"Now, Ms. I want a truthful answer from you."

"Yes, Major?"

"Is it possible or could I have just imagined it -- have my students by any chance been climbing trees today?" Mrs. Fraumeni demanded.

"Yes, Captain." Brenda answered, thinking back to earlier that day when she had climbed the trees with the children. . .how Patty was too scared to climb a tree, but with the help of peer pressure, he finally go to climbing it, how Laura had lost her balance and fell into a puddle and scared her half to death, how - Brenda thoughts were cut off by Mrs. Fraumeni’s sharp voice piercing the air.

"I see." Mrs. Fraumeni held up the bandana that he had taken from Shannah. "And where, may I ask, did they get these, um, these, uh ...?"

"Play clothes." Brenda told her.

"Oh, is that what you call them?" Mrs. Fraumeni asked with raised eyebrows.

"I got someone to make them -- from the drapes that used to hang in the vocal room."

"Drapes!" Mrs. Fraumeni practically shouted.

"They still had plenty of wear left. The children have been everywhere in them." Brenda tried to explain.

"Do you mean to tell me that my students have been roaming about London dressed up in nothing but some old drapes?!" Mrs. Fraumeni asked, horrified.

"Mm-hmm. And having a marvelous time!" Brenda confirmed.

"They have uniforms!"

"Straitjackets, if you'll forgive me."

"I will not forgive you for that."

This was too much for Brenda! She couldn’t stand the fact that Mrs. Fraumeni could be so blind as to see that kids can’t have fun in prim clothes. "Children cannot do all the things they're supposed to do if they have to worry about spoiling their precious clothes all the ..."

"I haven't heard them complain yet." This vocal teacher was coming into Mrs. Fraumeni’s life, and telling her what kids can and cannot do in different clothes. It was crazy! And why wouldn’t her students tell her that they didn’t like their clothes? As if!

"Well, they wouldn't dare. They fear you too much." They were both glaring at each other terribly hard like they would want to through a punch at the other.

"I don't wish you to discuss my students in this manner."

"Well, you've got to hear from someone. You're never at school long enough to know them."

"I said I don't want to hear any more from you about my students!"

"I know you don't! But you've got to!" Brenda shouted. Mrs. Fraumeni was stunned. Why would anyone risk their job for children? Brenda lowered her voice and began to speak. "Now, take Hannah..."

"You will not say one word about Hannah, Ms ..."

But Brenda cut her off. "She's not a child anymore. One of these days you're going to come to school and find she sings like a woman. You won't even know her." Mrs. Fraumeni turned her back on Brenda. "And Patty. He's smart but he wants to be smarter like you and there's no one to show him how."

"Don't you dare tell me about my student!" Mrs. Fraumeni whipped around.

"Mimma could tell you about him if you'd let her get close to you. She notices everything."

"Ms ..." Mrs. Fraumeni warned.

"And Peter pretends he's tough not to show how hurt he is when you yell at him..."

"That will do."

"... the way you do all of them. Shannah I don't know about..."
"I said, that will do!"

"... but someone has to find out about her and the others just want to be taught. Oh, please, Major, teach them, teach them all!" shouted and walked towards Mrs. Fraumeni.

"I don't care to hear anything further from you about my students!" And with that Mrs. Fraumeni began to walk away.

"I am not finished yet, Major!" Brenda shouted. She had to get it through to this stubborn principal that these students needed more then a person who sits in a office and suspends them.
"Oh, yes, you are, Major!" Mrs. Fraumeni shouted at Brenda. Brenda looked at her, surprised that a person of such authority would make that mistake.

"Ms." Mrs Fraumeni corrected. "Now, you will pack your things this minute ..."

"The hills are alive. . ." there was singing in the background which sounded like the children, but Mrs. Fraumeni didn’t hear.

"... and return to the public board ..." Brenda’s face fell as the children continued to sin the Gulf War Song.

"With the sound of music. . ."

"What's that?" Mrs. Fraumeni asked, finally realizing that there was some singing going on, and it sounded like harmony, she couldn’t count how many parts there were.

"With songs they have sung. . ." The children continued to sing.

"It's singing." Brenda told her.

"For a thousand years. . ."

Mrs. Fraumeni rolled her eyes with impatience and said "Yes, I realize it's singing but who is singing?"

"The hills fill my heart. . ."

Brenda sighed and then gave into Mrs. Fraumeni’s angry expression. "The children."

"The children?" Mrs. Fraumeni asked astonished.

"With the sound of music" The children continued to sing.

"I taught them something to sing for Miss Crickard." Brenda explained. Ignoring her, Mrs. Fraumeni strode to the house. Brenda watched her go, troubled.