TJ Zaps a Nightmare #5: Stopping Blackmail Bullying
I studied a little during free reading I said Then I looked out the window at the fi fth graders playing basketball I’m going to play ball After lunch Livvy begged Ms Perry to let her study more Ms Perry frowned If you don’t know it by now Livvy it’s too late She patted Livvy on the back Besides you’ve studied all day I’m sure you’ll do fi ne As long as you’ve looked over the study guide Study guide I whispered Before I had a chance to whip it out Ms Perry plopped a test on my desk I glanced down at the fi rst page and wrote my name and the date That was the easy part Then I answered three short essays No problem If you listened to Ms Perry talk in class you’d be able to ace all of them 8
Then I got to page two Each multiple choice question is worth 2 points I scanned the thirty questions My hands started to sweat I only knew half of them Half How much was the tea worth I had no clue How many pounds of tea were dumped overboard Pounds No idea How many people dressed up as Native Americans and took part in the dumping Was it 216 125 116 300 I was going to have to guess On half of them Thirty points worth of guessing 9
No one else seemed to be guessing Ethan was fl ying through the columns of questions Every time he knew an answer he’d nod his head and pump his fi st To the left Livvy did the same As I glanced at my basketball on the shelf I got a sinking feeling This would be the fi rst test I’d ever failed That’s when Livvy suddenly leaned way to the right Her test teetered on the edge of her desk Her handwriting was really big So big that I could easily see all her answers So big that I bet people living in Boston could see her answers Then quicker than the Indians threw the tea into the harbor I copied down all of them B-C-A-A-A-A-D-D-D-A-A-B-B-A-C Before I copied the second column I waited until Ms Perry bent over to talk to 10
Lamar Once I was sure no one was looking I copied the rest of Livvy’s answers D-C-C-B-A-A-A-C-D-B-A-B-A-C-A Just as I fi nished writing the last one Ms Perry announced Time’s up Pass your papers forward How did you do Livvy asked as she passed her test forward I think I got an A I said as I stuffed my hands in my pocket Maybe an A minus You don’t look too happy about it said Maxi Smile She made a funny face before she turned serious I wish I was as smart as you TJ My face burned I didn’t feel so smart Nope I felt like a loser An A cheater 11
