BEWARE FINE GAEL

It's the year 2001, and human teachers have become obsolete. The new
Fine Gael government quickly became bored with the S.T.I.'s demands and
constant moaning. Michael Noonan ordered the removal of secondary level
teachers and replaced them with their own clones, which would work for
the minimal wage and be glad to supervise. However, in the capital city
Limerick a rebel stronghold still exists...
When the cloning of teachers began the staff of Laurel Hill Secondary
School barricaded themselves inside their school, (led by their
courteous yet courageous, fierce but friendly leader Mr. Cantillon and
with the support of loyal head girls, class captains, the camogie team
and more) and avoided capture mostly due to Mr.O.Farrell's Bismark
style tactics and Mr. Lynchs and Mr.O.Suillivan's clever use of science
and computers to protect the school. Traps were set at all exits and
each member of staff was allocated a hockey stick for protection.
Supplies from Bobby O Byrnes were delivered by tuck shop workers Emily
and Laura through the secret passage under the school each fortnight.
Ms.Fahy.Brown and Ms. Leo used a 24/7 broadcast on the inter-net from
the computer room (conducted in Irish, French, Spanish and English) to
inform the world on their struggle and to plead with the U.N. to
intervene on the crisis. Mr.Cantillon established a command centre in
the basement where Ms.O'Keefe and Ms.Lawless sang in code over their
mobiles to other rebels. Mr.Meaney used his extensive knowledge of
rocks and erosion to start building another tunnel under the school in
case the school was raided and an escape route was needed.
We join this courageous crew in month 9 of their rebellion. It is
winter; the school is dark and damp. Every movement and noise echoes
through the school. It's 6 a.m. and time for the look out's to change
over from the mid-night shift. Class captains of V2 and L1 head towards
the look out station in the 5th year classrooms. When they arrive they
are shocked to discover stairs duty monitors Mary Clancy and Rachel
Meehan fast asleep in a corner of the room. "Wake up!" they yelled
shaking them violently. "Hey" exclaimed Rachel, indignantly brushing
herself off and getting up. "You fell asleep! What would have done if
there had been a clone attack? Well?" they demanded. "Nothing, you'd
have done nothing coz you'd have been asleep." Mary snapped, "Take a
chill pill K?" With this Mary followed by Rachel left to return to
base.
Meanwhile, in Knapsack lodge the dashing, unshaven Mr.McKenna and
sidekick the tall, dark and handsome Mr.Walsh are attempting to fix a
hole in the barricade. Mr.McKenna is repeating the poem "Mending Wall"
and discussing themes when they both hear a pin drop. "Hello" yells
Mr.Walsh as he stands with the sleeves of his jumper rolled up past his
elbows and begins flashing the torch in the direction of the sound. "Is
there anybody there?" "It's probably the wind, nothing to worry about.
Besides we are the only ones on duty in this side of the building!"
shrugs Mr.McKenna. "That's exactly why I'm worried," murmured Mr.Walsh
as he edges towards the stairs leading to the sixth year building. "You
go back to the lunchroom and wait there while I check this out," orders
Mr.Walsh as he picks up his hockey stick. "Sure, I'll go with you?"
suggested Mr.McKenna. Mr.Walsh gives Mr.McKenna a sideways glance "do I
look like a 1st year?" Mr.McKenna returns to the lunchroom and waits in
darkness, after a long period of time an extremely loud noise could be
heard from the direction of the sixth years building. Fearing the worst
Mr.McKenna starts towards the sixth year building. After a couple of
minutes searching in the darkness he senses someone else's presence.
Not knowing whether to ask who it is or to run he remains still.
Suddenly he is pined a torch is shined in his face. It's Mr.Walsh "God,
you gave me a heart attack... I heard the big thump and I thought you'd
... never mind, what was it anyway?" "What?" answered Mr.Walsh. "The
noise?" questioned Mr.McKenna. "Oh, i...fell..."said Mr.Walsh as
Mr.McKenna took the torch off him. Mr.McKenna started to head off
towards the back stairs "Come on, this place is too creepy..."
In the basement, Mr.Cantillon Jill Harold, Maria Garett and Marita sat
discussing the disappearance of Ms.AcAuliffe, and Mr.Hourigan and
Julianna Downes two days ago. They had gone on a mission to get more
hockey sticks from the gym and hadn't returned. "They are gone. We just
have to except it and move on. We should expect losses; we've been
lucky since the Ms.Ni Mhurchadha accident." stated Jill with an air of
determination. "But what if they are still out there... locked out, in
hiding or injured... gee golly I couldn't live with my self. We have to
send a rescue team." Exclaimed Maria. "Jill is right. The good of the
many out weigh the good of the few.," said Mr.Cantillon in a solemn
voice. Maria was about to object when Ms.Sheenan started yelling on the
other side of the room. "Hey, everybody listen to this," yelped
Ms.Sheenan as she turned up the radio that herself and Ms.Thompson had
been monitoring. " DUM DUM DUM DE DIDY DE DUM# your listening to
morning Ireland. I'm Sara McMahon. Our first story this morning is the
famous Hamilton Case. Now with the latest update is Catherine Wikinson.
(Catherine speaking) Good morning. The Hamilton Case has been stuck in
the courts for over 6 months now. Ms.Hamilton who has been campaigning
for the right to teach on behalf of the rebel group of non-clone
teachers in Laurel Hill Limerick has applied for the case to be heard
in the high court and has claimed that the government has slowed down
the legal process with unnecessary red tape. Michael Noonan's junior
minister has defended his government saying "That is typical of a human
teacher to say..." Catherine Wikinson for RTE. DUM DUM DUM DE DIDY DE
DUM#"
Meanwhile in the computer room during Ms.Leo's French broadcast
Ms.Fahy.Brown is checking the schools e-mail.
(Rebelswithacause@eircom.net) It's basic stuff e-mail from Ms.Cantrell
from down under just saying hi! Legal documents (new-born baby photos
too) from Ms.Hamilton etc. Suddenly there is a knock on the yellow
glass. Through the blurred glass she can't see who it is. She steps
out. There is no one there. She can make out that there are muddy
footprints leading towards reception. Looking around she tentatively
takes a couple steps forward. On either side of her now was glass. She
wondered whether there was someone behind them in the darkness hunched
down waiting to attack her. The footsteps stopped. And facing her was a
pair of muddy boots. She heard the door of the computer room slam
violently and raised voices. She was frozen with fear. She began to
back away. Suddenly her worst fears were realised as she backed into
someone. She let out an almighty scream. She turned around only to be
face to face with Mr.Walsh. "Sorry, did I scare you?"
The fourth year class captains were huddled in a group in the eating
quarters (plotting no doubt) and were the only ones present when
camogie player Alison Mulane, hockey player Sarah Hogan and basketball
player Sharon Power entered the room. Marita had just told them that no
rescue attempt would be made for sports captain Julianna and were
clearly upset. Mr.McKenna who was still shaken from that morning
followed them in, reflecting on those morning's events. He was
confused. Mr.Walsh had left his hockey stick after him in the sixth
year building. Why would he leave it behind? Teachers had just two days
earlier risked, lost, their lives to obtain hockey sticks. He didn't
know Mr.Walsh to be a forgetful person. He always remembered to go to
hockey practice...besides who would want to wander without protection
in the dark whilst worrying about clones? It just didn't make sense.
He'd have to ask him.
The command centre was quiet now. Ms.Lawless and Ms.O'Keefe had left to
de-code a message from the outside. Ms.Thompson and Ms.Sheenan had
turned off the radio and gone to sing boyzone songs. (It's Ms.Sheenan's
secret wish to sing back-up vocals for Boyzone.) Ms.Ryan stood alone in
the concrete room. On the walls were different codes written in chalk.
She stood for a while trying to make sense of the words and symbols. As
she stood she was watched. At the door stood Ms.Leo. She quietly walked
up behind Ms.Ryan. When Ms.Leo's shadow monstered over her she pushed
up her glasses and took the candle and faced Ms.Leo.
Mr.McKenna hadn't a long time to wait before he was given his chance to
ask Mr.Walsh about the hockey stick. Mr.Walsh had entered the eating
quarters soon after with Ms.Leo and Ms.Gallagher. He waited until
Mr.Walsh was alone to make his move. "Hey? How're yeah?" said
Mr.McKenna in an attempted casual voice. "Hey, fine," answered Mr.Walsh
in an uninterested manner. "Listen, I forgot to mention I think you
forgot your hockey stick this morning." Piped Mr.McKenna. "It doesn't
really matter does it? We've loads I'd imagine," said Mr.Walsh as
watched Sis.Helen leave the room alone. Mr.Walsh did not see the
shocked look on Mr.McKenna's face. It was all becoming clear to him
now. He needed someone he could trust he needed somebody else from
tipp.
Mr.O.Farrell was sitting chatting with the senior debating team when a
pale unsettled looking Mr.McKenna interrupted their conversation. The
debaters excused themselves. Mr.McKenna looked around nervously before
he began in a hushed voice to tell Mr.O.Farrell about that mornings
incident. However, he had not been careful enough. Standing within
earshot was Ms.Gallagher. She listened while Mr.McKenna explained his
theory on the loud noise from the sixth year building, the hockey
stick, and the hole in the barricade. While Mr.McKenna and Mr.O.Farrell
planned how to deal with the clone invaders. Ms.Gallagher slipped
silently away. After a long period of time discussing this plan of
action Mr.McKenna got up and left the room. He was to warn the head
girls. He began to walk quickly. He could hear the gentle tap tap of a
heel on the stairs behind him. He stopped to listen. But the person
stopped also. He could hear the sound of the footsteps closer now.
Walking quicker tap... tap ...tap. Panicking he began to run. He
attempted to open the door leading to the locker rooms and the sixth
year building. This door was locked... he was trapped.
Mr.O.Farrell had by now told Ms.Carroll (who he knew couldn't be a
clone as she hadn't been out of the main barracks all day.) of the
situation. And she had gone to inform the science teachers of the clone
invader. Ms.O.Brien had been working on a chemical formula that may
freeze the clone's motor functions, it was a long shot but it as the
only shot they had. Mr.O.Farrell had gone to inform Mr.Cantillon. He'd
meet Ms.Ryan on the way and she had informed him that Mr.Cantillon was
in the attic. When Mr.O.Farrell entered Mr.Cantillon was staring at the
decaying wall. "Hey" waved Mr.O.Farrell as he closed the door behind
him. "Listen, we've got a major problem. Mr.McKenna thinks there is a
clone invader in the school. We think Mr.Walsh was attacked by a clone
and subsequently replaced. And we all know where there is one clone
there is a ... what's the word? A lot... that'll do" Mr.Cantillon
tensed up. He turned slowly towards Mr.O.Farrell. He stared at him with
a piercing glare. "I know."
Ms.Carroll was half way up the stairs to the science labs when she
heard her name being called. It was Mr.McKenna. She turned around and
looked down. "Hey, I've got something you should see down here." Yelled
Mr.McKenna. "I haven't time, maybe later." Responded Ms.Carroll as she
rushed up the stairs. In the biology lab Ms.O.Brien, Ms.O.Gorman and
Mr.Lynch were attempting to perfect their formula. Ms.Carroll told them
of those mornings events and of the fear that Mr.Walsh was now a clone
had perhaps working to capture and clone other members of staff. They
were just packing the anti-clone formula which they had filling into
water guns in a sports house bag when the door burst open and Mr.Walsh,
Mr.Cantillon, and Mr.O.Farrell walked in. "Pierce!" yelped Ms.Carroll
fearing the worst as Mr.O.Farrell and Mr.Cantillon stood shoulder to
shoulder with the clone. "Shut up," barked Mr.O.Farrell, he studied her
shocked and upset face. "Shocked! Aren't yeah." Ms.Carroll wasn't given
a chance to answer as Ms.O.Brien dived over the lab table taking aim at
the clone invaders. "Run, run, run for your lives" yelled Ms.O.Brien.
Ms.Carroll pushed past the clones grabbing the half filled bag of
anti-clone water guns as she ran, she was the only one to make it
out.
Ms.Carroll barely makes it to the 1st years classrooms. She falls in
the door. She looks up only to be face to face with Mr.Cantillon. She
is frozen with fear. "Sssh, don't worry," smiled Mr.Cantillon. "It was
all a trick! Mr.O.Farrell and myself pretended to be clones to gain the
trust of the clone to trick him. We went along with him to find out who
was and who wasn't cloned. If we had been clones the anti-clone formula
would have frozen us. Wouldn't it?" explained Mr.Cantillon. "Yes, I
suppose. So everything is fine?" Said Ms.Carroll. She could feel every
muscle in her body relax and her heart rate return too normal. "While
only one of us only being cloned was a blessing I am sure a lot of
people will need to grieve for Mr.Walsh... good work though." Said
Mr.Cantillon. He left the room and headed for the attic. Mr.O.Farrell
was waiting for him. "So did she fall for it?"
By Sharon Casey