is having a wonderful time with Sally, he doesn’t want to think about Ferris. When the music stops. Miss Floozy speaks to the students.
“Get home safely now, we will see you all Monday for final exams.” “That’s it,” says Art. “Ferris has done something with the final exams.”
Still in a daze, Q answers, “See you tomorrow Art.”
Q and Sally leave arm in arm. They have an hour till she has to be home, and Q intends to spend it with her, alone.
Art had plans with Pam too. He and Fergy were taking their dates to the cliff over looking the Atlantic Ocean in the Bentley. They had an extra hour before Pam and Susan had to be home. Art didn’t want to spend it worrying about Ferris either. It was a magical evening, and none of them wanted it to end. When they got to the cliff, Q and Sally were all ready there. “My mom said I could have an extra hour,” Sally calls over to the Bentley. They all spent the rest of their evening enjoying the view in couples on blankets on the edge of the cliff.

Chapter Six

The next morning, Q brought the Bearcat back to Art’s house.
“Let’s go for a ride,” says Q.
“You drive,” says Art.
Q takes a ride around the school’s back parking lot. Ferris’s Bearcat is not there, but a large puddle of antifreeze is still there.
“I don’t understand it,” says Q. “Fergy and I only had a liter of used antifreeze to dump under his auto. There is a lot more here than that, and it is fresh too,” Q finishes.
On the way back to Art’s house, the boys see Fergy at the petrol station. Ferris’s Bearcat is there too.
“You’ll never guess,” says Fergy.
“Don’t tell me,” says Art. “Ferris’s Bearcat really does have an antifreeze leak, right.”
“How did you know?” says Fergy.
“We dumped a little used antifreeze under his auto,” says Q. “There was some fresh antifreeze there too,” Q finishes.
“Yea,” says Fergy. “Ferris pushed the engine too hard and took out the seal in the water pump,” Fergy continues. “If we hadn’t dumped the used stuff under his radiator, he would have probably ruined his engine.”
Joseph, the petrol station attendant interjects.
“Ferris was sure someone damaged his Bearcat. I told him someone did. Whoever pushed the engine too hard and blew out this gasket.” Joseph holds up the damaged part.
“It is obvious that blew out from the inside,” says Q.
“Yea,” says Joseph. “He remembered hearing a funny noise while passing a truck up Dover road hill yesterday afternoon on his way to the prom,” Joseph continues. “This won’t be fixed till Monday afternoon, when the parts truck gets here from Dover.”
“How will Ferris keep his date at Miss Peals tonight?” Art asks Q. “We will have to watch and see,” Q answers.
Later that evening they get their answer. Ferris has one of Miss Peals girls dropped off at the back door of his apartment. Fergy was helping Joseph pick up a disabled auto in the parking lot of the apartment building next door at the same time.
“Well, at least we won’t have to worry about him causing trouble tonight,” says Q.
“We can concentrate on our studies for tomorrow’s exam,” says Art. With Ferris off their minds for the night, the boys concentrate on their books.
The next morning, the students were filing into school like convicts to their cells. This was the first day of final exams. There was a line to both the boys and girls lavatories before home room. Art, Q, and Fergy all had their English finals in the morning, math after lunch. All had studied hard for these exams, and felt they did very well on them. They were so focused on the finals, they forgot all about Ferris. When they got together for lunch, reality slapped them in the face.
“Ferris is up to something,” says Q. “I’ve seen that look on his face before.”
“Whatever it is, we better find out now,” Art adds.
“If I know Ferris,” says Q, after a pause he continues, “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Q walks over to talk to Miss Larson, the English teacher. After a few moments, she nods her head in agreement.
“What was that all about?” Fergy asks.
“Maybe nothing, and maybe everything,” Q answers. “We better keep on our toes, and an eye on Ferris anyway,” Q continues.
After lunch, Q has a few words with Mr. Hobs too.
After the math exam, Q has a few words with the janitor on his way to meet Art and Fergy by their lockers.
“Well how did you guys do on the math exam?” Q asks.
“I feel I did well,” answers Fergy.
“Me too,” says Art.
“I thought it was easy too,” says Q.
They all went to Art’s house to study for the history and French exams they have to take tomorrow. Just before dinner, Art takes Q and Fergy home. They study on their own the rest of the evening.
“Are you guys ready for today’s exams?” asks Art, as he picks them up for school in the Bentley.
“Why the Bentley today?” asks Fergy.
“I just wanted to drive it today,” answers Art. “I haven’t driven it since Sunday, and I felt it needed to be started.”
“You are right, it should not be left sitting for long periods of time,” Fergy agrees.
As they head down the highway toward school, Ferris flew by in his Bearcat.
“He must have been waiting for us,” says Q. “There is no reason for him to be headed to school from this direction.”
“It’s like he’s gloating.” says Fergy.
“We can’t let him get to us,” says Q. “Just concentrate on our finals, Ferris is just trying to upset us,” Q continues.
“Q is right,” says Art. “We can get Ferris next week,” Art concludes. The boys do their best on the history and French exams.
“Well, I’m glad today is over,” says Art.
“There is only the science test left for tomorrow,” adds Fergy.
“We can bone up for it tonight, but I think we are ready for it now,” says Q.
“Yes, it has been our best subject all year,” Art adds.
“Q’s uncle Jack must be the best science teacher in the whole world,” says Fergy.
“He makes learning so much fun, it doesn’t feel like school at all,” Art continues.
“Well, we better hit the books and notes tonight anyway,” says Q.
Art drops the boys home, than heads home to hit the books himself.
The next morning, Art picks the boys up in the Bearcat. As they are heading toward school, Ferris flies by them in his Bearcat. Art lets him pass without even thinking of stepping on the accelerator. As the boys head toward school at the speed limit, Q notices a Bobbie parked behind some bushes.
“So that is what Ferris was up to,” says Q.
“Ferris was trying to get you to speed after him so his paid off Bobbie would pull us over,” Q adds.
“I’m sure he would have made sure we were late to school and miss the test too,” says Fergy.
“My aunt told me to drive extra careful this morning,” says Art. “She said I could have big trouble today if I were reckless.”
“Give her a big kiss for us,” says Q.
“I already did,” says Art.
Ferris looked a little disappointed as Art parked the Bearcat in his regular spot.
“That Bobbie was probably going to take us to the station and call our parents,” says Fergy. “We would have missed the science exam for sure,” he concludes.
“Well we won’t miss it,” says Q. The boys head for home room as usual. The science exam was a breeze for them, they had studied well. They were cleaning out their lockers before the traditional after finals picnic lunch. On the way out to the parking lot, Q was the only one who noticed Manferd’s father’s auto parked next to the school board president’s auto, parked on the far side of the lot. Q’s cheerfulness level rose 200%. Those auto’s in the lot could only mean one thing. He was right about what Ferris was up to, and Ferris was caught with his hand in the cookie jar for the last time!
“Well lets get cracking!” says Q. “We don’t want to be late for this picnic!”
“Yes sir,” says Art.
The boys head home to collect the lunches waiting for them at their homes. When they get back to Art’s house, he hands the keys to the Austin Martin to Fergy, and the keys to the Bentley to Q.
“We are all on our own today,” he says.
“Wow, thanks a lot,” says Fergy.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you guys,” says Art. “You have to pick up your dates from the prom for the picnic,” he concludes as he walks into his house. Q and Fergy look at each other for a few seconds, then both run for the auto’s.
About an hour later they all meet up at White Cliffs Park. Art was with Pam again, while Fergy brought Susan and Q was with Sally. Fergy brought a cooler full of fresh lemon aid his mom had made, while Q brought a large basket of freshly baked soft pretzels. Art’s aunt supplied him with her famous chocolate chip cookies. It was perfect weather for a picnic. A few white clouds dotted the blue sky, while the afternoon temperature was 25 degrees C.(That is 77 degrees F). Art and Fergy were building a small fire to roast wieners, then later on marshmallows.
The only dark spot on the afternoon was the traditional speech by the principal, Ferris. After all the food was consumed, the seniors gathered around the podium. Q looked around and then looked at Art.
“Do you see Ferris?” he asked.
“No,” Art answered.
“Me either,” says Fergy.
“You won’t,” interjects Manferd. “Thanks to Q, none of us will have to see him again,” he concludes.
Before the boys can ask, Q’s uncle Jack takes the podium.
“Graduates”, he begins. “I am glad to tell you that, because all of the finals have been graded, and your teachers have informed me that all you have all passed!”
There is a loud roar of happiness from the students. A few moments later Jack continues.
“I know that this good news speech is supposed to be given by the principle. Well it is, I have just been appointed as the new principle. Mr. Ferris ‘resigned’ only an hour ago. He has already left for his new home in Northern England, so we will probably never hear from him again.”
This brought an even larger roar from the students. The new principle concludes.
“I can’t top that news, so have a safe and fun day. See you all tomorrow afternoon for the passing out of the diplomas.”
“All right Q,” says Art. “Give!”
“I am not sure what happened,” Q answers.
Manferd interjects.
“I will tell you what happened, but you are not allowed to repeat it to anyone. Q thought that Ferris might try to tamper with the final exams. He had access to all the exams except for science. Q’s uncle Jack kept those with him at all times. Q had asked the teachers to change the names on your exams, and use fake exam papers with your names on them. He also had the janitor watch for what trash was being thrown out by Ferris. He found parts of the phony exams in Ferris’ waste basket yesterday, then called the school board president.”
“My father and the board president met with Ferris this morning, along with several of the teachers. They told him to leave town within the hour, or he would be in jail before dinner. He didn’t even stop at his apartment before leaving town!”
The boys were speechless. Everyone patted Q on the back, no words would be enough anyway. Sally planted a big kiss on Q’s cheek. Q was so happy, he turned beet red!
“Don’t bust a blood vessel,” says Fergy.
“I am okay,” Q assures him.
The rest of the day was all fun and games. Volley ball, croquet, and bad mitten. Prizes were provided by the parents and business’s in town. The evening was capped off by a beautiful fireworks display put on by the off duty fire department part timers. Life was beautiful once again, thanks to Q!

The End

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