Sandy was standing close to an open window, which let in the gentle breeze of fall's chilling air. From her position within the first-floor classroom, she could hear voices from the ground below. It sounded clearly like two girls in a heated argument. A peek down through the window confirmed the situation. Connie, directly below the window, was in an argument with Annie.
"Listen, you," the redhead was demanding, "Where did you hide my butterfly hairpin?" The tall girl had her back towards the building.
"I didn't take it, honest!" Annie claimed. She stood in front of Connie. If she were to look up, she would spot Sandy.
"Don't lie to me!" Connie stabbed a finger at the smaller girl. "You must have taken it during gym!"
Sandy picked up a metal bucket. It was heavy with water, dirty after it had been used to mop the floor. As the short-haired girl lifted it through the window, she desperately hoped that she would not drop the bucket. Her arms were not used to lifting such a weight that high and she had not practiced reaching out through the window with it.
"I was with you," Annie defended herself, "You kept watch on your clothes the whole time I was with you so how could I have taken it?"
If Sandy dropped the bucket, it would be bad. It would be very bad. Connie could get hurt. One of the most popular girls among the freshman could have a metal bucket hit her on the head and Sandy did not want that. She did not want to hurt the queen of glamor.
"I don't know how you did it," said Connie, "But no one else dare touch my belongings!"
With every ounce of her strength, Sandy kept the bucket up and steady. Then she carefully tipped the bucket, dumping its contents on the redhead down below.
As that happened, Annie jumped back, well out of the way.
Connie shrieked in surprise as cold dirty water drenched her head, scarf and coat.
It was a relief for Sandy that the bucket was lighter and she could easily pull it back through the window. She shut the window and hurried from the classroom to return the bucket.
She was glad that she did not drop it and cause Connie unnecessary harm. But she was even more happy when she thought of the pay that Annie had promised her for that task.
(Such was the effect of money on Sandy's morals, logic and values.)
***
The next day, Friday, was the last school day of the week.
Sandy was looking forward to the weekend. Lunch break had already arrived. Her time of freedom was getting close. Just homeroom and a few more classes and she was free to cycle home.
At that moment, Sandy was washing her hands in the washroom.
It was important to wash one's hands after one did one's business in the washroom. Sandy, foolish though she was, knew that. It had been drilled into her by Momma Lois since she was little, with judicious use of sweet words and hellish punishment.
Connie stepped up and used the sink beside Sandy's. "Hey, Sandy," she greeted cheerfully. As always, the redhead was dressed brightly and stylishly. There was a silver butterfly hairpin in her hair.
"Hi, Connie," Sandy greeted back. The glamor queen was addressing her! Wide-eyed idol-adoring mode, activate!
Connie wiped her hands on a paper towel. "Hey, uh, I realized we don't really know each other well." She dropped the towel into the dustbin. "How about we hang out for a while after school today, get to know each other better?"
Get closer to the popular girl? Of course Sandy was interested! "Sure." She forgot all about rushing home after school.
Connie smiled. "Great! I've something to do first. So... meet you at the cafeteria, say, fifteen minutes after school ends?"
"Okay," Sandy agreed.
***
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