Under most of the pictures there were verses that brought forth shrieks of laughter—usually from all, but sometimes from all but the recipient.
As a rule, it was pure fun without any sting in it, though Fred pointed out that the hair in the picture was a good deal redder than that which really waved over his freckled forehead. Pee Wee too was sure that he was not anyway near so big as the human mountain that his picture showed him to be.
There was plenty of chaff and laughter as the boys pored over the valentines, and they would have gladly spent more time discussing them. But as Fred had said, Valentine’s Day was only a “fake” holiday, and the hard-hearted teachers insisted on lessons and recitations. So the pictures were hastily thrust into pockets until they had more time to look at them and the boys trooped over to the classrooms.
Several times through the morning’s work, they noticed that Tom Hicksley shot furious glances at them and this aroused their curiosity.
“His royal highness seems mighty sore about something this morning,” Fred whispered to Bobby.
“Got out of bed the wrong foot first maybe,” replied Bobby.
“I hope he’s got something to feel sore about,” snapped Fred.
What that something was they learned after the lessons were over, and they stood chattering with their friends, a little way off from the main building.
Hicksley came up to them, accompanied by Bronson and Jinks. There was an ugly look in the bully’s eyes and he held a folded sheet of paper in his hand.
“Which one of you boobs sent me this valentine?” he asked threateningly.