The Gray House

“Well, then.” Darling shrugged, doing her best not to show how hurt she was. “I have nothing further.”

Shark stared at Ralph. Transferred his gaze to Raptor, waited a moment, then waved a hand in invitation. Godmother stood up. Observing Shark’s pointed courteousness as she took his place, Ralph realized that those two were in collusion over this. He didn’t like it.

Godmother nodded to the assembly. Reset her spectacles. Cleared her throat.

“I cannot conceive of supporting the last proposal, even though it would be preferable to some others we have heard today. In my turn I would like to offer two ways to approach the current predicament. Please be assured that both of them were exhaustively researched to encompass all eventualities.”

Godmother spoke so softly that it seemed any noise, no matter how insignificant, would make her inaudible. Everyone strained their hearing in order not to miss a single word. A well-worn speaker’s trick, but you had to admit—she really could make it shine.

Sheriff was leaning precariously off the windowsill, cupping an ear with his hand. Advertising his hearing problems. One could almost believe that the requisite earphone wires snaking into the ears of each Rat, deafening them, all somehow had ended up in his ears as well. At least, this was the impression he was trying to convey. That it was a workplace disability.

Ralph felt the rising tension. Something was about to happen, and happen very soon. Godmother was nodding at Shark and he leered at her in return. They behaved like two conspirators who didn’t care to conceal their conspiracy.

“As all of you must be aware, the graduation is officially scheduled for the seventeenth of June,” Godmother went on. “I recommend moving it up. If the graduation happens earlier than anticipated, we may reasonably expect the pregraduation night to remain free of incidents. It goes without saying that under no circumstances should any students be apprised of this. The whole enterprise hinges on maintaining the utmost secrecy.”

There was a well-placed pause.

The counselors exchanged glances. Sheep’s eyes filled with tears. Homer applauded quietly. Raptor shifted excitedly.

“Well, I’ll be! That could just work,” he blurted. “It really could! What a nice idea.”

“It could work,” Darling admitted sourly. “Unless they get wind of it.”

Ralph didn’t say anything. The thought of doing this to them didn’t sit well with him. Declaring the graduation at the moment of graduation? It was low, it was unfair, it was cowardly. Very Shark-like, in short. But . . . Raptor was right—it could work. Had he any right to take away something that would guarantee them a month of peace? Especially when not offering anything in return?

So—silence, which also could be taken for acquiescence.

“In the interest of avoiding disclosure it will be necessary to institute restrictions on the communication between the students and their parents.” Godmother gave the counselors a severe look. “All calls to parents must take place exclusively on the third floor, and only with one of us present throughout. All visits to be approved on a case-by-case basis by the principal, with all visiting parents briefed in advance. Under no circumstance should we be mentioning the date being changed either in personal conversations or in written form when finding ourselves beyond the third floor. My strong preference would be for that rule to be observed even here. The telephone currently located in the staff room, I propose to eliminate. There is a suspicion that students do avail themselves of it.”

“Yeah,” Raptor whispered. “Suspicion my eye. They’ve been using it for ages. Who’s this hag think she is?”

“And in conclusion.” Godmother’s voice became louder as she shot a disapproving look at Raptor. “In conclusion. The true date of the graduation shall be known to two persons only, our esteemed principal and myself.”

Ralph imagined hearing the thud of Raptor’s jaw hitting the floor.

Homer shot up, waving his hands madly. “This . . . It’s an outrage! What do you mean—we don’t know the graduation date?”

Sheep surprised everyone by piping up, in a reedy squeak, “I object! This is disgraceful!”

The explosions from the two most cowed counselors made Sheriff’s menacing growls seem insignificant by comparison. Raptor peered ahead fixedly, gripping the arms of his chair. Ralph desperately hoped that he himself did not look stunned quite to that degree. Godmother, composed and self-assured, calmly weathered the barrage of hostile stares. Ralph couldn’t but admire her composure.

“Allow me to explain,” Darling said when the excitement died down.

Clearly impressed by Godmother’s grace under fire, she did her best to appear equally dignified. It was painful to watch.