...

“You ready to start moving?”

Mrs. Peters glanced at her clock as Scott Cook walked in her office.

“Is it one o’clock already? Monday’s always do fly away from me.”

Scott settled back on her faded couch with a sigh “Well, if you aren’t quite ready,” he said, grinning, “I don’t mind waiting.”

Mrs. Peters laughed, “Don’t get too comfortable on that couch, Scott.”

“Did you make it to the game this weekend?” Scott asked as Mrs. Peters finished boxing up a few books.

“Sure did. Quite exciting wasn’t it?”

“I guess that’s one word for it.”

After a few moments, Mrs. Peters straightened. “Well, I think I’m ready.”

“I’ll get started with your computer then.”

Scott had been working for about 30 minutes when Mrs. Peters stopped him. “Here,” she said, handing him a 20 oz. Dr. Pepper. “You need a break before you start with the book cases.”

“I won’t say no to a Dr. Pepper break,” Scott said with a smile and a thank you as he took the drink.

“Can I ask you a question,” Scott said after a minute.

“Of course.”

“Do you sense anything weird at all about what happened Friday with the accident at the game, or is it just my imagination?”

Mrs. Peters glanced out of her door before she answered. “Honestly…yes. Especially after sitting through the game with Andrea. She had a very unique perspective on the cheer squad; and to being on the sidelines. She's just not upset about it at all. And even more surprising, neither are the other girls who got injured."

Scott raised his eyebrows. "I thought they loved cheerleading. All those girls seem pretty...committed," he said.

Mrs. Peters smiled, "Committed is certainly one way to put it. Andrea threw around a very interesting phrase too…cheer Nazi.”

Scott started laughing. “That’s hysterical. Cheer Nazi. So who was she talking about?”

“Jill and Ms. Williams.”

"That sure fits with a conversation I heard this morning." Scott briefly retold the confrontation between Ms. Williams and Coach Ryan. When he was done, Mrs. Peters shook her head.

"Something about this whole situation with the accident just seems off somehow, even more than the tragedy of two girls being injured during a football game. But I feel like I'm overreacting, and I just can't place my finger on what it is that's bothering me."

"How did Andrea break her foot, again?" Scott asked after a moment of silence.

Mrs. Peters cocked her head. "You know, I don't really know, Scott," she said.

Scott downed the last of his Dr. Pepper and stood up to finish his work. "I wonder if it was related to any cheering activity," he said. "Two injured cheerleaders is sad, but could be a coincidence. Three is practically an epidemic."

"I think I may try to have a chat with Andrea this week," Mrs. Peters said.