Year 10 At Tibcot - A Mel, Tab, Mewla & Cathy story

Chapter Twenty-Six


  "So she tried it on with him again." Cathy grinned, biting her sandwich. "God - does she never give up?"
  We were eating lunch at the picnic tables. The snow had eased off slightly, but even if there had been a blizzard raging, we wouldn't have missed Mewbellinne being stood up again for the world!
  "I can't believe it." said Tibbicca. "How many times does she need telling? If a guy told me he wasn't interested I'd never have the nerve to keep on at him and keep making a pass at him!"
  "It's humiliating, and it makes you look stupid and desperate." Purla said.
  "Sometimes I thnk she's lost the plot totally." Tab said.
  "That's what Mr Mewan said." I said.
  "Look! There she is!" Mewla nudged me as I reached for a crisp out of the bag that Cathy had left open on the table. Mewbellinne was strolling up to the fence thay ran along the path near the picnic tables. We stifled laughs and tried not to draw attention to ourselves. Mewbellinne stopped by the fence and looked around. She fluffed out her hair, inspected her clothes, and stood watching in all directions. Suddenly she spotted us and her face fell.
  "What are you lot doing here?" she called.
  "Just eating a spot of lunch!" called Cathy, holding up a sandwich. She was dying to laugh.
  Mewla choked with laughter and turned away. Purla patted her on the back, giggling.
  "Why - what are you doing?" Tab called to Mewbellinne.
  "Um, nothing really." called Mewbellinne. She fiddled with her hair and turned away and then back again.
  "Right!" called Tab.
  Mewbellinne stood there for twenty minutes. By that time she was looking ratty and impatient. Fifteen minutes after that, she was looking furious. We were all frozen on the picnic tables and were huddling together for warmth, but we had no intention of going in until Mewbellinne did. We were all pretending to have a laugh.
  "Mewbellinne, what exactly are you doing there?" Cathy called.
  "None of your business!" Mewbellinne said.
  "Aren't you cold?" Tab called.
  "No, not really!" replied Mewbellinne. But as she brushed her hair away from her face, I could see her paw shaking.

***

  When the bell went for end of lunch, Mewbellinne showed no signs of going. We all picked up our things and left her standing at the fence.
  When we got up to Maths, no-one was there apart from Ms Purrworthy, writing up more exercises on the board.
  "Well, I must say that it's nice to have you lot here on time for once." she said, as we went in and sat down. "Especially you, Cathy."
  "Yes Miss." Cathy said meekly, getting out her folder.
  Everyone arrived soon after that. The boys came last, and Ms Purrworthy caused much amusement amongst us girls by making the boys stop outside the classroom while she examined their wet muddy shoes. There was no sign of Mewbellinne.
  She in fact turned up fifteen minutes into the lesson, much to the disapproval of Ms Purrworthy.
  "Not good, is it Mewbellinne, for your second Maths lesson?" Ms Purrworthy said sharply.
  "Sorry." Mewbellinne muttered, and slipped into a seat next to Mewla, who turned to us and pulled a face.

***

  "Where's Mewbellinne off to, I wonder?" said Tibbicca, as we left Maths. Mewbellinne was hurrying off with a purpose.
  "Well there's only one way to find out." grinned Cathy. I've got quite a good idea, actually."
  We followed Mewbellinne at a safe distance, and, sure enough, she went into the main building.
  "Thought so." Cathy said. "Going to find out why Mr Mewan stood her up at lunch time."
  After Mewbellinne had gone up the stairs, we went into the main building after her and went up the stairs slowly. When we turned the corner, there was no sign of her. We went up to Mr Mewan's office and stood outside, listening.
  "What is it now?" Mr Mewan was saying.
  "You know damn well what!" Mewbellinne said furiously. "Made me look a right fool, haven't you?"
  "Mewbellinne, I am seriously beginning to worry about you." Mr Mewan said. We all stifled laughs outside.
  "Yeah, right." Mewbellinne said. "You got me into trouble in Chemistry, you made a fool of me the other night, and you did it again at lunch!"
  "What the hell are you talking about?" Mr Mewan said.
  "All those text messages!" Mewbellinne said. "That's why I got into trouble in Chemistry - I was too busy texting you to notice that I had spilt acid all over Purbecca Smith! And what happened the other night? Did you intend on standing me up all along? And at lunch? I looked a right fool in front of Cathy and the rest of them, waiting at the fence for you! They were eating on the picnic tables!"
  "Mewbellinne, I don't know what you're talking about, but I am going straight to Miss Mewola right now." said Mr Mewan. "This has gone too far now."
  "Oh, that's nice - lead me on, then get me into trouble!" Mewbellinne said.
  "Look, let's get one thing straight." said Mr Mewan. "I don't know what you're talking about. I have never texted you and never would, I don't even have your number. I certainly wouldn't arrange to meet you anywhere. If someone is saying they are me, then they're winding you up. This behaviour has got totally out of hand now. You come up here yelling at me and accusing me of things which I have never done and will never do. I have given you several chances and each time you promise to stop all this nonsense, and then almost right away you break your promise and go mad again! You have caused so much trouble for Cathy and her friends, not to mention the rest of your group, and I can't give you any more chances. I'm going to Miss Mewola."
  And with that, he came out of his office. We heard Mewbellinne burst into tears inside. He grinned when he saw us standing outside. He kissed the tip of his finger and touched Cathy's mouth as he went past.
  Mewbellinne came out of the office, sobbing.
  "And what are you lot staring at?" she said, as she stormed past.

***

  We waited outside for about fifteen miinutes. Mewbellinne had left, crying. Mr Mewan came out of the Humanities block and came over to us.
  "Did you see her?" Cathy asked.
  "No." said Mr Mewan. "I didn't really intend to see her. I don't want any trouble any more than you or Mewbellinne. Mewbellinne thinks I've seen Miss Mewola, so maybe she'll calm down a bit now."
  "Well, we can hope." said Cathy.

***

  Mewla and I were late for school on Wednesday. We had overslept, and Tab and Cathy appeared to have gone to school without even calling for us. That's the thing - without Mum and Dad clattering round and calling us for breakfast, neither of us woke up till after 8, and we had a mad scramble to get ready and make breakfast.
  I would have been quite happy with some cereal, but Mewla insisted that we had a large cooked breakfast, so I helped her cook it.
  "We're going to be late anyway, now." she had said, frying the bacon. "So we may as well be fifteen minutes later and have a good breakfast."
  Breakfast was lovely; we had fried bacon, runny fried eggs, sausages, tomatoes and fried bread. I felt much better after that. It was amazing we didn't bring it all back up though, in our rush to get to school.
  We got into school at just after half past nine, and went up to the office to sign the late book.
  "We have no excuse, I'm afraid." I said to the secretary, as we signed our names and the time we arrived. "We overslept."
  Our class was in Biology. Tab, Cathy, Tibbicca, Purla and Purbelle were sitting together, and they laughed as we burst in.
  Mr Purrleck looked at us, then at his watch.
  "I'm sorry, Sir. We overslept." I said, trying to catch my breath.
  "Hmm." he said, then smiled. "OK, you two. Sit down."
  "What happened to you two then?" Cathy grinned, as she made room for us to sit.
  "I could say the same thing to you!" I said, laughing.
  "Well considering Tab and I were stood outside your house banging on the door for twenty minutes and even throwing pebbles at your window, I don't think you can." Cathy laughed.
  "Were you?" I asked.
  "Yeah!" Tab said. "What did you do - take sleeping pills?"
  "Just didn't wake up." I laughed.
  "Oh well, thanks for standing out in the cold Cathy, thanks for throwing pebbles at the window Cathy, thanks for nearly being late for school for us Cathy." Cathy laughed sarcastically.
  "Oh, shut up." I laughed, hitting Cathy with my book.
  The door opened just then, and Miss Mewola came in.
  "She didn't take register this morning." Purla whispered to me. "Mr Mewan came in and took it, and told us that Miss Mewola was in an important meeting. Mewbellinne nearly died, I think."
  I laughed.
  "Sorry I wasn't here this morning, class." Miss Mewola said.
  "It's not good enough, Miss!" joked Tom.
  Miss Mewola laughed.
  "Can I have a word for a moment?" she asked Mr Purrleck. Mr Purrleck nodded and they left the room together. I looked over at Mewbellinne. She was looking panicky. I nudged Cathy.
  "Serves you right." Cathy leaned over to Mewbellinne.
  "She should be having a word with you about seeing a teacher." Mewbellinne said. "Not about me."
  "Oh, come on, Mewbellinne." said Cathy. "You've brought all this on yourself. Look at all the trouble you've caused, keep accusing me and Mr Mewan of stuff. He's kept putting off seeing Miss Mewola and giving you another chance, but you've blown every one. He didn't have any choice but to see her in the end."
  Mewbellinne pulled a face and turned away.

_____________________________