“Fine. How would you like me to knock you senseless?” I think Paul was as surprised as I was at Gordon’s newfound flexibility. Kenny didn’t blink an eye. Instead he shot his tongue out, curled it up and touched the tip of his nose. “So what’s the challenge?” he asked again.
“That was.” Said Kenny.
“What was?” Asked Gordon.
“That.” Said Kenny.
“I don’t get it.” Paul told me.
“Me either.” I informed him, sighing as I realized that our confusion over my friend’s antics might have been the only thing we had in common.
“What is the challenge?” Gordon roared.
“Touching your nose with your tongue!” Kenny’s response was less a roar than a very loud squeak.
“This is stupid.” Paul said.
“Well, he did already agree to the terms.” I reminded him.
Gordon shook with rage, but Paul whispered something to him and he slumped slightly. The crowd around us murmured. Sighing, Gordon straightened back up. “Okay. First I’ll beat you at this, and then I’ll smack you one for wasting my time. Agreed?”
“Certainly.” Kenny beamed, all smiles. Gordon stuck out his tongue. He folded it. And he gagged. Turning away he spat out the mucus he’d accidentally picked out while Paul thumped him on the back. Smiling, I turned to congratulate my friend for having out wiled Gordon Wiles yet again, and saw him sprinting madly for the other end of the yard, the pounding of his sneakers on the blacktop muffled by the laughter all around us.
Groaning, I took off after him, with only a tiny head start before Gordon recovered. With my heart pounding in my ears I saw Kenny head for the South Wing. It was escape route 3-A. The Playground entrance to the South Wing can only be opened from the inside. Catching up to Kenny, I stuck my hands out without a word and vaulted him up to the small, slightly opened window above and beside the door. His boots bit uncomfortably into my palms, but I ignored it.
Only a little twig like Kenny could slip through that window, which is what makes it such a great plan. On the other hand, it takes time for him to get through, slip down, exit the class he falls into, open the door for me and close it behind us. We had actually agreed never to use this route. 1-B tended to be the most reliable. Maybe even 2-A in a pinch. Unfortunately, it had been the only method open to us because of the crowd that had gathered to watch us get smashed into jelly.
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