'What!' He choked on the muffin. It was as if these words were thorns in his throat.
'It's the least you can do after I gave you all my food.' They were now whispering loudly.
'That's no excuse. This is Thomas Bradley we're talking about; he'll snap both our necks like pencils.'
'Come on, Simon, are you a man or a girl? We're best friends and best friends watch each other's backs.'
He was now silent, still holding a third of the muffin between his center and forefinger in one hand, waving it like a calm ocean tide on a windy day as if he was pondering over it. 'I don't know,' he finally spoke, doubt clearly in his voice.
'Don't worry,' he assured him, 'the plan doesn't involve us jumping on him from behind and beating him up.'
'That makes a…' he massaged his throat, 'a neck relieving kind of sense.'
'Besides, it's a simple plan, that's why we're putting it into action tomorrow.'
'What do I have to do?' He threw the last of the muffin into his mouth.
'Come into my class and try to get everyone's attention, especially Thomas', and I'll throw a snake inside his desk.'
'A snake?' He had cleaned the tray dry. 'A poisonous one?' he asked him staring with a stupefied gaze.
He nodded.
'What if it bites him?'
'That's the point,' he spoke with no remorse distinguishable in his voice.
'You could be arrested.'
'It's worth my dignity.'
'Okay, then…' Simon finally gave in, 'I'm in. But it's your funeral. What time are we doing this?'
'At nine o' clock, before recess.'
'But if you get caught…Wait a minute, you sit right beside him; he'll find you out anyway.'
'Trust me on this one, Simon. A mission like this requires nothing but good old-fashioned faith.'
When Brendan got into class after recess, the class had to wait for Mr. Benson to arrive. When he arrived he had another man with him. The man was average in height. He frowned in a disdainful way that reminded Brendan of someone. He was muscular and he was wearing an orange t-shirt and dark blue pants and black running shoes.
'Class…' Mr. Benson began, '…I would like you to meet Mr. Bradley, our new karate teacher.'
That's it! Brendan thought to himself. He was definitely related to Thomas.
'How… Are… You… Mis…ter.... Brad…ley?' The class greeted him in unison, like a slow and tired church choir.
'Morning, students,' he responded. He had a deep voice that could send a chill down anyone's spine.
Brendan caught a sideways glance at Thomas. He noticed that he was slightly grinning at Angus.
'Cool, aint he?' Thomas whispered at Angus who nodded dumbly in obedient agreement, a disgusting smile on his face.
'All those who want to sign up for karate lessons can talk to him,' Mr. Benson said.
This statement almost secured Brendan's theory.
Mr. Bradley marched out like a soldier called out on duty.
As he watched him, Brendan noticed that his walk was as arrogant as Thomas', and he now knew where Thomas had got his black belt from.
When Brendan was walking through the corridor at dismissal time, he saw Thomas with Mr. Bradley talking to Principal Johnston.
'Any more conduct like that and we'll have no choice but to suspend your son permanently,' the principal warned Mr. Bradley.
Thomas was wearing his bandana in front of the principal and this made Brendan realize just how stubborn this boy really was. The statement "Suspend your son" spoken by the principal secured Brendan's knowledge of the relationship between Thomas and Mr. Bradley. They were obviously talking about the incident Thomas had insulted Mr. Sparrow.
'Happy now, Orphan boy?' Samantha had appeared almost as if from nowhere. She stood in front of him, her arms folded.
'Happy about what, Samantha?' he asked her looking weary.
'One of your enemies is finally getting what you think he deserves.'
'Are…Are you in love with him or something?' he asked her.
Her face began to blush. 'Are you crazy?'
'Are you in love with me then?'
She blushed even more. 'I wouldn't fall in love with a peasant even if we were the last human beings on this planet.' She tried to shake away her embarrassment by frowning even harder.
'Then why are you defending Thomas?'
'Because…Because he's innocent. You're always causing trouble. I know you started the fight and you're just trying to act above suspicion.'
'Were you even there when the fight started, Samantha? Shut up and go annoy someone else for a change.'
'You're the only person fun to annoy, Orphan boy,' she spoke with a sinister smile on her face.
'Why? Because I'm an orphan?' he asked in his defense.
'Well, obviously and also because you're responsible for your mother's and that old tart's deaths.'
'Then I'll call you S.B.F: "Sister Brother Finch", because of your foolish brother's idiotic demise.' He gave her a smirk in satisfaction.
Tears began glistening in her eyes. Her mouth was unstable with fury and hate. She slapped him hard on his cheek.
He did not satisfy her with any indication of pain or remorse. He just kept staring back at her.
Her mouth opened and then closed briefly in hesitation as if she was thinking of some words to retaliate with, then she ran out of the building with her face in her hands, sobbing loudly.