Center Field by Robert Lipsyte

Center Field by Robert Lipsyte

Author:Robert Lipsyte [Lipsyte, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2010-02-08T13:00:00+00:00


Mike followed Zack and the others into an old factory building near the river while Kat screeched off to park the van. A hundred kids, mostly high school guys, were packed into an auditorium. The kids seemed pretty psyched by what they were hearing, tech jargon Mike had trouble following. They recorded, videotaped, and made notes in their laptops as speakers up front droned on about something called On-High dot org that was going to revolutionize education in America by making high schools accountable to the students. That part Mike understood but not how they were going make it all happen with the help of backdoors and packets and sniffers and tunneling. Speakers made jokes about scooters and pinheads. Mike sat behind Fatty and Skinny, who laughed and elbowed each other continually. Mike got some of the Matrix, Star Wars, and Battlestar Galactica references, but that didn’t help much since the speakers seemed to think that was all ancient culture anyway. He kept looking around for Kat but didn’t see her.

He became alert when Zack got up to speak. The crowd seemed to know and respect him.

“High school is a prison and Ridgedale is maximum security,” he said.

The crowd howled. Fatty and Skinny bumped foreheads. I’m in a nuthouse, Mike thought. Nick was whistling and cheering Zack on.

“We’re running a two-pronged operation right now, an outreach program to bring in marginalized users, older folks and disabled teenagers, that’s being funded by the school board. That money’s also helping expand our internal operation. We have a site called RidgedaleReform dot org making students aware of how we’re being controlled by the system, where the money goes, and how educational decisions are made against our best interests.”

Zack was getting excited now, talking faster. Mike could see the spittle forming in the corners of his mouth. He remembered their confrontation in the hallway.

“We’ve got chat rooms on Ridgedalesucks dot com that disseminates information on teachers and students, particularly certain government types and the jockocracy, how athletes run the school.” Mike remembered Craig and Eric complaining in the locker room about something they’d read online about favoritism in grading for jocks. Mike had barely paid attention. Craig wanted to trash can the Cyber Club but Todd had talked him out of it.

“We’re constructing a new site, Codywatch dot com. Cody is our vice principal.”

“The head Cylon,” yelled Fatty. Skinny looked like he was wetting his pants.

“Hack Cody,” shouted Nick.

“That’s the plan,” said Zack. “We’re going to expose him, drill into his…” He stopped himself, as if he thought he might be going too far. He took a breath, went back to his deep, even voice. “I know a lot of other schools have similar programs and if we all link up with On-High dot org we will be invincible.”

Nick leaped up and thrust a fist into the air. Other kids stood up and cheered. This was what Cody was talking about, the clear and present danger. Coach wasn’t entirely paranoid. Am I supposed to



Download



Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.