Member-only story
A Mischievous Mind…
When school pranks cross the line — and fear takes flight
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Jane.”
Jane raised an eyebrow. “Gosh, Louise, why ever not?”
“You know what Annie’s like. She’s terrified of snakes.”
Jane snorted. “Oh, come on. It’s just a rubber one. A bit of harmless fun.”
But Louise knew better. Arguing with Jane was like trying to reason with a thunderstorm — futile and often dangerous. Jane was the sort who found mischief more thrilling than maths and twice as satisfying.
Still, something about Annie’s too-wide smiles lately made Louise uneasy. So that night, she came up with a plan of her own. One that might just save them all a heap of trouble.
She went to bed feeling smug — and safe.
The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains as Louise sprang out of bed. She crept over to Jane’s bag and carefully removed the coiled rubber snake.
Crisis averted.
Or so she thought.
At school, Jane was humming. That was never a good sign. Halfway through English, Louise watched in horror as Jane quietly swapped her own bag with Annie’s.
