Every school had its class clowns. However, these students may have taken their playful prank just a step too far. When two students made a seemingly harmless five-dollar bet, they got much more than what they bargained for in return, including getting their innocent and unsuspecting biology teacher fired. Yikes! Content has been edited for clarity.
The Five Buck Bet
“During freshman year in biology class, I sat next to my friend ‘James.’ James wasn’t the most literate of people he was one of the dumbest people in the class.
James didn’t care about school. However, he did care about money. It didn’t matter if it was one buck or one hundred bucks, it was all the same to James. There were multiple stories about James doing outrageous things for cash, so much so, he wound up suspended three times.
As I mentioned, James and I were in biology class. While we should have been studying, we were in the back of the class talking nonsense. Then, I came up with an idea.
‘James’ I said, ‘What would you do right now for five bucks?’
‘Anything,’ James replied, face straight as an arrow.
‘Anything?’ I asked.
He simply nodded in return, all business from here.
Then, I came up with the most devious and devilish plan. A plan so rugged and terrible only a bored high school student could ever think was a good idea. That, and a kid addicted to money, namely James.
‘How about you get our teacher Mr. Smith fired?’ I asked, ‘The only exception is, you can’t get caught.’
‘Deal,’ James chirped up.
‘But it has to be real trouble. Like, actual trouble,’ I explained.
James got the message, and I knew it was on. Everyone knew James was serious about his money, and how he always got the job done to its fullest extent to keep a ‘good’ reputation among possible future clients. I knew he was good for it, so I handed over the wrinkly five bucks stuffed in my pocket.
‘Tomorrow, just wait on it,’ James said with a smile. Oh boy.
Tomorrow couldn’t come quicker. I walked into fourth-period biology class and avoided James. I didn’t want any association with whatever he had rolled up his sleeve to earn his five bucks. See, something about James caused him to go big in everything he did when it came to his money. James took his seat in the back of the class, and I took mine in the middle aisle.
He did nothing for the entire period. I wasn’t just worried. I was terrified! I eyed him the entire period, even beginning to drip sweat in anticipation. Yet for the entire hour, James remained cool and calm in the back of the class. Then the bell rang.
But it didn’t stop ringing. Somebody pulled the fire alarm, and the class began to scramble. I immediately shot my eyes back at James and watched a smile creep on his face as classmates ran out the door. Of course, the teacher was the last to leave.
I was pushed out the door by the teacher as I watched in horror as James crouched ever so slightly underneath the lab table. The teacher, frantic from the unexpected fire alarm, didn’t even notice. The teacher slammed the door behind him, leaving James to himself in the classroom of the teacher I bet for him to get in trouble.
After the false alarm, everyone went back to class. I went directly to James, who climbed from underneath the table after the class was settled in and everything looked normal again.
‘What did you do?’ I frantically asked him.
‘Haha,’ James laughed, ‘He’s in trouble now.’
I offered James another five bucks to keep his mouth shut about me making the bet.
He thought about it, stuck out his hand, and said, ‘Make it ten bucks.’
I willingly shoved over the last of my lunch money for the week.
The next day, Mr. Smith, our biology teacher, was gone. We had an old substitute who let us do whatever we want. But I didn’t talk to James, and he didn’t talk to me. The next day, our teacher was gone again. I tried to convince myself the teacher was just sick, but by the straight fifth day of his absence, I began to panic. I had to ask James what he managed to do.
I checked my surroundings to see if I was being watched, then broke my pencil to have an excuse to visit the sharpener conveniently located next to James’ lab table.
I stuck in the pencil and began slowly grinding it. ‘What did you do, man,’ I whispered to James.
‘Well, I earned your fifteen bucks man,’ James said calmly, not breaking a stride.
‘By doing what?’ I asked.
James was silent. He stuck out his hand. I told him I have no more money, I already spent it all on him. He looked at me, studying my face.
‘Bring five bucks next Monday or you’re done, got it?’ James asked.
I got it, I told him. No doubt I got it.
‘You know my friend Allison?’ James inquired.
No, I didn’t. But I told him I did.
‘Well, long story short,’ he said, taking a breath. ‘When the fire alarm went off, Allison pulled it. I stayed in here and hid some stuff in Mr. Smith’s desk to get him in trouble.’
I was silent.
‘Real trouble,’ James added, giving me a wink and a thumbs up.
Oh no.
I asked, ‘Wait, what did you put inside his desk?’
James was quiet, then finally spoke up.
‘Oh, you know, Just some pills. You know, like illegal substances. And some other stuff, too.’ James said matter-of-factly.
I was speechless. I just paid someone five bucks to frame a teacher illegally! I went back to my seat shaking, then got back up.
‘What was the other stuff?’ I angrily asked.
James laughed and replied, ‘Oh, well funny you asked. We hid a weapon, too. So when the staff searched his desk, they thought he was insane!’
I breathed heavily, and replied, ‘I wasn’t involved in this, got it?’
‘As long as you bring ten bucks on Monday, I don’t even know you,’ James said, cooly.
I brought the ten bucks on Monday. I never saw Mr. Smith again, but there was a rumor about how he was immediately terminated after the school staff found the substances and weapons. Rumor also had it he was being prosecuted by the school district, too, but charges were dropped later.
I heard he’s teaching at another school in a different state, but I could have been wrong.
Years later, Mr. Smith and I talked again. I told him what happened, and he thought it was pretty funny.”
