Laggan Lard Butts Read Free Page B

don’t know why you had to come along,” Sarah said.
    â€œMe?”
    â€œYes. I don’t know why Mr. Davidson wanted you to be part of this delegation to the principal.”
    â€œTwo people are hardly a
delegation
.” It was just like Sarah to use a big word when it wasn’t needed.
    â€œI don’t care if it’s two people or twenty-two, I still don’t understand why you had to be part of it.”
    â€œIt was my idea,” I said.
    â€œYour idea? Mr. Davidson came up with it.”
    â€œBut he wouldn’t have thought about it if I hadn’t brought up the whole name thing to begin with. I should be here.”
    â€œAt least, nobody in the school has been to the office more than you, so you should know the way.”
    I didn’t answer. I didn’t react. I didn’t want to give her the satisfaction.
    â€œAnd you’ve spent so much time with the principal—I wonder, do you still call him Mr. McGregor or do you call him by his first name?”
    â€œI don’t call him by his first name, but he does like me,” I said. “He likes people with backbone. Nobody likes suck-ups.”
    She grabbed me by the arm and spun me around. It was amazing how strong somebody that small could be.
    â€œAre you calling me a suck-up?”
    â€œI didn’t mention any names, but you must think it applies, and if the shoe fits then—”
    â€œDo you want me to tell you where my shoe
could
fit?” she demanded.
    â€œOooohhh...I’m ascared.”
    â€œAscared isn’t a word. The word is either scared or afraid, you can’t put them together.”
    â€œI guess I’m just so scared and afraid that I can’t talk right. I’m just so
ascared
of you that I’m making up words.”
    She made a strange little sound, sort of a huff, like steam escaping from a kettle. She was frustrated. I knew it would be easy to make her even more frustrated.
    â€œThe big question isn’t why I’m here, but why you’re part of the
delegation
. You didn’t even play on any of the teams this year.”
    â€œI’m here because I’m the student president!”
    â€œOnly because nobody else wanted the job.”
    I could see her spine stiffen and her chest deflate all at the same time. I could alwaysget to her, although I often felt bad after I did—like I felt now.
    â€œOkay, how about if we stop fighting for a few minutes and get this meeting over with,” I suggested.
    â€œLet me do all the talking,” Sarah said.
    â€œLike I could stop you if I wanted. But maybe I should talk. Remember that the principal and I are tight. He was over at my house the other day watching videos and—”
    â€œMr. McGregor was over at your house?” she gasped.
    â€œSarah, I’m kidding. You do most of the talking.” Since I didn’t have a gag, that was a given.
    We stopped at the counter in the office, and the secretary—who I thought actually ran the school—looked up at us. She gave me a scowl and Sarah a smile.
    â€œWe’re here to see Mr. McGregor,” Sarah said. “We have an appointment.”
    Appointment? Typical. Why didn’t she say that her
delegation
had an appointment?
    â€œHe’s expecting you,” she said and motioned for us to go inside his office.
    Sarah led. I followed. The door was open, but she tapped on it anyway. Mr. McGregor was sitting at his desk. He looked up from his work.
    â€œCome in, please.”
    We walked in and took the two seats across from his desk. I took the seat on the left, the one closest to the door. I always took the seat closest to the door because it was two steps closer to leaving.
    Instinctively I felt the palms of my hands start to sweat. I had to remind myself that I wasn’t in trouble. I hadn’t done anything wrong in weeks, in fact.
    â€œYour teacher has informed me that your class has an interesting idea, a