The School Bus
‘I’m bored, and can’t bear the thought of staying here all weekend. I was looking forward to the trip to Birkdale High and that game of lacrosse.’
‘Well, you can’t play lacrosse with a swollen foot. Actually, you should be resting or the chances are you won’t be playing next weekend either. Besides, why didn’t you want to go as a spectator?’ Asked Belinda.
‘Cos the House-Mistress said she wasn’t allowed to go at all and to rest all weekend,’ laughed Sasha. ‘To sit and elevate it as much as possible she said. That’s not likely with you though, is it Marisol? Huh!’
Marisol tutted and spat out something so fast in Spanish they had no chance of understanding.
‘And what’s wrong with you Sash? Why are you rubbing your belly and pulling that nasty face? Questioned Belinda.
‘Think I ate too much at breakfast, she moaned.’
‘Well I sure didn’t,’ snapped Marisol, who craved some home cooking. ‘English food is tasteless.’
‘You really don’t like being here do you?’ quipped Belinda. ‘Sounds like you’re going be a fun pair to be with today.’
‘Well I can’t wait to go back to Mexico.’ She hesitated not wanting to offend her two friends of whom she had become quite fond. ‘Look I just miss home. And the food, and the music, and my little dog.’
‘Boarding schools is not so bad,’ sighed Belinda. ‘And this is one of the best in England, we are so lucky to be here.’
‘Says who?’
‘My mum.’
‘Big deal! Then it might have been more fun if it weren’t all girls,’ smirked Marisol, moving quickly to dodge the school bus which came swiftly around the corner. It halted in front of the main doors, and chaos emerged for a few moments whilst 25 girls and 3 teachers all clamoured on.
‘You two should have gone as spectators, I wouldn’t have minded,’ mumbled Marisol.
‘No way and leave you all weekend, what a mean thing to do. Besides I’m not that interested in lacrosse,’’ giggled Sasha. You know I prefer swimming and I’m in the county swimming tournament tomorrow and favourite to win.’
‘Awh! The truth emerges. It’s not about friends it’s about the swimming now is it?’
‘Oh shut up you two. Sasha would have been back in time for swimming, but she really didn’t want to leave you on your own for two full days. As for me, my mother will be here at 6 and I’m going to this dreary function. It’s my cousin’s 16th birthday and I wouldn’t mind but I can’t stand him.’
‘Awh! I can feel boredom coming on again,’ moaned Marisol as everyone departed for Birkdale High. Then she had an idea.
‘What kind of rebellious activity are you planning now? Asked Belinda. The look she had seen all too often on her friend’s face meant trouble. ‘I warn you, Mrs Hampton will go spare if you get into any more bother.’
‘Bueno! They will have to send me back to Mexico then won’t they,’ she said sharply.
‘Are you crazy? Your parents would go mad, you would be disgraced.’
‘Huh, they’ll get over it.’
‘So what shall we do today?’ Inquired Sasha changing the subject, belching and saying she felt sick.
‘Let’s go and check out the old school bus while there’s no one around. Are you feeling ok to go Sash or are you going to spew up?’ Laughed Marisol.
‘Yeah, I always wanted to check it out. It’s supposed to be haunted or something or so Mr Dobson says. Let’s go. Let’s go, urged Sasha. I feel better already.
‘What? Exclaimed Belinda. I thought you were crazy Marisol but now there’s no doubt. We’re all on a warning not to go into that part of the school grounds and what about your bad foot? And you Sasha, you’re as crazy as she is. We’re all likely to get expelled if we’re caught, so don’t even think about it.’
‘But we did think about it,’ chortled Marisol. It’s a brilliant idea. Let’s do it. Come on Belinda, don’t be a bore.’
‘So what about your foot? And your belly?
‘We’ll just go slow,’ giggled Marisol. ‘I can keep resting.’
‘I feel so much better,’ said Sasha in agreement. ‘I’m up for it, let’s go!’
And before anyone could utter another word Marisol had picked up a lacrosse stick that had been inadvertently left behind. That would make a fine walking stick she mused, and set off in the direction of the old school bus.
‘Wait for us,’ yelled Sasha dragging Belinda along. Trudging across the school fields past the tennis courts, beyond the orchard and over the open fields they went. Marisol was so intoxicated with suspense she never felt so much as a twinge from her swollen foot.
As the girls approached the front of the old bus it looked eerie. ‘No one’s been around here for years,’ exclaimed Marisol. ‘Look how overgrown everything is. And the bus is so old and decrepid it’s practically falling apart.’
‘That’s where you’re wrong,’ whispered Sasha who had taken a quick scout around, feeling tons better.‘ I don’t like this, come I’ll show you.’ She led the girls to the rear of the bus where there was a door probably once used as an emergency exit. Clearly someone had opened it recently. ‘Look the grass has been trodden down and see, those are cigarette ends.’
‘So if someone is using the bus, what for and where are they coming from? Makes no sense to me,’ exclaimed Marisol plonking herself onto the ground, her foot beginning to throb.
‘Wait here, and I’ll take a look around. I’m going to follow this trodden grass to the bushes over there and see what I can see beyond,’ said Belinda.
‘I’ll come too,’ shouted Sasha.
‘No, stay with Marisol. I’ll be quick.
‘Yeah, you better rest Marisol. We’ve got to get back and I hope you haven’t done any more damage to that foot. I wish we hadn’t come now, I’m starting to feel really nervous.’
Belinda seemed to be gone for an eternity but in reality it could have only been a few minutes. ‘What took you so long?’ Asked Sasha.
‘I didn’t realise but this land backs onto Half Penny Lane. I found a tiny gap in the bushes by following the trail and squeezed through. It come out near a dirt track just off the lane and I suspect someone has been coming through, probably parking their car in the lane and visiting the school bus.’
‘That’s weird, but why?’ Asked Marisol.
‘I don’t have the answer yet but I suspect if we get into the bus we’ll find out.’
‘Oh you who didn’t want to come, you’re interested now suddenly turning all detective.’ Laughed Sasha.
‘Exciting! Released from my boring life at last. I had a funny feeling there was going to be something mysterious about the bus. How do we get in?’ Quizzed Marisol.
‘You don’t, I will.’ Said Belinda. ‘Gosh Marisol your foot is swelling like a balloon!’
‘Nothings stopping me now. This was my idea and I want to know everything,’ she said.
Meanwhile, Belinda was already pushing and shoving and trying her hardest to open the door.
‘Just unlock it,’ quickened Marisol.
‘Drrr…with what?’
‘This,’ she giggled holding up a key.
‘Where did you find that?’ Yelled Sasha.
‘I guess if I hadn’t had my bad foot I wouldn’t have,’ smirked Marisol, as she explained she had seen the key hanging on a rusty nail near the rear wheel arch when she sat down.
‘Whoop, whoop, open the door.’
The door opened easily and the girls crept in, actually Marisol hopped in. Fortunately the sun shone through the cracks in the old rags strung across the windows and it was easy to look around. But they hadn’t expected to make the discovery that they did.
‘What do you make of this,’ asked Belinda. ‘Someone is living here.’
‘Oh help, I hope they don’t come back while we’re here. What if they’re dangerous like a convict or escaped prisoner or something.’
‘Sash you watch too many movies. It’s probably just a homeless person who found it. Marisol what are you thinking?’
‘I’m not sure but I get a bad feeling and I think there is more than one person staying here. Look!’
She pointed to some shoes lined up in the corner and they were clearly different sizes.
‘Go outside Sash and keep watch while me and Marisol take a look around. Can you hop?’
‘Sure what are we looking for?’
‘Clues, anything. Papers I suppose. Just be careful on that foot. We’re going to have to carry you back. Good thing you are skinny and not heavy like Sasha.’
‘Aye! I heard that, snapped Sasha, ‘watch it!’
‘Only joking,’ laughed Belinda. Marisol wasn’t even listening. She was too engrossed in her find.
‘Awh! Look here!’ She exclaimed. ‘ I have found this stuff, looks like paper.’ And she tipped the contents of a small plastic bag onto the floor. Passports, identity cards, a wallet with £20 notes. ‘What now?’
‘We take this with us and scupper fast. Come on we need to get out of here before someone comes. I’d rather face Mrs Hampton and the school board of governors that the owner of this bag. This is trouble. Come on, quick,’ urged Belinda. ‘We have to go.’
The girls linked arms, one either side of Marisol, trying to support her weight as she hobbled slowly across the field in the direction of the school campus. Belinda had locked the door and replaced the key but as soon as someone returned to the bus it wouldn’t take them long to discover the theft.
As the sun disappeared behind a cluster of unexpected dark clouds the heavens opened, and it poured with rain. By the time the girls reached the school block they were soaking and Marisol’s foot looked twice the size it was supposed to be. Sneaking into the building who should come strolling down the corridor but the head teacher herself, Mrs Hampton.
‘I don’t believe it,’ sighed Marisol.
‘You sure better have a good excuse for this. Hot showers immediately and in my office in ten minutes. And we better get nurse to look at that foot. I told you to rest this weekend Marisol not go on an expedition. And what do you have there?’
‘Just some things that we found.’
‘Well you girls sure have some explaining to do.’
Ten minutes later they were in Mrs Hampton’s office and had no other option than to confess all. Within an hour the local police department were on the premises and the girls were beginning to realise the enormity of their find.
Three days later they were being praised in assembly as heroes and featured in the local press. But in the words of the head teacher, ‘there are always consequences to disobedience.’ No disciplinary action was taken by the school because it was deemed they had brought upon themselves their own punishment.
Sasha didn’t go to the swimming tournament that weekend. Belinda missed her cousin’s party only to discover that it hadn’t been boring after all with a guest celebrity planned as part of his live lounge tour. And Marisol’s foot was so bad that she wasn’t able to play lacrosse for the rest of the school term. Torn ligaments apparently.
Mr Dobson the physics teacher had been escorted off the property by the police and later charged with conspiring with others to bring illegal immigrants into the country.
‘Well!’ Exclaimed Marisol. ‘I always knew there was something shifty about that man. Haunted school bus indeed. What a load of old tosh. Now what are we going to do?’
‘Nothing, absolutely nothing’, shouted Belinda. That mischievous troublesome look on her friends face once again.
