She needs you immediately
Nurse Johnson takes you to Mr. Anderson's classroom and through a
small door hidden in the wall beside the chalkboard. Inside it is a
room, where Mr. Anderson is. He is dressed like a servant and you
scarcely recognize him at first.
"What's happened now?" Rosa asks.
"Somebody called the police about the fire," Mr. Anderson
explains softly. "Now, girls, if anybody asks you, here's what
you say. I was fired last week for...um...teaching about controversial
literature. If anyone from the police happens to see me, you tell him
or her that I am a servant...um...Richard Flavisham. I know, it sounds
like Havisham from the Dickens novel but I'm getting a name in a hurry
here. If you see me, please don't give me away. I'm not your English
teacher anymore--I'm the new carriage-cleaner, boot-polisher, etc. Got
it?"
"Got it," you all say together.
"Wait," you break in. "Won't work...they'd recognize
you."
"Oh, no they wouldn't," Mr. Anderson laughs. He extracts a
couple of small jars from his pocket. "Shoe polish with water
dried berry ink, and some of Grace's lipstick...instant soot, eye
circles, and a welt caused by Mr. Villani the Villain's famous
cane."
"You're good--really good!" Bridget laughs as Nurse Johnson
helps her husband with his makeup.
"Yeah, and if they see me," Nurse Johnson says, "I'm
the new parlormaid, Sarah."
"OK," you all agree.
The plan in place, you all return to the upstairs part of the school.
Will this work?
"Girls, come with me, quickly...all of you!" Nurse Johnson
says. "It's urgent!"
