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Post by Katrina on Sept 3, 2005 19:21:29 GMT 1
Part 1“Come on Helen, give it a go, you’ll like it” fifteen-year-old Georgina smiled at her friend Helen, holding out the cigarette for her friend to try. Helen shook her head firmly. “y’know I’ll always say no and you shouldn’t use them either, there bad for your health and besides what if your mum finds out, she’ll kill you” Georgina put the cigarette between her lips and inhaled deeply before blowing the smoke out of her nose in Helen’s direction causing Helen to cough Georgina smiled cheekily. The two girls’ were complete opposites and yet somehow they stayed friends. “Is that your expert opinion Doctor” this comment caused Helen to giggle; she made no attempt to pretend that being a doctor wasn’t her dream. The two of them got up from where they were sat on the school lawn and began to walk towards the main building. Georgina dropped the cigarette on the ground, rubbing her shoe over it to extinguish it. Georgina truthfully had wanted to finish it but she knew that there was no chance of that when she had her own personal human watch Helen with her. As they were approaching the door, a blond haired girl just a bit younger than them ran up practically exploding with news. She ran ahead of them before stopping in their way, ”I have the best news” Helen and Georgina looked at each other and frowned, Sarah’s last bit of news had been that the school was getting new books for the library although Helen had liked this idea, she’d been expecting something more. “Ok kid, what’s the Goss” Georgina watched as Sarah squirmed under her gaze. Sarah admired Georgina’s wild and carefree attitude but the young girl also felt intimidated whenever she was around her idol. “You’re getting a new classmate, a Scottish girl. Apparently she’s really wild, she’s even had sex” Sarah said the last words with utter disbelief. “And where did you get this kid” Georgina felt slightly intrigued; it was about time there was someone like her at this school. Sarah smiled, “From Tash. Her cousin’s boyfriend’s cousin goes to her old school. Any way I got to run, see you later” Sarah turned towards the school building and ran off leaving Georgina smiling and Helen groaning. The two walked in to the building both of them thinking about the new girl. “I can’t believe the school would let someone like that in” after the words came out Helen realised how bad that sounded “I mean the younger ones like Sarah and her friends, what kind of example is it setting them” Georgina scoffed “The schools needs more people like me. and don’t worry ‘bout the kids, they need to learn to have more fun, I mean have you seen Sarah’s friends that girl Caro-whatever is like so naïve, the other day I asked her if she had a boyfriend and she almost fainted at the idea and that Tash girl talk about dull. Sarah’s the only one who’s even slightly cool” the two walked in to their form-room sitting at their usual seats. Next to Helen sat another of their friends Faith Walker and next to Georgina sat Ronald Woodson, one of Georgina’s many male admirers. Their teacher Mrs Samara Mitchell walked to the front of the class, with a grumpy girl by her side. The girl had long, dark hair and she wore not the usual school uniform but a fake-leather jacket, black denim trousers and a black t-shirt. “class, this is Jude Carlyle, she’s new here and I’d like you all to make her feel welcome. Well Jude say hello to your new classmates” Jude looked annoyed, she scowled at everyone “Hey dudes” Mrs Mitchell looked shocked, she pointed to where Jude should sit. Jude went a sat down. To her this seemed like the most boring school on the entire planet.
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Post by Katrina on Sept 11, 2005 16:02:27 GMT 1
Part 2
“isn’t she cool looking Helen? That jacket, I mean wow” Georgina gushed as the two friends walked out towards tree where they usually sat during breaks, the boys had already started up their usual football game, in which one or more always ended up bleeding. Helen frowned at her friend
“cool? George, you have a serious problem with character judgement” but instead of being able to continue her sentence, Helen was almost hit by the football which had been thrown in temper by non-other than Jude Carlyle.
“oi, miss-goody-two-shoes, come say whatever you’ve got to say ‘bout me to my face right?” the angry girl stomped towards them. Sarah, Carolina and Tasha seemed to have appeared from nowhere and were now watching, the event unfold. All three were holding hands. The boys had abandoned their game, partly because they’d lost their ball and partly because they were sensing a fight.
“lost your tongue have ya posh girl? would you like me to fish it out for ya” Jude approached quicker, hand extended. Helen moved backwards
“aw, scared are we. Well get your little friends to help you, bet they’re betta fighters and what are they, three” Jude glared at Sarah, Carolina and Tasha. Carolina almost ran away but her feet felt like they were glued to the ground, Tasha gripped Carolina’s hand tighter while Sarah felt her anger boiling up.
“Helen, isn’t scared, are you? I bet she could beat you with both hands tied behind her back with a blindfold on but she won’t cos she’s better than you. and by the way, your jacket is so fake” Jude looked at Sarah, she walked towards her ready to strangle to younger girl but instead of running, Sarah just stood there
“you now, Jude, you should channel your anger in to something more productive, like dancing or singing” Jude smiled
“run now or I’ll kill ya” Jude sang out, Sarah smiled and giggled while the boys started up the ‘fight, fight, fight’ chant. Helen and Georgina watched terrified, as Jude started to move closer and closer to Sarah who was making no attempt to move, Carolina and Tasha had moved. Carolina was hiding behind Helen and Tasha behind Georgina.
“are you an idiot, squirt. Do you want to go to casualty” Sarah smiled and shook her head, suddenly Jude felt herself falling, Sarah laughed
“have a nice trip, see ya next fall. Oh and by the way Jude, there’s a pothole there, made last year during a rugby game” Jude stood up, furious, but instead of killing Sarah, she turned to Georgina.
“so you want to hang out”
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Post by Katrina on Sept 20, 2005 15:14:55 GMT 1
Part 3
Sarah ran off then with Carolina and Tasha close behind while Jude and Georgina hung out with Helen tagging on like a third wheel. It was only five minutes later that the school bell rang, the three of them began walking back towards the school building, the boys were trailing behind at the pace of snails, very lazy snails. When they got near to the steps, Sarah bounded down them towards the three, she was smiling,
“The Nut’s called an assembly” Georgina and Helen groaned “I hope it’s better than the last time, her performing songs from ‘The sound of music’ gave me nightmares for weeks. Sixteen going on seventeen more like a hundred going on a thousand” Georgina smiled at the girl
“That’s a good one kid. Now run along” Sarah beamed at the high praise from Georgina, she ran back in to the building three times faster than she usually did.
“Who’s The Nut?” Jude looked curiously at Georgina and Helen.
“It’s Mrs Hazel, the music teacher. She’s totally nutty hence the nickname. About once a month, she calls an assembly at which she performs songs. So George what’ll we have this time?” Helen smiled at Georgina and Jude
“Please not Annie again” Georgina half frowned, half grinned. The three sprinted through the school building to the assembly room, Jude felt slightly confused but she hid it behind an uncaring façade. the assembly’s that were called by Mrs Hazel were known for being very informal, so the pupils sat were ever they wanted without the teachers telling them off. Georgina, Jude and Helen grabbed seats in the middle of the room. Minutes later, Helen and Georgina’s friends Faith Walker and Samantha McGuire arrived in the room, the two sat down next to Helen. Samantha was curious as to whom Jude was but Helen was quick to explain. It was a couple more minutes before Ronald, Benjamin Kwarme, Oliver Berg and Gregory Robinson arrived. Ronald was quick to grab the seat next to Georgina. Sarah, Tasha and Carolina took the seats in front of them, all three talking happily about what was going to happen. A few minutes later, Mrs Hazel walked on to the stage. Mrs Hazel was a rather old woman who most pupils thought should have retired a couple of centuries ago. The woman coughed slightly
“Now children, today I won’t be performing” she sounded disappointed but not one pupil said ‘oh no’. Mrs Hazel smiled slightly “but we will soon be going on a school trip, to an adventure park” excitement rose in to room, cheers came from every seat, Mrs Hazel tapped her foot on the stage loudly. everyone quietened.
“and to raise money, we’re going to hold a female beauty pageant, isn’t that going to be fun” Georgina jumped up in her seat
“NO THAT IS NOT FUN! IT’S TOTALLY WRONG!” Georgina climbed up on her chair, Jude followed” “WE ARE YOUNG WOMEN AND WE SHOULDN’T BE PARADED AROUND THE STAGE LIKE ANIMALS AT MARKET” Jude shouted, the boys moaned
“GEORGINA, YOU GET DOWN OFF THE SEAT NOW, YOU TO JUDE. YOU’RE GETTING DETENTION!” Mrs Hazel was known for never raising her voice, so everybody gasped. Jude and Georgina looked at each other.
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Post by Katrina on Sept 25, 2005 14:20:26 GMT 1
Part 4
When Georgina and Jude were allowed out of detention at 4:30pm both were still arguing that they’d been wrongly kept in the school building after hours, when they got outside, they found Helen, Ronald, Tasha, Carolina, Sarah, Samantha and Faith all sat on the grass, the others had given up a while ago. Georgina and Jude ran up to them and sat down.
“We’ve got a plan” Helen smiled proudly “we’ll hold a court. The teachers VS us. Ronnie’s agreed to be our lawyer. Sarah and Sam are going undercover. Carolina and Tasha are going to do research while me and Faith work with Sarah and Sam and write speeches” Georgina and Jude smiled broadly.
“I didn’t know you wanted to be a lawyer Ron?” Georgina turned to him, he was smiling sheepishly
“Yeah I do. And this’ll be my first proper case. Of course the other boys will be very angry with me, they want to see you girls in swimsuits” Georgina and Jude pretended to gag at the idea, but instead of laughing, everyone looked deadly serious.
“There’s only one problem” Sarah spoke up, everyone turned to face her “well if we get the show cancelled, how can we go on the trip?” everyone was quiet for a second,
“we can do what we always do, ask our parents. They would have paid to see the show, we’ll just cut that part out” Samantha grinned “and besides if we don’t earn enough for a mini bus, I’m sure mum and dad would drive us”
“but how would the others get there?” Sarah spoke again “I mean Mr and Mrs McGuire can only take so many of us”
“other parents and the teachers can drive but I so don’t want to be in The Nuts car!” Helen exclaimed grinning
“So when’s the court case?”
“as soon as we have enough evidence to prove these contests are bad. Sam, Sarah, you’ll have to register the be in the contest, then you can find out what it’s like and how much pressure they is. Tash, Carolina, you have to research other shows, what we need is” Helen had to think for a second
“things like kids having to much pressure on during these competitions and stuff. We’ll do our best” Tasha smiled at Helen.
“ok. now lets get to work” everyone jumped up and scattered from the school field.
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Post by Katrina on Sept 28, 2005 21:15:01 GMT 1
Part 5
A week later, the group met up again, this time in Georgina’s bedroom, for Sarah this was like a dream come true. She had dreamed of being accepted by the older girl and now it finally seemed that she had. Tasha and Carolina were less enthusiastic; both were nervous and were fiddling with their hair. Sarah and Samantha were both holding pieces of paper. Ronald, who was sat on Georgina’s bed, was looking extremely worried about being in a room with eight girls, of course he hadn’t told any of his friends about this meeting, for one he’d be asked questions for months about what the inside of a girl’s room is really like and two because he’d then have to admit to helping have the show cancelled.
“So, any news?” Sarah and Samantha looked at each other
“Well, we registered” both Sarah and Samantha passed Georgina, their entry information, both of them still had paper in their hand and they looked slightly worried
“We even had to declare to Mrs Hazel, that we wanted to enter the competition and vow to play fair” Samantha stuck out her tongue
“So, what did you have to say?” Georgina couldn’t help being curious, Samantha and Sarah frowned
“I had to say ‘I, Sarah Andrea Finch, declare that I will play fair in the Letherbridge High School Beauty Pageant’ it was awful”
“And I had to say the same thing apart from my names Samantha Louise McGuire” Georgina looked confused
“I can’t believe they made you declare that you’ll play fair” Helen was frowning “I mean don’t they trust us?” everyone shook there heads. Helen grimaced
“Well that makes me feel like a pre-schooler” everyone grinned, Sarah and Samantha coughed
“Anyway we think you should see this” Samantha passed Georgina the other piece of paper she was carrying, on it were the words:
YOU SHOULD SAVE YOURSELF THE EMBARRASSMENT, DROP OUT OF THE PAGEANT OR ELSE!
Spelt out using newspaper letter cut outs. Georgina looked around the group, she smiled
“well we have evidence. Tasha, Carolina, do you have anything?” the two nodded and passed a thick folder to Georgina who’s grin broadened.
“good.”
“I’ve also spoke to mum and dad. Mum was very enthusiastic, and can take 4 of us in the car. And dad can drive a minibus so he can take 23, I think. So transport is nearly sorted” everyone cheered at what Samantha said. Sarah smiled
“seeing as this is a week of declarations ‘I, Sarah Andrea Finch, declare that this trial is well and truly on” everyone clapped, while Ronald put on a serious face
“and I am pleased to be your lawyer but expect my bill in the post. The first consulations free, but if we lose watch out there’ll be a hefty price increase” he smiled seriously. Georgina and Jude threw pillows at him and laughed
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Post by Katrina on Oct 12, 2005 13:59:11 GMT 1
Part 6
The court case came around, 3 days later. Ronald was terrified that he’d make a mistake during his debut as a lawyer. Georgina and Jude were both looking very focussed. Helen was worrying that this would somehow led to her ending up in detention and that somehow ruining her chance of becoming a doctor. Sarah was pacing the floor. Samantha was talking to her mother Julia, who had come along to point out that she and her husband would be willing to drive the kids to the adventure park, for just the price of the petrol which didn’t amount to much. Tasha and Carolina were sat on the floor, watching everything that was going on. Tasha wasn’t going to be doing much during the trial, she was just a backup in case something went wrong or Ronald felt the case was going badly. Carolina was going to be the typist for the case, as she was one of the quickest typists in the school, Sarah was the quickest but she was testifying, so couldn’t do the job herself. One of the largest classrooms in school had been turning in to a courtroom. A large chair had been placed at the top of the room, where the head teacher Mr Kay, would sit as the judge. To the left of the chair was a cut-away box with a chair inside, where the witnesses would sit. To the right of where Mr Kay would sit was a desk, chair and typewriter for Carolina to use. In front of Carolina’s desk was a table and three chairs where two teachers and their lawyer, the head of history Mr Gee-Bee, would sit. In front of the witness box was the table where Georgina, Jude and Ronald would sit. Behind this was a group of chairs where other pupils, including the witnesses and the jury would sit.
“Ok let’s get this over with” Mr Kay stood by the door, to the makeshift courtroom, he opened it slowly. All those who were allowed, entered the room looking excited and nervous. The Jury was made up of pupils, teachers and parents, some already had their minds set to the answer they would give but some had open minds. Everyone took their seats.
“This court is now in session. First we’ll have our opening statements from Mr Woodson and Mr Gee-Bee” Mr Kay looked down to check Carolina was typing, which she was. Ronald stood up and walked round the table,
“beauty pageant have been a tradition for years but myself and my clients believe that this is a tradition that should be changed” boos and jeers came from the gallery “these pageants involve girl’s being paraded around a stage like cattle at market. In this age of equality between genders, should we still do contests like this?” Ronald sat down again, Georgina looked at him, mouth open in shock. “you were brilliant” she whispered. Mr Gee-Bee stood up
“as Mr Woodson said Beauty pageants are a tradition, but my clients and I believe that they should be kept. They are just harmless fun” cheers arouse from the gallery “this pageant is a win-win situation, the show itself will be fun and the money raised will allow you, the pupils, to spend the day at an adventure park” the gallery clapped, Georgina and Ronald looked at each, both looked worried.
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Post by Katrina on Oct 23, 2005 14:56:22 GMT 1
Part 7
“I’d like to call Georgina Dowson to the stand” Ronald was standing again, adrenaline was pounding through his body. Georgina stood shakily and walked towards the witness box. She couldn’t help shaking, for the first time in ages she felt scared. She sat down, the school librarian, Mrs French, stepped forward holding a very large dictionary.
“ok Georgina, please place a hand on the book and read of this card, inserting your full name when needed” Georgina placed her left hand on the dictionary and looked at Ronald, who smiled reassuringly at her.
“I, Georgina Stirling Dowson, do swear that I shall tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth” Mrs French moved the dictionary and went back to her seat in the corner of the room. Mr Gee-Bee stood and stepped towards Georgina
“Miss Downson, please tell the court why you object to the beauty pageant” Georgina took and deep breath before looking straight at the gallery reminding herself to stay calm
“I object to this pageant because its promoting young women having to have a perfect image. So many young women are staving themselves so that they can have a supermodel figure when really their looks are really nothing important it’s the person’s personality. These pageants, have young women being paraded around a stage like cattle at market, and for what? To have their confidence ripped to shreds when they don’t win. I ask all parents here today, do you want to have to spend hours consoling your heartbroken daughter?” Georgina looked around, everyone was silent and few mouths were open. She turned to Carolina who was typing frantically. Mr Gee-Bee looked shocked. Ronald smiled.
“I have no further questions” Mr Gee-Bee looked at Ronald who agreed. Georgina stepped down from the box and went back to her seat.
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Post by Katrina on Nov 12, 2005 17:22:35 GMT 1
Part 8
Jude, Sarah, Helen, Faith, Samantha and Tasha’s testimonies passed without a hitch but Ronald still wasn’t feeling terribly confident, Mr Gee-Bee was putting across a very firm argument. The jury had left the room, three minutes ago and each second that had passed since seemed to last a lifetime. For Ronald, this wasn’t just a fake school court; this was his first proper case. Georgina was twirling her long hair around her finger as she always did when she was nervous. Every few minutes she turned to look at Mrs Hazel and Mr Gee-Bee, both were looking extremely confident. One of the jury stepped back in to the room. Everyone turned to her, the school receptionist Mrs Smith was standing there.
“has the jury made a decision” Mr Kay looked directly at Mrs Smith
“yes and we’re all agreed”
”then tell us”
“we have decided in the favour of Miss Dowson and Miss Carlyle as long as at least half the pupils eligible for the trip are able to get payment together. If less than half can, a pageant will take place” Georgina and Jude jumped up and hugged each other and then in the excitement Georgina turned and kissed Ronald full on his face
“that’s enough Miss Dowson, please put Mr Woodson down. The case is now closed. Permission and payment forms will be handed out at the end of the day, if Mrs Smith can get them ready” Mr Kay stepped down from his podium “now get to class” Georgina and Ronald broke apart, Ronald looked shocked and he was as white as a sheet
“I can’t believe we won” Georgina gushed “and it was all thanks to you, you’re a brilliant lawyer Ronnie” Ronald smiled sheepishly, Mr Gee-Bee approached them
“Georgina is right. Very well fought, you certainly are a lawyer in the making and a fine one at that” he smiled for a second “now class you lot” Georgina, Jude and Ronald scarpered out of the classroom, outside the room was Helen, Faith, Samantha, Sarah, Tasha and Carolina, they were all grinning from ear to ear.
“we make a great team” Samantha said happily, everyone agreed. As they walked away from the classroom they were joined by Benjamin Kwarme, Gregory Robinson and Oliver Berg.
“you lot were brilliant, I’m not even angry that we can’t have a pageant” Ronald looked at Benjamin seriously “ok well maybe a little angry but never mind”
“we better get to class, we don’t want detention” Helen spoke from her place. Everyone turned to her
“HELEN!” they all chorused laughing but the group moved towards they classrooms again. Halfway there, Tasha, Carolina and Sarah pulled away from the group and went in to their own classroom promising to wait on the front lawn for everyone when the bell rang for the end of day.
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Post by Katrina on Nov 16, 2005 20:58:44 GMT 1
Part 9
The weeks that followed were extremely uneventful, Georgina was happy to find out that the vast majority of people able to go on the trip had been able to pay. Jude had been in detention at least six times but she had no interest in toning down her behaviour much to Helen chagrin. The Monday morning before the adventure park trip, every pupil going stood outside the Mr Kay’s office waiting for Mrs Smith to post the list of who was going in whose car on the day. When it was pinned to the pin board various happy screams could be heard rebounding around the corridor. The list for Samantha’s dad’s minivan read. It had been decided that Samantha’s mum would not have to drive in the end as with the minibus and the cars of three teachers they’d be enough.
Mr Brendan McGuire’s Minivan
Mrs Hazel Holly Barrett Oliver Berg Jude Carlyle Georgina Dowson Eleanora Fields Sarah Finch Alyson Gordon David Greene Carla Jameson Helen Johnson Amber Josephs Benjamin Kwarme Joseph Lane Jemma Lewis Samantha McGuire Gregory Robinson Carolina Shaw William Smith Jack Taylor Tasha Verma Faith Walker Ronald Woodson
The vast majority were happy with this arrangement apart from having Mrs Hazel in the car, everyone could imagine the journey, her singing all the way. Sarah was holding her ears just thinking about it. Carolina was feeling slightly faint reading the list, as she’d fancied David Greene all year, although she’d never told anyone. Samantha was smiling at the idea of her father and Mrs Hazel in the same van, her dad had gotten irritated when herself and her brothers had sang in the car when they’d been a lot younger.
“this should be a right laugh” Gregory grinned “Sam, you dad won’t mind us singing 999 bottles of bear on the wall will he?”
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Post by Katrina on Nov 21, 2005 15:25:36 GMT 1
part 10
The day of the trip seemed to take years to come but finally it did, Samantha had spent the past days persuading the boys that singing ‘999 bottles’ was not going to do them any favours. The boys had argued about it but Sarah had managed to bring them round by telling them that Mrs Hazel would join in and that was something nobody wanted.
The entire group met up in the car park, Carolina was practically hyperventilating about being in a van with David for the hour or so drive, Sarah was checking her bag every three minutes for her pack of emergency ear plugs, she’d brought enough for herself and all her friends for the journey to and from the park. The rest of the group were practically bouncing around with excitement. The minivan pulled up to them, all ready partly filled with the others who’d be travelling with them. Samantha opened the door and everyone piled in. Helen, Jude, Georgina and Ronald grabbed the back seat. Faith and Samantha sat in the front with Mr McGuire and Mrs Hazel, they were both armed with Sarah’s earplugs. Tasha and Sarah grabbed a seat together, both feeling slightly guilty about not being able to sit with Carolina. Oliver and Gregory sat together, while Benjamin joined up with Joseph another boy of the wrestling team. Carolina was dismayed to find that only one seat was free – right next to David Greene. Carolina was shaking as she walked to the seat, as she sat down she could practically see the expressions of worry on the faces of Tasha and Sarah, who she’d confided in last night about her crush. Mr McGuire started the van when he saw that everyone was seat, as he pulled out of the car park a happy cheer rang out throughout the bus. Mr McGuire looked at Mrs Hazel, who called for silence but by the time to bus pulled on to the motorway, Mrs Hazel had started singing. She gave a rousing rendition of ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’ with all the pupils shouting out comments at well chosen moments. Mrs Hazel kept up a steady stream of songs throughout the whole journey, each one more painful to listen to. The pupils also managed to keep up the funny comments, each one more rude than the last. Poor Mr McGuire by the end of the trip, his ear drums were near bursting, he was not used to having such singing right in his ears. But he was also not used to the language used for the pupils, he was glad to hear, Samantha not joining in, although mentally she was. Mrs Hazel paid no attention though. Only two other people were oblivious to the songs and comments – Carolina and David.
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