Mr Fowler stalked up the corridor with Randy following close behind. "What's the meaning of this? I heard there's a grenade?" He was a small teacher with neatly combed black hair.
"Yes, Mr Fowler," Selina confirmed, "On the floor in the middle of class 9-B, between the second and third column of desks."
Mr Fowler stepped up to the classroom door.
"It's not safe, Mr Fowler!" Selina called after him.
The teacher ignored her. A moment later, Mr Fowler rushed out of the room, wild-eyed and gesturing frantically back at the classroom. "It really was a grenade!" he said to Selina.
"We should move away from the classroom," Selina suggested while keeping a straight face.
"Y-yes," Mr Fowler stammered his agreement as he wiped the sweat off his forehead with a handkerchief.
"The school has to know what's going on." Selina nodded towards her stocky classmate. "I'm sure Randy can tell them what's going on and call the police."
"Yes," Mr Fowler agreed, having gathered his composure a little, "Randy, please go to the school office. Tell them there's a grenade in class"- he paused to glance at the class label above the door -"9-B and to call the police."
"The grenade could explode at any time," Selina mentioned, "It's best for us to be as far as possible from the class."
"Oh, right." Mr Fowler addressed the teenagers in the corridor, "Students, we should move further from the class."
"Maybe a little further?" Selina suggested, "We don't know how powerful the grenade is. It could bring the building down."
(It was unlikely that a grenade could bring a solidly constructed building down, but when it came to the safety of the students, unnecessary risks should not be taken.)
"Oh, good point," Mr Fowler concurred. He looked to the boys of 9-B. "Boys, go to the classes in the building, tell everyone to leave the building."
"Remember to tell them this isn't a fire drill," Selina added, "Tell them it's the real thing."
"Fire drill?" Mr Fowler asked.
"That's a good idea, Mr Fowler." Selina pointed at the nearby fire alarm. "Triggering the fire alarm will clear out the building faster."
"Oh, yes. It's a good idea." Mr Fowler cracked the glass of the fire alarm with his elbow, which was protected by the sleeve of his tweed jacket. Immediately, all around the building, bells started ringing.
"We should hurry to the assembly point," Selina directed her classmates toward the building exit, to where the students were to gather in a fire evacuation.
"Yes, let's go," the teacher said.
Selina glanced back at the teacher. "Maybe you should check on the office, make sure they believe Randy's story and that the police comes."
"Oh, yes, yes, of course." Mr Fowler hurried off in the direction of the school office.
Sandy gathered with the other students on the driveway outside. Despite wearing a wool sweater, she shivered. The winter weather was cold and she had left her jacket and scarf in class. She stood close to her friends for warmth. Fortunately, the wind was not too strong.
"Selina kind of knows what to do in an emergency, doesn't she?" Ariel mentioned.
"Yeah." Esper nodded. She rubbed her hands together. She too had not the time to grab her coat and scarf. "I should ask her about it."
"Where's she, by the way?" Ariel asked as she looked about the crowd of students.
Sandy too looked around. She saw students from other classes - Connie and Annie and their plump brown-haired friend. Saki hid a little further away. Also present were the girls from class 9-A, whom Sandy had gym classes with. However, her tall olive-skinned classmate was nowhere in sight.
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