Different

Sikowitz's Birthday

"Good morning, class!" Sikowitz announced to his... Well, his class.

"Uh, Sikowitz? It's almost lunch, so it's not really morning," confirmed Tori.

"Don't correct me, Tori," he replied. "So, class! It's my birthday next week... So you know what to do, now, don't you?"

"Uh, clarification is in order, man," Rex said rudely.

"Get me presents, Rex. Lots of presents." Sikowitz said, exasperated. "Let's start class. Today, we're going to talk about Shakespeare. Shakespeare was a balding man, who was often seen barefoot and liked coconut milk. Now, who can tell me-"

"Sikowitz? That's not Shakespeare." Beck informed Sikowitz, who was clearly irritated that Beck had interrupted.

"Yeah. It sounded a little like..." Robbie struggled, clearly not wanting to offend his slightly eccentric teacher.

"It sounded exactly like a documentary 'bout you," Rex decided to break it to Sikowitz.

"Wait... It's... Oh. These aren't my Shakespeare plans...? This is my job description... Ahem! Let's just do some IMPROV instead!" Sikowitz beamed. The class liked IMPROV, since it gave them more freedom with the script. After all, acting without a script was basically making up a story.

"Oh my God, yay! I love IMPROV!" Cat beamed.

After making up a script mainly centred on a grumpy boss having the worst day ever, the bell trilled noisily, signalling that they were free to go.

"Don't forget my present!" He yelled after his class, before taking a noisy slurp of his coconut milk.

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As they left the classroom, Cat asked her friends perkily, "So, what shall we get Sikowitz for his birthday?"

"Coconuts?" Andre suggested, recalling what Sikowitz claimed about the things. "They give him visions..."

"Shoes?" Jade offered sarcastically, as their slightly crazy teacher always seemed to be barefoot. Jade was often making witty, rather cutting remarks like this.

"Jade, you can't say that!" Tori exclaimed.

"I just did," shrugged Jade.

"Broken glass?" Robbie suggested. This comment was ignored. Rex laughed noisily, and ended up in the time-out bag. Which was basically being put in Robbie's bag until the friends released him.

Robbie was, in truth, a bit of a geek. He had glasses, wore oversized shirts, jeans (he occasionally bought woman sizes, without even being aware they were for women!) and trainers. His puppet wore a similar style, but wasn't a geek. When you thought about it, Rex could be what Robbie wanted to be. No one knew how he'd managed to slide into the popular group. There was talk of bribes.

"Candy," Cat said solemnly. With this statement, she began pulling what seemed like an endless length of liquorice out of her bra. "What? Sometimes, I get hungry, 'kay?" Cat added in response to the weird looks her friends gave her.

"Chicken soup," Jade shot Cat a look as she spoke, clearly referring to the slight incident that had occurred a few days before. Apparently, she'd tried sending them to a food bank, but they didn't have enough room in their donation box. Bearing in mind that the box was about the size of an elephant's butt.

"GUYS! Can we be serious?" Beck yelled, and everyone started to think.

"Cat's Jupiter boots?" Tori asked at last. "Sikowitz said he wanted some, but they're all sold out and preordered for the next two weeks..."

Cat gave a shriek, and clutched her boots to her protectively. Her boots were her life! Wait. Maybe after candy. And unicorns. And rainbows? Ok, they were probably about fifty seventh place in her favourite things list...

"C'mon, li'l red," pleaded Andre. "It's the best idea yet..."

"But my boots..." Cat wailed mournfully, although she was still calculating exactly how much she lived them.

"Cat?" Jade smiled sweetly. "I'll give you a candy cane after school?"

"Two?" Cat asked, considering. After all, candy is a necessity of life. Maybe second to oxygen.

"Three," snapped Jade, her patience clearly wearing thin. "Now, give us the boots, kitten."

"You called me kitten! And kitten is a baby cat!" Cat giggled, handing over the boots to Tori.

"Sure..." Jade rolled her eyes. "No need to thank me," she added, glaring, before she stormed away.

"Jade!" Beck called, before sighing and running after her.

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"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!" The class sang, and Sikowitz beamed as he sat on his 'Throne of Birthday'.

"Everyone who brought a gift gets extra credit!" He announced, and the kids who hadn't groaned in despair.

"Coconuts! Thank you!" He said to the first group of friends. Andre muttered what sounded like 'told you'. After several more presents-

"Jupiter boots! Whoo!" Sikowitz shrieked, strapping them onto his feet. "Dismissed!"

"But Sikowitz, it's still-" began Tori, before Andre hastily clamped a hand over her mouth. They filed out of the room, leaving a shrieking Sikowitz alone with his boots. The teacher rarely let them leave his class a minute early, let alone ten minutes. So everyone filed out hastily in case he came to his senses and called them back.

"Jade, can I have my candy canes?" Cat asked.

"NO," replied Jade.

"Oh my God, guys! Check this out!" Tori squealed.

They all rushed over. Cat's heart started beating faster. A bright, eye catching poster was plastered across the notice board, with some very familiar Disney characters at the front,

SIKOWITZ CLASS TO PERFORM SNOW WHITE! Screamed the poster, lulling Cat in with the potential to be a star...

"What you gonna be, li'l red?" Andre smiled. "Cute little forest animal?"

Andre meant well, but his words stung. Cat didn't want to be underestimated, the girl everyone assumed would be an animal or an extra.

"Nope," she replied. "I'm going to be Snow White."

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Dedicated to Tricia_Malik for making an excellent banner (no link, sadly) and a VERY BIG shoutout to justpriya for the banner on the side!