Karen's School Mystery part 2
HEY I'M BACK!
Recap: Red Brigade sucks. Nancy wants a haircut.
Chapter 6- Karen's Badge
It's two days later, so I guess Friday, Karen's at the patrol ceremony. Again I point out that this is stupid and completely unnecessary. But the speech is boring.
That afternoon is Karen and Addie's first shift as patrols. They are so proud. I mean they get to leave class five minutes early. Another reason I never joined the safety patrol in my old school. There they meet the previous members, Colleen and Carter, from Mr. Berger's class. Wonder where the other second grade pair we stationed at?
Karen does not like how bossy and mean, Carter and Colleen are. I find it annoying too seeing as how it is the end of the day and these are little kids. But come on Karen, you wanted to be bossy remember?
So she decides to be a nice patrol. Only problems can ensue.
Chapter 7- On the Job
Hey I was right. Now it's Monday and Karen is hurrying to her post. (Wouldn't she have to report herself?) Maybe she speed walked.
But wouldn't you know it the children are not miniature adults and are being chatty, running to class, littering, so on and so forth. I really doubt telling them to stop running will stop the madness.
Addie catches someone littering and immediately calls him out. It turns out it's a fifth grader. Luckily he does not whine or ignore Addie, he picks up the paper. But he does stick his tongue out.
Even more fifth graders cause trouble as two are running down the hall despite the fifth grade wing being on the other side of the building. Addie tries to stop them but Karen reminds her that if they annoy them too much they could get beaten up as soon as February rolls in.
Question: Why are the second graders even allowed to be on the safety patrol? I have to agree that fifth graders were intimidating at that time in my life. I mean they were fifth graders! But seriously I doubt most fifth graders, or even third graders, will take orders from a seven year old seriously. I get that the teachers don't want to constantly patrol the hallways, or if the school wanted to have the students peers tell them that rules are rules, but it would make a lot more sense if it was just 5th or 4th grade and above. They won't be as easily intimidated by older kids and the younger kids will listen to them.
Instead of holding her ground that they have to deliver justice, Addie just gives into Karen's orders.
Poor Bobby.
The two watch as crimes are being committed. Teasing, running and don't do a dang thing.
Luckily two kindergartners run by and since they are below Karen's head she snags them before they can crash into other students. However since Karen's ice cold heart has apparently melted in the last chapter, she doesn't report them.
This makes all the little kids run to her and show off amazing discoveries. Karen boasts that she is leading the good life. Yes Karen, ignoring you're job, clearly nothing can go wrong.
Chapter 8- Great-Grandma's Ring
It's after school and Karen is back at the little house. After parting ways with Bobby, the champion of Justice, Nancy invites Karen to her house.
Nancy still in grownup mode decides to go through with her haircut. She also wants to get a new outfit.
"Nancy showed me a picture of a girl wearing a wild black dress with pink boots"
(google search parameter- wild black dress child 90s)
Yeah something tells me Nancy's parents will not go for that outfit.
Nancy also reveals she wants a short haircut. I think that would be so adorable. Don't you think?
Karen isn't really sure about the haircut, but Nancy says she really wants one.
I really don't get why Karen is so objective to this. Yes you're haircut went terribly but I'm sure you had some afterward and they went fine. I really don't get how a haircut can be such a big deal in Stoneybrook. I just got a haircut and no one fainted at the idea. They simply commented that my hair was cute. Of course since it was like two days before school, it was crowded. But it still turned out great. Bottom line, haircuts are part of everyday activity. It's not like forbidden fruit, Ann!
Nancy then shows off her dead grandma's ring to Karen. She feels grown up having it. But there is a condition. It must only be worn for special occasions. Nancy is cool with it for the most part. But she wants to show it off at school. Nancy's father of course has said it can't go to school.
I find this rule sensible. After all it's her grandma's wedding ring. It's not something you can buy at Target. And besides at school there are so many ways to lose it. It has nothing to do with how old you are, it's just not school appropriate, even on school picture day.
But Nancy believes she is mature enough.
Sigh, haircuts, new outfits, wedding rings, has Nancy been hanging around Stacey lately.
Chapter 9- The Accident
So it's time for a Surprising Announcement from the lovable Ms. Colman! But I it is not a good one. It's time for the two-AT or in laymen's terms the standardized test.
So despite being a simple achievement test that does not require studying and is simply there to tell the superintendent that the teachers are actually working in these schools, Karen is super worried about passing. Why? Well about 20 books ago there was these math tests and Karen had to cheat! Geez does anyone forget anything in this series!
Well Karen's day does not get much better. You see she is the now most popular patrol on the squad! Wait how is that bad!
And again we see why second graders should not be patrol officers.
"The big kids liked us, too, since we let them do whatever they wanted."
Maybe that's why there was so much crime last year. The second graders were in charge of the law.
So of course because Karen and Addie don't deliver punishment no one listens to them when they run around. So naturally there is a crash. And Becky, a kindergartner, gets a cut on her lip. Ouch I had that once. Not fun. (I was to enthusiastic in Gym class).
Mrs. Noonan hears this, gets Becky to the Nurse's Office and the proceeds to scold Addie and Karen about paying more attention and tells them that she is not buying that every student was perfect up until this point. She tells them to shape up and take the job of protecting the peace more seriously.
THANK YOU, MRS. NOONAN!
Maybe now Karen will take Justice more seriously!
Chapter 10-Spies
Naturally do to Karen's leniency to crime getting them in trouble, Addie is upset and when they talk on the phone the following night, Addie points out that the job is more important than the popularity.
Karen does find a medium in popularity and Justice by employing the idea that they should try a warning system. To be fair that is a pretty smart idea in hindsight. But why does it feel like they will just give out warnings to the point that no one will take them seriously.
Regardless of that possible outcome the two employ the idea.
The next day they see two fifth graders and realize that they have seen them hanging around for the last couple of days. Karen immediately thinks that since it is weird that the fifth graders are hanging around the younger elementary school wings so often, they might have stolen the missing objects.
Addie however points out that they have no proof. So naturally Karen decides to spy on them! Of course!
However they are too busy "spying" on the girls to notice that the crimes in the hallway. So they get ratted out again by Mrs. Noonam. And then she says something that makes me question her.
"'Karen, Addie,' she said. 'I have been watching you. You are not paying attention to the hallways at all. I do not know what you are doing but it is certainly not your jobs."
First off again why even employ second graders when little kids have a short attention span. Secondly if you've been watching then how did you not notice the suspicious behavior of the two fifth graders?
Sanity aside, Mrs. Noonam warns them that if she speaks to them one more time, they will forfeit they're badges. And that is a disgrace to Justice!
Something Karen would never want to be!
Recap: Red Brigade sucks. Nancy wants a haircut.
Chapter 6- Karen's Badge
It's two days later, so I guess Friday, Karen's at the patrol ceremony. Again I point out that this is stupid and completely unnecessary. But the speech is boring.
That afternoon is Karen and Addie's first shift as patrols. They are so proud. I mean they get to leave class five minutes early. Another reason I never joined the safety patrol in my old school. There they meet the previous members, Colleen and Carter, from Mr. Berger's class. Wonder where the other second grade pair we stationed at?
Karen does not like how bossy and mean, Carter and Colleen are. I find it annoying too seeing as how it is the end of the day and these are little kids. But come on Karen, you wanted to be bossy remember?
So she decides to be a nice patrol. Only problems can ensue.
Chapter 7- On the Job
Hey I was right. Now it's Monday and Karen is hurrying to her post. (Wouldn't she have to report herself?) Maybe she speed walked.
But wouldn't you know it the children are not miniature adults and are being chatty, running to class, littering, so on and so forth. I really doubt telling them to stop running will stop the madness.
Addie catches someone littering and immediately calls him out. It turns out it's a fifth grader. Luckily he does not whine or ignore Addie, he picks up the paper. But he does stick his tongue out.
Even more fifth graders cause trouble as two are running down the hall despite the fifth grade wing being on the other side of the building. Addie tries to stop them but Karen reminds her that if they annoy them too much they could get beaten up as soon as February rolls in.
Question: Why are the second graders even allowed to be on the safety patrol? I have to agree that fifth graders were intimidating at that time in my life. I mean they were fifth graders! But seriously I doubt most fifth graders, or even third graders, will take orders from a seven year old seriously. I get that the teachers don't want to constantly patrol the hallways, or if the school wanted to have the students peers tell them that rules are rules, but it would make a lot more sense if it was just 5th or 4th grade and above. They won't be as easily intimidated by older kids and the younger kids will listen to them.
Instead of holding her ground that they have to deliver justice, Addie just gives into Karen's orders.
Poor Bobby.
The two watch as crimes are being committed. Teasing, running and don't do a dang thing.
Luckily two kindergartners run by and since they are below Karen's head she snags them before they can crash into other students. However since Karen's ice cold heart has apparently melted in the last chapter, she doesn't report them.
This makes all the little kids run to her and show off amazing discoveries. Karen boasts that she is leading the good life. Yes Karen, ignoring you're job, clearly nothing can go wrong.
Chapter 8- Great-Grandma's Ring
It's after school and Karen is back at the little house. After parting ways with Bobby, the champion of Justice, Nancy invites Karen to her house.
Nancy still in grownup mode decides to go through with her haircut. She also wants to get a new outfit.
"Nancy showed me a picture of a girl wearing a wild black dress with pink boots"
(google search parameter- wild black dress child 90s)
Yeah something tells me Nancy's parents will not go for that outfit.
Nancy also reveals she wants a short haircut. I think that would be so adorable. Don't you think?
Karen isn't really sure about the haircut, but Nancy says she really wants one.
I really don't get why Karen is so objective to this. Yes you're haircut went terribly but I'm sure you had some afterward and they went fine. I really don't get how a haircut can be such a big deal in Stoneybrook. I just got a haircut and no one fainted at the idea. They simply commented that my hair was cute. Of course since it was like two days before school, it was crowded. But it still turned out great. Bottom line, haircuts are part of everyday activity. It's not like forbidden fruit, Ann!
Nancy then shows off her dead grandma's ring to Karen. She feels grown up having it. But there is a condition. It must only be worn for special occasions. Nancy is cool with it for the most part. But she wants to show it off at school. Nancy's father of course has said it can't go to school.
I find this rule sensible. After all it's her grandma's wedding ring. It's not something you can buy at Target. And besides at school there are so many ways to lose it. It has nothing to do with how old you are, it's just not school appropriate, even on school picture day.
But Nancy believes she is mature enough.
Sigh, haircuts, new outfits, wedding rings, has Nancy been hanging around Stacey lately.
Chapter 9- The Accident
So it's time for a Surprising Announcement from the lovable Ms. Colman! But I it is not a good one. It's time for the two-AT or in laymen's terms the standardized test.
So despite being a simple achievement test that does not require studying and is simply there to tell the superintendent that the teachers are actually working in these schools, Karen is super worried about passing. Why? Well about 20 books ago there was these math tests and Karen had to cheat! Geez does anyone forget anything in this series!
Well Karen's day does not get much better. You see she is the now most popular patrol on the squad! Wait how is that bad!
And again we see why second graders should not be patrol officers.
"The big kids liked us, too, since we let them do whatever they wanted."
Maybe that's why there was so much crime last year. The second graders were in charge of the law.
So of course because Karen and Addie don't deliver punishment no one listens to them when they run around. So naturally there is a crash. And Becky, a kindergartner, gets a cut on her lip. Ouch I had that once. Not fun. (I was to enthusiastic in Gym class).
Mrs. Noonan hears this, gets Becky to the Nurse's Office and the proceeds to scold Addie and Karen about paying more attention and tells them that she is not buying that every student was perfect up until this point. She tells them to shape up and take the job of protecting the peace more seriously.
THANK YOU, MRS. NOONAN!
Maybe now Karen will take Justice more seriously!
Chapter 10-Spies
Naturally do to Karen's leniency to crime getting them in trouble, Addie is upset and when they talk on the phone the following night, Addie points out that the job is more important than the popularity.
Karen does find a medium in popularity and Justice by employing the idea that they should try a warning system. To be fair that is a pretty smart idea in hindsight. But why does it feel like they will just give out warnings to the point that no one will take them seriously.
Regardless of that possible outcome the two employ the idea.
The next day they see two fifth graders and realize that they have seen them hanging around for the last couple of days. Karen immediately thinks that since it is weird that the fifth graders are hanging around the younger elementary school wings so often, they might have stolen the missing objects.
Addie however points out that they have no proof. So naturally Karen decides to spy on them! Of course!
However they are too busy "spying" on the girls to notice that the crimes in the hallway. So they get ratted out again by Mrs. Noonam. And then she says something that makes me question her.
"'Karen, Addie,' she said. 'I have been watching you. You are not paying attention to the hallways at all. I do not know what you are doing but it is certainly not your jobs."
First off again why even employ second graders when little kids have a short attention span. Secondly if you've been watching then how did you not notice the suspicious behavior of the two fifth graders?
Sanity aside, Mrs. Noonam warns them that if she speaks to them one more time, they will forfeit they're badges. And that is a disgrace to Justice!
Something Karen would never want to be!