“Leo Parkey!” exclaimed a large lady in a severe navy dress as she walked in the door. “Just what do you think you’re doing?”
“This boy tried to steal my pencil,” said Leo in a smarmy voice, releasing the pressure on Matt but making a threatening face at him.
“Oh, you must be new, I haven’t seen you before,” said the lady, turning to Matt. “I’m Ms. Peach, the receptionist here. What’s your name?”
“Matt Butterworth, ma’am,” Matt said in a level voice.
“Welcome, Matthew, we’ve been expecting you. You’re the third last new boy to come in this year!” said Ms. Peach. Turning to Leo, she dropped her voice and said sternly, “Matthew is new here, Leo. He couldn’t possibly have been stealing your pencil - you’ve only just come out of the principal’s office. Now, don’t try lying to me,” she went on, as Leo tried to interrupt. “I’ll note this occasion in your file, and the Principal will hear of it. I don’t know which is worse - that you tried to bully a new student on his first day, or that you tried lying to me about it. Dismissed! Go join your class!” Turning back to Matt, she went on more kindly, “I’m sorry you had to run into Leo before I got here, Matthew. If he bothers you again, just let me or one of the prefects, know, ok?” She smiled broadly, and then stepped to the door. “Jerry, could you come here a minute?”
A boy about Matt’s age and height, but much fatter, stepped into the office. “Jerry, this is Matthew. Matthew, Jerry is in your dorm, dorm B, and will show you your room.”
“Please, Ms. Peach, it’s Matt, not Matthew,” Matthew says.
“OK, Matt,” says Ms. Peach. “I’ll just note that. Jerry, help Matt take his bags up to his room, and then bring him back down here please, so the Principal can meet him.”
“Sure, Ms. Peach,” replied Jerry. “Could I check my weight first?”
“Of course,” said Ms. Peach. “Any time I’m here, you only have to ask.” She turned on the power to the digital scale next to her desk. Matt noted that the scale had a large digital display on the wall. “Now step on.” Jerry stepped onto the scale and the red numbers blinked, then showed 352. “Excellent,” said Ms. Peach. “Do you want me to record that?”
“No,” said Jerry, “I was just curious. C’mon, Matt.”
Matt and Jerry head out into the hallway. They:
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