Strike of the Sweepers by Tyler Whitesides

Author:Tyler Whitesides [Whitesides, Tyler]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
Publisher: Deseret Book Company
Published: 2014-11-22T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 29

“You guys are going to get an F.”

Mrs. Natcher’s lips pursed and her hands went straight to her hips. A few of the more eager students were gathered around the teacher in the doorway, trying to contain their giggles at the sight of Spencer and Daisy in full janitorial gear, looming over a man lying on the floor with a book in his mouth.

The Filth Sweeper saw she had an audience and drew up short. She tucked her spiky body around a corner to wait. Spencer was suddenly grateful for his classmates and teacher. Mr. Clean wouldn’t want so many witnesses.

“Where have you two been?” Mrs. Natcher asked.

“Sorry,” Spencer said. “We’re just a little tardy.”

Mrs. Natcher pointed to her watch without looking at it. “Tardy?” she exclaimed. “There are only thirty minutes left of the day.” Her tight, plucked eyebrows suddenly furrowed. “Why are you holding a mop, Daisy Gates?”

Daisy looked at the Glopified weapon in her hands, like she was surprised to see it there. “It’s for our book report?” She didn’t sound too convincing.

“Book reports are due tomorrow,” said Mrs. Natcher.

Daisy shrugged. “Just wanted to be ready.”

“Good heavens!” Mrs. Natcher stepped out into the hallway. “What have you done to this poor man?”

“He was stealing our book,” Spencer said. “So we stopped him.” Technically, it was true.

Then, to Spencer’s horror, Mrs. Natcher bent down and pulled the Manualis Custodem from the Sweeper’s mouth.

“He might have been trying to eat our book,” Daisy said. “We weren’t sure.”

Mrs. Natcher pointed a stiff finger back toward the classroom. “In your seats at once!” she ordered.

“You’re not the boss of me,” Dez said.

It suddenly seemed to dawn on Mrs. Natcher who the third child in the hallway was. “Dezmond Rylie!” she gasped, and Spencer thought he saw a bit of fear in her cold eyes. After all, Dez was a teacher’s nightmare.

“What are you doing here?” Mrs. Natcher said, once she regained her composure. “I was told that you left our school to study at some,” she turned up her nose, “private academy.”

“Yeah, well . . .” Dez shrugged. “Turns out the Academy was run by jerks.”

“You’re back?” Mrs. Natcher looked horrified. “They don’t pay me enough to teach you.” She shook her head. “I need a nap.”

Spencer hurriedly stepped into the conversation. They had to get away. The Sweeper on the floor was already recovering from the vac dust. “Dez is just here to help us with the book report,” Spencer said.

“That’s tomorrow,” Mrs. Natcher said again.

Spencer nodded. “Okay. We can bring Dez back tomorrow.”

Mrs. Natcher looked wide-eyed at the prospect. “That would be such an inconvenience.” She studied the Manualis Custodem, running her fingers across the tattered edges of the pages. “Since you seem to be prepared, I’ll let you present today.” She looked at Dez and swallowed hard. “Let’s just get this over with.”

Then Mrs. Natcher turned back to the classroom and snapped her fingers. “Everyone! Take a seat in the reading corner!” The teacher tucked the Manualis Custodem under her arm and reentered the classroom.

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