Suspended Read Online Free PDF Page A

know. But still —” I said nervously.
    Julie gave me a reassuring hug. “He’ll be all right.”
    Miss Little, on duty at the end of the hallway, called, “No touching, children.”
    Mr. Justason emerged from his office. “What was that? Who’s doing the touching, Miss Little?” There was an uncomfortable pause.
    â€œNobody,” Miss Little said. “It was only a quick hug.”
    â€œBy whom?” he demanded.
    Miss Little looked apologetically at us. “Julie and Shay.”
    â€œThat’s inappropriate,” Justason said sternly. “Both of you get demerits.”
    â€œYou can’t give me a demerit,” Julie shot back. “I’m suspended from soccer already.”
    â€œIn that case …” said Mr. Justason, “I’ll … I’ll carry your demerits into next year. You’re benched for half the first game of next year.”
    â€œHey, everybody,” Toby wisecracked, “Julie has a demerit credit.”
    â€œThat’s a demerit for you, too,” the principal replied savagely.
    Toby and Julie laughed.
    â€œI suggest the two of you take a lesson from Shay on how to accept reprimands,” finished Mr. Justason icily.
    His glance fell to Julie’s feet as he turned towards his office. “You’re wearing a bracelet on your ankle. That’s unnecessary personal decoration. Get rid of it.”
    He marched into his office.
    â€œNo way,” breathed Julie.
    When I started to follow Mr. Justason, Julie tried to stop me. She knew that I was about to do something extreme. She knew it took a lot for me to reach my limit sometimes, but when I did, I went all out. That’s what happened in the game with St. Croix, when I attacked Hawler.
    â€œThat wasn’t fair,” I blurted out at Mr. Justason. “What’s wrong with Julie hugging me? She was just trying to … show support about Grandad.”
    â€œTouching is inappropriate in school,” lectured the principal. “What your Grandad allows at home is your business, but I will not tolerate that behaviour here.”
    And that’s when I betrayed Grandad.
    â€œIf I said that was stupid, would that cost me a demerit for being disrespectful?”
    â€œYes, of course.”
    â€œAnd if I said the Code of Conduct sucks …”
    â€œThat would be two more demerits — for rudeness and for using inappropriate language.”
    â€œGetting a demerit for a hug is stupid and the Code of Conduct sucks.”
    â€œYou’re suspended from soccer for the rest of the year,” said Mr. Justason, quietly and tight-lipped.
    I stalked out and found Miss Little in the hallway.
    â€œI’ll try talking to Mr. Justason again,” she whispered.
    â€œIt won’t do any good,” I muttered.
    â€œI’ll try, anyway, and if Mr. Justason won’t listen, then perhaps I’ll try someone else.” She marched into the principal’s office.
    Julie and Toby were waiting for me in the cafeteria. Brian was there, too.
    â€œWhat happened?” said Julie.
    â€œI told Mr. Justason that you and me getting a demerit for inappropriate touching was stupid, and that you getting a demerit for wearing a little ankle bracelet wasn’t fair, and that the Code of Conduct sucked, and now I’m suspended from soccer for the year.”
    â€œCongratulations,” said Brian.
    â€œI knew you were going to do something like that,” said Julie. She put her hand on my arm. “Are you calmed down yet?”
    â€œNot until I’ve broken every rule in the Code of Conduct,” I said.
    As we walked home after our next game at the Cemetery Road, Brian said, “But why do you have to break every rule?”
    â€œBecause if I’m going to break one rule, I’m going to break them all,” I said.
    â€œIt’s the way he is,” said Julie.
    â€œWill it do any good?” Toby