Double Take Things Are Not What They Seem

Caught Red-HandedThe thing about destiny is that sometimes it takes a ninety-degree turn when you least expect it. One moment a man thinks he owns the world; the next moment, he discovers it owns him. For most, this would be a tragedy. But for one man, this was inconsequential. He didn''t mind being owned by the world, so long as everyone else thought he was still in control. But that''s when destiny stepped in with a ninety-degree turn and changed everything."Peee-uu!"The Enisburg Junior High boys'' locker room smelled like a combination of sweat and athlete''s foot, but it was the perfect place to hide. During sixth period, no one ever used it-except for today. Thirteen-year-old Matt Calahan sat on a wooden bench between two rows of gray lockers, his laptop fired up in front of him. Matt''s good friends, Lamar and Gill, were there, too-they had to be, or Matt was sure the plan wouldn''t work. "You sure the video camera''s facing the right direction?" Matt asked Gill yet one more time. Gill was still holding his nose. "Matt, you worry too much," he said, sounding like a duck. "I took care of everything." "Well, I hope so, because this may be our only chance to prove that Coach Plymouth is innocent." "The truth will come out," Lamar interjected. "I''ve known Coach long enough to know he didn''t change anyone''s grades just to keep ''em playing sports. Someone else is doing it, I''m sure. They''re just letting Coach take the rap." "I hope you''re right." Matt ran his hand through his thick black hair. Lamar tapped a locker with his fingertips. "I''ll keep praying."Matt checked his watch, then stood and peeked around the row of lockers. He spied the entrance to Coach Plymouth''s office. "Alfonzo should be coming by any minute.""You bring an extra battery?" Gill asked."Of course," Matt said. "You sure you got the camera hooked up to the closed-circuit TV system correctly?"Redheaded Gill lifted up his hands and held them out dramatically."Sorry," Matt apologized. "Just making sure." Just two class periods ago, in his media elective, Gill had wheeled the AV department''s video camera into the coach''s office. The plan? He would fulfill his media class assignment by interviewing Coach about the upcoming basketball season . . . but then he would leave the camera in the coach''s office, hooked up to the closed-circuit TV system. And so, when Alfonzo came by two periods later to work with Coach on his basketball moves in the gym, that would leave the office empty. Perhaps then they could catch the grade-changer red-handed . . . for the entire school to see.So far so good. Well, pretty good. Gill''s interview with the coach hadn''t gone so well. While Gill loved being in front of a camera, his interview skills needed some improvement. The entire interview went something like:Gill: Hey, Coach! How are you doing?Coach: Good.Gill: Good. Me, too.Coach: Good.Gill: So are you looking forward to the upcoming basketball season?Coach: Yep. Gill: Me, too. Coach: Good. Gill: So how do you think it''ll be? Coach: Fine. Gill: Good. And so forth. Matt was sure his friend wouldn''t be winning the Pulitzer anytime soon. "This better be fast," Lamar urged, his brown eyes connecting with Matt''s. "We can''t stay out of study hall forever.""You guys should sign up for the AV department," Gill offered. "We get all kinds of time to wander the halls. We even hear about drama stuff before everyone else. Like I just read that they''re holding auditions for a commercial downtown. I might go.""You''re going to be on TV?" Lamar asked."Well, I might audition. The world needs to see my talent. This time next month, I could be famous."A low whistle echoed in the locker room."Great!" Matt exclaimed. "That''s Alfonzo. He''s going to get Coach out." He rubbed his hands together."Gill, go watch and tell me when they leave.""Right!" Gill said and disappeared around the corner.Lamar let out a low breath. Matt thought Lamar seemed just about as nervous as he was. Of course, this was the first time theMaselli, Christopher P. N. is the author of 'Double Take Things Are Not What They Seem' with ISBN 9780310703396 and ISBN 0310703395.