The other thing that happens when something big happens because of the Herdmans is that it gets around town and everyone gets to gapping about it. Expesully when Alice's mother is involved. When she found out that he daughter was supposed to have been tutoring one of the Herdmans, for once she was in such a shock that she didn't start gossiping about it until the next day.

Of course, it may have had to do with the fact she was trying to get the black off of Alice's head, and as it was permanent marker, it took a long time to do, so that also explained why it took so long for her to get it off, and that was more important then her gossiping. Alice had a red forehead though for a couple of days where the marker had been used.

But one things was sure, Alice's mom was out with a vengeance this time, she was cutting down not just the Herdmans, but also the teacher who had decided to hold back one of the Herdmans. She kept telling everyone that all the sixth graders at our elementary school would be in grave danger because of what 'that' woman did.

Let's just say that the ruckus was so great that they called a meeting of some of the church ladies for the next night to discuss what was to be done about the situation and what was needed to be done about the whole situation. The thing was… every time the church ladies got together, their plans only included what they wanted, not what was truly best for everyone… nor did it take in all the information.

M

Mrs. Wendelkin, Armstrong, Slocum, Clark, Clausing McCarthy and other woman gathered at the church to discuss the problem about Ralph being held back. They had gathered a bunch of home made cookies and coffee and had set up chairs so that they could discuss the problems.

"I was horrified when my Alice came home with that marker scrawled all over her forehead. I was counting my blessings that boy didn't write some horrible word on her forehead. I'm also so glad that it came off like it did," Mrs. Wendelkin said, her eyes filled with anguish.

"Those children are horrid little demons," one of the other woman said. "We've never had more then one of them in the classes. Ralph and Imogene are going to set fire to the class room, I know it, and kill all our sixth graders when it they burn down the school."

"The Herdmans have never burned down any important buildings," Mrs. Armstrong commented. "Though… I'm not sure if they won't do it this time."

"What right does that teacher have to break the norm that we have come to know," Mrs. McCarthy commented. "I have a problem with the fact that she just came here last year and she is already trying to change things. We don't need this kind of radical change."

"She must be insane… I mean, taking two Herdmans in her classroom," another woman said.

"I'm surprised that the Herdmans aren't here stealing the refreshments," a woman wearing a red blouse said. "What?"

"Imagine them getting their hands on coffee! That's one thing they haven't shown interest in!" a woman with brown hair in a bun said.

"So… what are we to do about this?" one of the other ladies commented, shaking her head.

"Well… we could go to the school board and force the teacher to make him go to the seventh grade," one of the woman said.

"I want to meet this teacher and give her my thoughts on letting my daughter tutor such a dangerous boy," Mrs. Wendelkin said, frowning at the other woman.

"Well… the only person who has really dealt with all six before is Mrs. Bradley…" one of the woman said softly. "She handled the whole Christmas Pageant quite well…"

"Yes… well… why she isn't here!" Alice's mother said, shaking her head quite rapidly. "This isn't fair!"

"Well… oh, hello Pastor," one of the woman said.

"I thought that I would come in and see how it is going…" the pastor commented.

"Well… I don't like the fact that there will be two Herdman kids in one class next year," one of the woman said.

"Two Herdmans? I guess that the sixth grade teacher failed Ralph, didn't she?" the man said.

"How did you guess that?"

"Well… who else would have the guts to do so?"

"More like gaul…"

"No… I wouldn't call it gaul… guts and bravado… I will keep her in my prayers," the man said.

"Yes… so she doesn't get anymore insane then she already is," the woman said.

"No… because I think she did the right thing and for once, someone else is actually looking out for the well being of those children," the man said.

"I don't see the point… they're hooligans… devils," the one woman who had called them devils before said.

"That isn't a very Christian thing to say… to give up hope that the Herdman children will turn out all right," the man said.

"Just watch…" Alice's mother commented. "He will be a serial killer… a rapist!"

This caused the man to glare at all the woman. "A pity that you've assigned him to such a fate already."