“Dames, hurry up and take out your space fortress!”
Felicity reached out her hand, but Dames quickly snapped the lid of the cardboard box shut, shaking his head at her in a panic.
“No! I can’t bring it out!”
“Get it out here!” Felicity hissed under her breath. “I went through all that trouble to help you with your space fortress, and now you’re hiding it? How embarrassing is that!”
Dames, desperate, threw himself across the box, blocking Felicity from opening it.
Felicity tried to tug him away, but Dames clung to the box with all his strength.
Suddenly, the box tumbled over.
Plastic drinking straws spilled out everywhere, scattering across the stage.
Mixed in with the straws was a bright pink sticky note.
The note landed face–up, right in front of the camera–its message instantly magnified onto the auditorium’s giant screen.
It read: “You think $40 is enough to get me to stay up all night building a space fortress for you? Dream on!”
Dames sank to the floor, watching helplessly as the straws rolled away, one by one, toward the edge of the stage.
Ms. Hughes stood in the front row, her expression stunned. “Dames, did make your project yourself?”
you not
“I did! I did make it!” Dames‘ lower lip trembled, his eyes pooling with tears.
Ms. Hughes picked up the pink note, holding it up for everyone to see. “Then what’s this? Did you pay someone to do your project for you?” Her tone softened just a touch, disappointment lacing her words. “I wanted all of you to work on these projects with your parents. How could you lie to your teacher, Dames?”
A pitiful wail broke from Dames‘ chest; he had never been so utterly humiliated. The stage suddenly felt enormous, and he looked so tiny sitting there, like a lost,
abandoned fledgling.
“I thought…” But he knew it was pointless. No matter how many times he said, “I thought,” it wouldn’t change anything.
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He looked out at the crowd, searching for Selene.
If only Selene hadn’t left the Vaughns, he would have had a beautiful, impressive space fortress made of colorful straws–something to make everyone stare in
awe.
But that unfinished fortress had been crushed when Felicity pressed down on the box.
Felicity had lied to him. Inside the huge box, there was nothing but a pile of broken plastic straws.
And together, he and Felicity had deceived the teacher and everyone else.
Dames felt the sting of shame as hot tears slid down his cheeks.
Seeing him so exposed and miserable, Ms. Hughes couldn’t help but soften, even as she struggled to contain her anger. She turned to Felicity, her voice stern. “Miss Thompson, is this the ‘awe–inspiring space fortress‘ you promised everyone? Where is it?”
Felicity waved her hands defensively. “How should I know? I was scammed too!”
Ms. Hughes let out a cold laugh. “And who told you to spend money hiring someone else to do the project? You really thought forty bucks and one night would get you a space fortress? That’s wishful thinking.”
Felicity’s face flushed deep red, as if thousands of ants were crawling all over her
skin.
She could hear laughter rippling from the crowd; she could feel the mocking stares aimed at her and Dames like spotlights.
On stage, Dames‘ composure shattered. He burst into tears, sobbing for all to see.
Felicity scooped him into her arms and hurried off the stage, cheeks burning with humiliation.
Ms. Hughes climbed up to the microphone to address the parents. “I apologize, everyone. The ‘Outstanding Student‘ label for Damien’s project was taken from me by Miss Thompson herself. She assured me that what was inside his box would amaze you all. I see now that I failed to check carefully enough. I’m very sorry.”
Parents in the audience chuckled.
“Well, what was in that box certainly amazed us,” one called out.
“Who’d have thought the Vaughn family’s young master would pull a stunt like this?
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Now that’s entertainment!”
“Looks like Young Master Vaughn’s parents really are divorced. No mother, no luck–poor kid.”
Cradled in Felicity’s arms, Dames sobbed, “I want my mom!”
He stomped his foot in frustration, crying out, “Make Mom come back and help me with my project!”
