(Page 1 of 2) Cecan 3 from Betrayed By God by Tristis WardSUMMARY: More of Billy Harding's exploits.Billy is not exactly surprised that he got a hundred percent on the test. It was easy and straightforward. He was a little surprised when he wrote it that tough old Mrs. Beaton dumbed it down so much. Still, he sits in the heat of the afternoon, with the sun splashing a distracting glare across his desk, staring with horror at the red pen marks that declare his first ever "A+." She is standing at her desk, screwing up her withered face in annoyance at his crime.
It started simply enough when she handed the tests back. "History has been made today, children," she said in that cold voice she gets when she is irritated. "Someone has scored a hundred on this test."
The few murmurs that rose up from that were not particularly excited, since most students were busy looking at their scores, slumping in their seats or rolling their eyes at the typical "A" students over the announcement. But those "A" children were also perplexed.
Mrs. Beaton continued. "The only child in the class to score a hundred is Billy Harding. Does anybody else find that hard to believe?"
Nobody answered her. Most barely turned to look at him.
"I don't believe it. Billy Harding, how did a boy like you score a hundred on this test?"
Before he could think about how he should respond, he had already said it: "By writing down all the correct answers, ma'am."
"What did you just say?" she asked, astounded.
"That is how a perfect score in a written test is achieved, is it not?"
Now he sits horrorstruck in the glaring sunlight, unable to figure out why he would say anything like that to her and how he managed to score a hundred on a test that covered class time he mostly daydreamed through. He barely studied for it, giving just enough effort to pass. He has been so careful not to ever, ever stand out to her, or to anybody. Now the classroom is silent around him. His classmates are too stunned to close their mouths. They are too stunned to start the giggles which are going to have to happen sooner or later, because the words "...a perfect score on a written test is achieved..." is a really weird thing to say, and "...is it not?" at the end of any sentence is even weirder.
"Are you mocking me, Billy Harding?" Mrs. Beaton demands in the loudest voice he has ever heard her use. "Are you making fun of me?"
Billy shakes his head no. He is afraid his eyes will start to water soon.
"I'll show you what I think of smart little boys right after I show you what I think of cheaters. I know how smart you really are, Billy Harding and you are not smart enough to pull this off. It is just not possible. I do not tolerate cheating!" Spit flies from her mouth onto the desk of Julie Garland who is too afraid to do anything more than wince, and so the little balls of green liquid just sit there in front of her, glistening like jewels. She seems transfixed by them, her eyes locked on to the random pattern they form while her mouth pulls down at the ends into a cartoon image of revulsion.
"I didn't cheat," Billy says softly, even though he wants to just nod and hide under his seat.
"Then you're a liar, too! A liar and a cheat, Billy Harding!" Mrs.
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