Don't Call Me Ishmael Read Online Free PDF Page A

you.’
    We all knew she was bluffing, of course. She was a teacher. She was responsible. She was a girl, for crying out loud. She wouldn’t do anything dangerous … would she?
    Barry moved to the front of the chair. He looked out over the class, sneered, and sat down defiantly.
    â€˜Right,’ said Miss Tarango, her voice suddenly as cold and expressionless as a prison guard’s. ‘As I said, I won’t speak to you or make contact with you in any way, but before I walk around the chair three times you will be off. You must face the front at all times. If you look behind you, the challenge is lost. Do you accept that?’
    Barry Bagsley nodded his head, but with a little less of his former arrogance.
    Miss Tarango continued as if she were preparing Barry Bagsley for execution. This was no time for dimples. ‘Now listen carefully, because
this
is the challenge. I will start at this point here,’ she said, stepping in front of Barry Bagsley’s knees. ‘When I return to this point, that will be one circle and so on. By the time the third circle is completed, if you are still on the chair, you win. If, however, as will most definitely be the case, the third circle is completed, and you and the chair have parted company, then I win. Are you ready to begin?’
    â€˜What prize do I get when I win?’
    â€˜If you win, Barry,’ Miss Tarango said happily, ‘you can have the rest of the day off.’
    The room bubbled as if someone had just turned the air jets on in a spa. What? She couldn’t do that. You can’t just let people go home. Only the Principal, Brother Jerome, could do that. Why would she say something ridiculous like that? She’s mad … unless, of course, she knew that she couldn’t lose …
    â€˜Tell you what, Barry.’ Miss Tarango smiled sweetly. ‘I’m feeling generous. If you win, why don’t you take the rest of the
week
off?’ The spa was switched to turbo. ‘Boys, boys–thank you–quieten down now. What’s all the hubbub about? Thank you. Now, Barry, are you ready to rock and roll?’
    â€˜I’m ready,’ said Barry Bagsley with a forced smile as his fingers tightened round the arms of the chair.
    Miss Tarango surveyed the area around the chair. She frowned and shook her head slightly. A strange silence settled in the room. ‘Can you boys in the front row just move your desks back a little … a bit more … a bit more … That shouldbe all right, but I usually like more space. We’ll just have to hope for the best. Let’s get started.’
    With that, Miss Tarango walked slowly in a clockwise direction until she was standing behind the chair. There she stopped and looked down at her hands. We couldn’t see exactly what she was looking at because Barry Bagsley was in the way. Miss Tarango stood absolutely still for a few seconds before completing the first circle.
    â€˜That’s one,’ she said flatly.
    â€˜Getting worried now, Miss? You’re gonna lose ya bet.’
    Miss Tarango continued as if Barry Bagsley hadn’t spoken and didn’t exist. Her breathing had become noticeably deeper and slower. She moved around behind the chair for a second time. Again she stopped and glanced down towards her hands. Then she completed the second circle.
    â€˜That’s two.’
    I looked at Barry Bagsley’s face. It was set hard, and he gripped the chair as if he were rocketing towards the loop of a roller coaster. There was no way that he would leave that chair. Miss Tarango was doomed to fail. What was she thinking? She glanced nervously at the front row of desks and muttered something about workplace health and safety. The boys there automatically edged further back. She stepped behind Barry Bagsley and began writing on the board.
    For a moment only the soft squeaking and tapping of a whiteboard marker filled the room as the entire class