Wyatt put his arm around me. “There’s a spot behind those trees for you to change your clothes. Be quick, brother. We have an important task for you when you’re ready.”
It was everything I could do to keep from squealing like my sister on Christmas. I did my best to answer calmly, but it only came out in a rapid slur. “SureI’llberightback!”
The ninja costume fit like a glove, I tell you. It was like a finely tailored suit that a rich gentlemen would special order from Europe. When I emerged from the tree, many of my ninja brothers and sisters gasped and clapped softly. I made the outfit look good. Or scary. It might’ve been because my overly skinny body made it look like I was the grim reaper. Whatever though – strike fear into my enemies, right?
Another ninja to the left of me whipped out a couple bags of Oreos, and we continued our celebration with cookies. I don’t even care how silly that sounds – ninjas and cookies are two of the most awesome things on the planet. Of course they’d go great together!
Wyatt sat by my side with a mouthful of cookie. He chewed it sloppily like a dog. “I’m thankful that you’ve chosen to become a member of my clan.”
“Are there other clans?” I asked.
“No,” Wyatt said. “Are you ready for the task we’ve specifically chosen for you?”
I set my Oreos down on the little table. My first job as a ninja, and in a real ninja uniform – of course I was ready! “Yes, tell me what I must do.”
Wyatt paused. “Are you sure? You wear the uniform now so you can’t reject any kind of duty you’re given.”
For a second, I imagined he said “doodie,” and I laughed. “No, I won’t reject anything. Whatever you want from me, consider it done.”
Wyatt nodded, and made a “tch tch” sound with his cheek. Immediately, one of the other members of the clan tossed a backpack to the ground in front of me. It was bright red with speckled straps.
I studied it for a moment. I had seen a backpack like this before, but where? And then it hit me – I saw the same bag sitting by Zoe’s desk earlier in the week. This was Zoe’s backpack.
“Why do you have that?” I asked.
Wyatt shook his head. “Members of my clan don’t ask questions when they’re given a task, and yours is simple. All you have to do is take this bag to the front office.”
“Sneak it in there? You want me to walk through the school wearing this ninja uniform?”
“No,” Wyatt said. “That’s why it’ll be easy. After gym, you’ll change into your normal street clothes and simply take this bag to the front desk. You’ll deliver it to the principal, and tell them that you found it under a bush outside.”
I looked at Zoe’s backpack. Could it have been a coincidence? Could this just be the same bag that she has? As I scanned the side of it, I saw her name scribbled on the plastic shield, complete with the smiley face in the “o.” This was definitely her bag.
“What’s inside?” I asked.
“Vengeance,” Wyatt said.
“Vengeance? For what?”
Wyatt pulled his mask back and revealed his face. A face that was filled with anger. “She rejected our offer, and embarrassed me in front of my clan. That cannot go unpunished. Enough questions. As a member of this clan, you must deliver this bag to the office and say nothing else of it. Do you understand?”
Reluctantly, I nodded.
“Do not open this bag, or you will suffer the same fate as your cousin,” Wyatt warned.
There was that same sick feeling in my gut. I almost felt like barfing.
11:25 AM. Between gym class and lunch.
I waited until everyone in gym had returned to the locker rooms before I stepped out of the woods. The other ninjas had changed clothes and returned with the rest of the class. Mr. Cooper wasn’t too attentive so the fact that I wasn’t with them slid past him pretty easily.
With Zoe’s backpack slung over my shoulder, I started hiking across the track and field. If I went in through the gymnasium doors, I was sure to get caught so I decided to walk around the school to where the front offices were.
The bag was heavy on my back. Heavier than a normal bag should be anyway. I imagined she had all her textbooks in it, but I knew that wasn’t the truth. Why would Wyatt call it “vengeance” if I were simply delivering an item to the lost and found?
My stomach curdled once more, and I couldn’t take it. Zoe was my cousin, and even though she hurt my feelings, she was still family. I’ve already betrayed her once, and I didn’t want to do it again.
I set the bag on the sidewalk and stared at it. I didn’t want to see what was inside, partially because whatever was in there was there because I’m an idiot. It’s my fault that Zoe was in this mess, and I was prepared to do whatever it took to get her out of it.
My hand shook as I gripped the zipper. The cold piece of metal stung from pinching it too tightly. I clenched my jaw and decided to treat the bag like a bandaid – rip it open and get it over quickly.
I jerked my hand into the air, unzipping Zoe’s red backpack. The bag lifted off the ground and flipped upside-down. As it landed, hundreds of coins rolled out as lumps of cash fell to the pavement.
“Oh no,” I whispered. My knees betrayed me, and I fell to the ground, staring at all the money that spilled from the red bag.
There was a yellow sheet of paper sticking out from under the coins. I could only read part of it, but I knew what it said. When I yanked it free, I found that I was right.
“Student Hunger Drive, Money Donations,” was printed in bold black ink on the yellow paper.
The food drive money that was found missing this morning had somehow reached its way into Zoe’s backpack. The ninjas had stolen it and were planning on framing her.
This was bad. Not just bad, but epic bad. Like “end of the world” bad. Zoe wouldn’t just get a slap on the wrist for something like this – she would get expelled and then it would be on her permanent record. Her parents would ground her for the rest of her life! My parents would never let us hang out together again! She’ll probably grow old and die alone because of the contents of this backpack!
I couldn’t take it to the office! Not even if I told them the truth because c’mon, a ninja clan in the woods wants to frame a sixth grade girl because she refused to join? I just lived through it, and even I don’t believe that tale!
I scooped the loose change and clumps of paper money back into Zoe’s backpack, and then I remembered that Brayden said it was nearly three grand that was stolen. If you’ve never held three grand in a backpack, let me tell you right now that it’s not very light.
Paranoid, I made sure nobody was outside watching me. If Wyatt was able to steal all this money from the front office, he could easily be spying on me right at that moment.
11:35 AM. Lunch.
I decided against walking through the front doors of the school for obvious reasons. If anyone had stopped to ask what I was doing, I knew I’d buckle and act super suspicious. I guess a backpack with three thousand dollars will do that to ya.
Instead, I walked to the doors of the cafeteria. Coincidentally, they were next to the gym doors so the trek wasn’t that far.
The cafeteria was bustling with activity as kids walked to their tables with trays filled with gross food. I could see Zoe at a table with her friends. Emily was right next to her. Brayden was sitting alone at the table nearest the door. Once I snuck in, I immediately dashed to the seat across from him.
He looked up from his tray. “Where’s your food?”
I continued to scan the room for Wyatt. “Not so hungry.”
Brayden took a bite of his mashed potatoes. “What’s with the backpack?”
“Y’know,” I said, still keeping an eye out. I couldn’t see Wyatt anywhere. “Sometimes I like to just carry my bag around.”
With a mouthful of food, Brayden spoke, pointing his fork at the bag. “That’s not your bag, dummy. That’s Zoe’s.”
“What?” I asked, shocked.
“Did I grab the wrong bag again? How silly of me.”
“Shut up,” Brayden said with a hint of anger in his voice. “You have it on purpose. What’s your deal, Chase?”
I glanced at the werewolf hunter across the table as he took a drink from his milk carton. His eyes were soft and doughy. Could he be trusted? We’ll see. “This bag is filled with the money from the food drive.”
Brayden spit out his milk, spraying it across the table and my face. He punched at his chest as he coughed out the words, “Are you serious?”
I wiped the milk off my cheeks. “Yes! Keep it down, will ya?”
“Did you steal that money?” he leaned over and whispered.
“No! But I have it now,” I replied. “This is Zoe’s bag, and I’m supposed to take it to the office! Wyatt wants to frame her for stealing the money so she’ll get in trouble!”
“’In trouble’ is what she’ll wish she got in! More than likely, she’ll get in “dead meat’!”
“I know!” I said. “And I don’t know what to do!”
Brayden leaned forward and looked over both his shoulders, I think to make sure no one was listening in on our conversation. “You need to get that cash back into the container in the office.”
“Of course that’s what I’d love to do, but I doubt that it’s as easy as walking it in there!” I said loudly. Luckily the students in the cafeteria were louder.
Brayden leaned back in his chair and pried open his milk carton. After taking a sip, he set the drink back down on his tray, and then with a milk mustache, he spoke. “I’ll provide the distraction. No worries there. We’ll do it after I finish my food.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing,” I said, genuinely feeling a glimmer of hope for the first time since I found the money.
He nodded as he finished his meal. Yeah, it was the weirdest thing. He just kept on nodding while eating his food, but was I going to say anything about it? Nope, because he was going to help me. Brayden had moved up on the ladder from a person I hardly knew, to a true friend.
11:45 AM. In the hallway during lunch.
I followed Brayden as he led the way. He was keeping an eye out for anyone in front of us while I made sure nobody was behind. Zoe’s red backpack was getting heavier on my shoulder, and I couldn’t wait to get rid of the darn thing.
“It’s right around this corner,” said Brayden. Good thing too because being the new kid in school, I hardly knew my way around.
“What’s the plan?” I asked.
Brayden poked his head around the corner and glanced through the windows of the front office. “Not sure yet.”
The front office was separated by a large counter that was as high as my neck. Behind the counter were several desks with adults that stared blankly at their computer monitors. One of the adults was the secretary. I think she stayed in the office the entire day so I’m at sea about how Wyatt ever stole the money in the first place. Like I said before, he must’ve been good.
“There are three people working at their desks,” said Brayden. “I think if I make enough noise and run down the hallway, they’ll probably chase me.”
I shook my head. “That won’t work. Only one of them will chase after you, if even that. More than likely, they’ll page the security guard to come after you. We have to think of something else.”
And then came a familiar voice from behind us. “You could drop the bag off as I instructed you to.”
I could tell it was Wyatt. When I turned around, he was standing there with his arms at his sides, wearing a scowl across his face. Outside of his ninja outfit, he looked like any other short kid in the school. Average. Forgettable.
Behind him were several other students I didn’t recognize, but from how they were standing, it was clear that it was the rest of the clan.
“I can’t do that,” I said as I pulled Zoe’s backpack tighter on my shoulders.
“You don’t really have a choice, do you?” Wyatt asked with an ugly smirk.
“Oh, but I think I do,” I replied. “You see, I’m the one with the bag and the money. Not you.”
Wyatt chuckled, as did the rest of the clan behind him. “You’re only delaying the inevitable. This can go down in two ways – you can dump the bag in the office, telling them what I told you to say, or you can get caught out here with a backpack full of three grand. Pretty sure they won’t believe any story you tell them about me. After all, I’m just an average Joe at this school. I barely have any friends, right?”
The ninja leader was right. If I choose one path, then Zoe gets busted. If I wait too long, a teacher will eventually come along, and then I’ll get busted. That’d be a great way to start a new school, huh? Get caught stealing money from hungry kids. Either way, Wyatt wins.
I had to do something to upset his plan and flip it over on him. I thought frantically about what to do, but couldn’t think of anything to save my life. I looked at Brayden, hoping he would have a suggestion, but he only shrugged his shoulders.
“You’re running out of time, Chase,” Wyatt sneered.
“Chase?” said a girl’s voice. When I looked over, I saw Zoe walking with her friends. Of course they’d show up at this exact moment. Isn’t that my luck?
“Hey, Zoe,” I said, staring at the floor.
“Why do you have my backpack?” she asked, growing visibly upset. “Oh I get it, you were probably instructed to steal my stuff too, weren’t you?”
Emily spoke up this time. “Too? Did your cousin steal my purse?”
I could feel my face getting hotter at the embarrassment. I was about to answer before Zoe spoke again. “Yes, as a matter of fact, he did.”
“Not without a special someone’s help,” Wyatt laughed.
Zoe turned around, and did what should’ve been done right after the incident. “Emily, I’m sorry, but I helped my cousin take your purse during gym class yesterday.”
Emily’s jaw dropped for a moment in pure shock. The hallway was so quiet that I swear I heard a cricket somewhere, dying of quietness. “But why?”
My cousin paused. “Because I was stupid. I thought helping Chase would get him some friends. I mean, look at him and how pathetic he is!”
“Thanks,” I murmured.
Zoe sighed. “Whatever was in your purse, I promise I’ll return to you. Honestly, I will. I’m just so sorry that it even happened.”
Emily finally closed her mouth and gulped. And then the most awesome thing happened. She smiled. “It’s okay. No big deal. That was my gym class purse. All I keep in there is a spare stick of deodorant and a couple quarters for a soda after class.”
Zoe’s face lit up as if a dark shroud was lifted from it. “I owe you a bunch of quarters then!”
Emily laughed. “Nah, don’t worry about it. You did it ‘cause you care for your cousin. It was worth it, right?”
I wish I had friends as cool as that.
Wyatt clenched his fists and spoke through his clenched jaw. “It doesn’t matter anyway since you’re stuck here with a bag fulla money!”
“A bag full of money?” Zoe asked. “Does my backpack have money in it?”
I couldn’t answer, but Zoe could read me like a book. “The money from the food drive… it’s all in there, isn’t it?”
I nodded as Wyatt laughed. His ninja minions laughed along with him, which made the hallway echo with villainous guffawing. If this didn’t attract any teachers, I don’t know what would.
I did the only thing I could think of. I let the backpack fall into my hands, and whipped it at Wyatt as hard as I could to shut him up. Distracted by his own moment of glory, he didn’t see the bag coming, and it hit him straight in the face.
Zoe’s bag burst open as loose change and tightly wound balls of cash fell to the floor, amidst the sound of gasping students.
Wyatt let out a loud cry as he tumbled backward into the members of his ninja clan. The students caught him and pushed him back to his feet, whispering quickly among themselves.
>
And this is the part where things went a little blurry.
Embarrassed, Wyatt threw a punch that landed solidly on my chin. The shock of pain blasted through my body and everything went bright white for a second. The next thing I knew I was on the floor of the hallway, laying in the middle of a circle of shouting kids, yelling something about a fight.
I felt a sharp pain from my lip. As I stood up, I rubbed my fingers across my mouth. Wyatt’s punch must’ve busted my lip open. Blood was all over my fingertips. All I wanted to do was punch him back. Everything inside me boiled with anger and suddenly, the entire world was painted red.
I spit on the floor and saw Zoe’s backpack lying next to me. She was also standing in the crowd of shouting students, but she was standing perfectly still. She looked sad.
I glanced back at Wyatt as he landed another punch right into my gut. I immediately felt like puking as I clutched at my stomach. I was the new kid at the school. Scrawny and dorky. And I was getting my butt kicked in front of everyone. Wyatt was going to win the fight no matter how hard I fought back so I did the opposite of what I wanted to do…
I decided to let him win.
Standing again, I looked at him. He was bouncing around like some kind of karate master with his hands in the air, waving them back and forth in front of his body. I smiled because it looked like he was playing with one of those puppets attached to strings… what are they called? Oh yeah, marionettes.
Another punch from Wyatt met with my cheek this time. I saw it coming, but didn’t even try to block it. Why bother? Everything was my fault anyhow, so maybe I deserved a proper beating.
Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja (a hilarious adventure for children ages 9-12) Page 4
