The Pi Sisters at Malory Towers

CHAPTER NINE - A TRICK, AND A DISASTER!

Fun cannot last forever, and this was evident with the first form this term. After the initial excitement of the new school year faded out, everyone found themselves 'sluggish, lazy and not hard working at all,' as Miss Potts exclaimed in maths one day when the Pi Sisters were being particularly mulish.

'Oh Alicia!' exclaimed Darrell with a sigh one fine summer day. 'Couldn't you somehow play a trick or something in French tomorrow? Mam'zelle is having one of her awful French dictees, and I know I shall fail. I just know it!'

'At least you wont be bottom,' said Alicia cattily. 'The Pi Sisters permanently occupy that spot!'

Both girls chuckled.

'Anyway, old thing,' said Alicia. 'My brother sent me a trick recently, and I have a strong feeling that it will spring up during the dictee tomorrow!'

Word that Alicia was to play a trick in French soon spread, and it was not long before the girls were crowding around her, demanding to know what was going to be interrupting their lesson.

'All right, everyone,' said Alicia mischievously. 'My brother Sam sent me this packet of small glass bombs yesterday. They are called stink bombs.'

'Stink balls?' cried Betty. 'Whatever can they do?'

'It's quite simple really,' continued Alicia. 'You crack these bombs in the place you want, the glass vanishes, and voila! A dreadful stench appears!'

The girls gasped.

'And then of course, we will be unable to continue our dictee, and we will have to leave the room!' she finished triumphantly.

The next day in French class, Mam'zelle walked in in an amiable temper.

'Bonjour, everyone!' she beamed. 'Today you will have your dictee, yes? Please open your spelling books.'

The girls made a show of opening up their books, signaling to Alicia to burst the bomb.

'Mam'zelle, the board is dirty. May I clean it please?' said Alicia.

Mam'zelle nodded. 'Go ahead,' she said. 'But do not take too long, ma chere! Class, we will start after Alicia finishes.'

Alicia walked up to the board and wiped it clean. Then she proceeded to drop the bomb to the floor.

'All done, Mam'zelle,' she said, winking at the girls.

At once, a most horrible stench filed the room.

'Mam'zelle,' coughed the girls. 'May we please go outside?'

Irene let out one of her bursts, but quickly disguised it as a retch when the girls glared at her.

'Sorry Mam'zelle,' she coughed. 'The smell got to me.'

Two girls did not understand what was happening - Doris and Fanny! No one had bothered to fill them in on the trick, so they were most surprised and horrified at the smell.

'I suppose that dreadful Alicia has let one out,' wheezed Fanny.

'Don't be silly,' replied her twin grimly. 'It's clear that the girls are playing a trick! We simply must inform Miss Grayling!'

The rest of the girls stared at her in horror. 'Doris! said Alicia. Don't you dare - '

But before the girls could stop them, Doris and Fanny primly glided out of the room, leaving a sea of angry faces and a confused mistress behind.