Excuses



I hated that classroom, it’s pale, gray walls suffocated me. All the little 4’6” demons would come running in the room and knock off my sign that reads Ms. Carter Eighth Grade Science. Of course, Tommy Jones was always late; he was my worst nightmare. I would sit down and glare at all the kids in front of me; I was waiting for something to happen..
On Tuesday I demanded, “Does anyone one know where Tommy is this morning?” All the kids shook their heads, telling me that they had no idea.
Lily shouted, “There he is!”. I turned to see Tommy standing outside the door, peeking in the window. Something told me to ignore him and to let him stand out there all class, but my conscience wouldn't let that happen, I stood up and marched over to the door. I let him in then quickly turned back to my desk.
“Where have you been Mr. Jones?” I ordered.
Then, Tommy stammered,“Well, it’s kinda a long story, but if you really want to know I will tell you. I was up extra early this morning so I could come in a couple hours early to catch up on all the stuff I am missing. I was about halfway to school when I noticed a little squirrel had followed me down the sidewalk. When I stopped and looked at the squirrel, he also stopped and stared back at me. By this point I was mind-blown! Then, it got even crazier. I’m not kidding, the squirrel talked to me.”
“If you are going to waste my time with lies then you can leave my room!” I thundered. I couldn't believe this, why on earth would he think I would believe this obvious lie.
“I’m actually telling the truth!” he groaned.
“Fine, you may continue,” I replied.
Tommy then continued, “So, like I said, the squirrel talked to me. It sobbed in the thickest British accent, “ You have to help me! My friend is hurt, he had been hit!” Not knowing what to do, I followed the squirrel onto the street to see his friend. Then, the squirrel rejoiced, “Thank you! You are too kind. My name is Sir William Tales,” I was absolutely positive I was dreaming.
I told the squirrel my name was Tommy and he then replied, “Well, Sir Tommy, I would love to reward you for helping us.” I stood there for a little bit before I decided to follow the two little fur balls over to the big oak tree. Down they slid, the hole was slightly larger than me, so I quickly hopped down after them. It felt like I was falling for hours, but when I hit the bottom I checked my watch and it was only seconds.
There was no dirt, roots, worms, or anything you would expect to see in a hole in the ground. Instead, I saw carpet and walls, lights hanging from the roof, and miniature squirrel size furniture. Before I could comprehend what had just happened, something was tossed over my head and everything went black. For about the next five minutes, all I heard was muffled little voices that I assumed to be the squirrels I had met earlier.
Then, the bag was ripped from my head and I saw Sir William Tales sitting in a big, king-like throne. He started to laugh evilly and so did the rest of the squirrels.
“Well, I am really sad about this. I really am, but he will be very upset if I fail to bring him a child. That’s my tail on the line and I don’t want to end up like Dan. Poor boy, rest in peace,” Sir William Tales stated.
Scared out of my mind, I muttered, “ Who is He, and why does he need a child?”
“You will find out soon enough, my dear child,” the squirrel replied. Before I knew what was happening, I was put back in the bag and shuffled to someplace new. My feet hurt, I was very thirsty, and all I wanted to do was sit down. At least twenty minutes later, I was stopped. I braced myself for what I was about to see. Soon, light rushed over my head, and I took in my surroundings. I was now outside and surrounded by squirrels, but Sir Tales was no where to be found. I had so many things to ask him.

“Is this the one? Is this the boy you were bringing to me?” bellowed a voice I had never heard.
“Yes, my lord,” squeaked the little, British voice.
“Hmm, he looks like he will work,” echoed the strange voice.
I mustered up the courage to say something, “Need me for what?”
The creature that was harboring that loud, deep voice soon came into view. At first I couldn't believe my eyes. I told myself that this must all be a dream, for in front of me was a giant, white unicorn with the longest, pointiest horn ever.His tail was blowing from the slight breeze that suddenly picked up as soon as he came around. My face must have been the reason he started laughing, since my mouth was hanging wide open and my eyes where the size of golf balls.
“Every kid has the same reaction, but I must say you are the first to not faint. Need you for what, you ask? Well, I will start by enslaving you. I need people to do all of my dirty work. Once you are out of use, I will have to dispose of you,” thundered the unicorn. I was so scared; what did he mean he was going dispose of me? Was he going to kill me?
“Are you going to kill me? I don’t want to die!” I screamed. I could feel my legs giving way as I fell to the ground. Slowly my sight disappeared and my hearing gave way soon after. I awoke to the feeling of heat on my skin. Looking around I start to notice that I was in a room near a big fireplace. I tried to stand up but I couldn’t; something was holding me down. As I glanced at my feet, I saw a thick, silver chain with a cuff around my ankle. After a few minutes of trying to break free, I decided to take a look around. The room was fairly large with pictures hanging on the walls and some animal heads glaring back at me.
“Do you like my abode?” the unicorn questioned. I turned the other direction to see him enter the room through a big, brown door.
“Yeah, I guess. What do want from me? I will not make a good servant; I am really lazy and out of shape. You don’t want me, I promise!” I tried to plead with the beast.
He then replied, “Fine, I will not use you for my slave work. Instead I will use you for a much bigger purpose.”
“What would that be?” I questioned.
“Well, in order to keep my position at the top, I have to make a payment of sorts. In other words you must be a sacrifice.” As the unicorn informed me of this news, I started to feel faint again. This time I refused to pass out because I was afraid I would never wake. The unicorn then stood up and left the room and I was left with my thoughts. I started to wonder if I was ever going to make it home again. Thinking off all the possible ways they might get rid of me gave me an idea: what if I somehow fled during the night? Then out of the corner of my eye, I saw something come towards me. It seemed to be slithering.
It was a snake. I was so scared. Snakes are the scariest things on the planet Earth.
“So , do you need some help?” he slurred.
Confused at what he had just said, I muttered, “Uh, yeah. Are you going to help me?”
“Yes, I am. You see I have been stuck down here for a long time and I know things that could destroy this place. So what do you say, you want to help each other out?” the snake offered.
“Anything to get me out of here,” I replied. After discussing the plan, the snake, whose name is Larry, went back into the hole in the wall. The unicorn, which Larry said his name was Malcolm, came back into the room and said I was to be transported. So, willingly I got up and followed him to someplace new. Just like Larry had said, they brought me to a big, white room with a hole in the floor. That hole was supposed to turn into flames. Our plan was going to change all that.
Before I knew it, I was hoisted up by a rope. Little did they know, I was hiding a knife in my sleeve. They all stood with smiles on their faces as I heard a voice over a speaker say, 3…...2…..1…. LIGHT! The flames never lit, which was what we were hoping for. I quickly slid the knife out to the rope and started cutting like crazy. Finally the rope broke and I ninja rolled into the floor. No one heard me because they were all arguing with each other. I looked for Larry to give him the signal. As soon as I saw him I gave a slight nod and soon the hole went up in flames, and burned some the animals’ faces. Larry and I booked it to the door, and ran as fast as we could back to the little squirrel house.
Once back at the squirrel house we looked for a way out. Finally, in the corner I saw a big, long ladder, so I grabbed it. I also grabbed Larry and started to climb the ladder. In the background I could hear the squirrels coming, but thankfully we were far enough up the hole. Then , I could see the sun, and I was flooded with joy. Once out of the hole, I let Larry down and told him to meet me here after school. That’s when I finished my journey to school………………...”
“TOMMY JONES,” I couldn't hold in my anger, “ GO TO THE OFFICE RIGHT NOW! You are going to never see the light of day!” I fumed.
I ended up giving Tommy a week of detentions for that ludicrous explanation. I packed up all my stuff and went home thankful that the day was done. While I was driving by the big oak tree that Tommy talking about, I saw Tommy holding on to a snake. Maybe he did actually make friend with a snake. Then I looked up and saw a squirrel in the street. Next, I watched a little girl follow another squirrel to the first one. Before I could think of what was happening the girl was down the hole with both squirrels, and Tommy was yelling down the hole.
Oh my goodness, Tommy wasn't lying…..