The Octopus Effect by Michael Reisman Page A

peace for her now. It was time for war. And vengeance.

CHAPTER 13
    MISSION: REALLY HARD (SHOULD THEY CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT)
    On Tuesday morning, Alysha and Owen met outside their school and waited for Simon.
    â€œWhat’s with everyone?” Alysha asked as she gestured toward their schoolmates. There was none of the usual fun or cheeriness in the air outside Julius Henry Marx Junior High School. No boys were riding on skateboards or playing with hacky sacks. No girls giggled together or flirted with the boys. Instead, the students were standing in tense clumps and talking in hushed voices.
    â€œI hope it’s not about what Simon did yesterday,” Owen said.
    â€œI’m sure it’s nothing,” Alysha said, but she couldn’t hide a frown. She waved to a friend, who came over. “Hey, Jill,” she said. “What’s the deal?
    Jill glanced over her shoulder. “It’s really weird; the teachers are freaking out.” She nodded to the windows of the cafeteria; Alysha and Owen followed her gaze. Sure enough, the teachers were huddled together inside and whispering. Occasionally, a teacher made a slashing motion with a hand or shook a fist in the air.
    â€œYup, they’re freaking out all right,” Alysha said. She turned to Jill. “See you inside; we’re going to wait for Simon.” Jill waved and walked off while Alysha pulled Owen back to their usual waiting spot.
    Alysha saw Owen’s mouth open and held up her hand. “Just hold on, Speedy, we don’t know the facts yet. Save your strength for Simon-Watch, so we can stop him from accidentally blowing the whole place up or something.”
    â€œHey, you’re the one with the plasma problems,” Simon said from behind them.
    Alysha and Owen whirled around. “Simon!” Alysha said. “I was just . . .”
    Owen looked at his feet.
    â€œWow, you two are speechless?” Simon asked.
    â€œWe just . . . you know . . .” Alysha said. “So how are you feeling?”
    Simon shrugged. “Getting over a stomachache. Indian food for dinner.”
    â€œYou know what I mean,” Alysha said with a roll of her eyes.
    Simon smiled. “It’s fine. I’m fine. I think. I’m still nervous and all, but talking to Ralfagon helped a little. What’s going on?”
    Alysha related what Jill said, and Owen stomped his foot. “This can’t be a coincidence! Maybe it’s something the Board’s up to, or it has to do with Ralfagon. We’re going to walk in there and find a bunch of new teachers from the Union here to gang up on Simon and us because Ralfagon had to retire.”
    â€œDon’t be paranoid!” Alysha said. “Remember, Ralfagon chose to step down.”
    â€œI’m sure it’s normal school business,” Simon said. “Not some Union invasion.”
    There was a loud burst of static as the school’s public announcement system turned on. After a few loud thunks from someone testing the microphone, a voice rang out.
    â€œAll students please report to your homerooms immediately. Your teachers will escort you to a special first period assembly so you can meet your new principal.”
    â€œOh, no,” Simon and Alysha said at the same time.
    â€œTold you so,” Owen said.
    Â 
    Once the assembly ended, hundreds of students and faculty members filed out of the main auditorium. It was a slow process; everyone turned back to stare at the new principal, especially those who remembered her from Martin Van Buren Elementary. Many murmured about the sudden change in school leadership and, of course, that towering column of hair.
    Eventually, all but four people were gone. The only ones left in the auditorium were the new principal and the three students she’d asked to stay after. Now that the place was empty, Simon, Alysha, and Owen made their way down the bleachers to the auditorium floor, where Miss Fanstrom