Ollie Ollie Oxen Free
by Carolyn VanEseltine (2013)

"War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good. We will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other's children." - Jimmy Carter

action: %
response: The staticky voice on the PA was wrong - you should have sheltered in place. Moving your students wasn't easy, even before Jude yelled "Mr. Bunny!", dropped Samir's hand, and went scrambling back down the hallway. You slipped up and swore, but no one heard it in the chaos.

Overhead, the inbound planes were unleashing chaos of their own.
There were seals against airbornes in most of the installation, but
not in the school. Emily was ahead of you, so the toxin hit her
first. She doubled over retching and then fell down. You inhaled to call out to your students, but then the toxin was in your lungs.

Burning in your lungs. Throwing up as if you would never stop. Children screaming, scattering.

The ground shaking. You wrenched your head up to see the wall collapse. A wave of heat and light. Wasn't the gas enough? Why did they need incendiaries too?

Adam must be up there somewhere, scrambling to respond. As above, so below - unless he was puking his guts out too, unless he couldn't breathe either -

It was a good time to pass out, so you did.

You open your eyes. Everything aches, but the hallway eventually
comes into focus.

This was the approved route to shelter, before the bombs hit and the ceiling collapsed. Now, shards of plastic and glass jut from the rubble, and more than one corpse lies buried beneath the weight of stone. Heavy debris lies half-propped upon long pieces of rebar, creating a hazardous barrier that blocks the way north. The way south remains open.

To the west, more debris blocks off the door to Avery Thomas's classroom.

The air raid sirens have stopped, but fire alarms still flash and shrill through the wreckage. It's not much of an improvement.

You have to find your students.
action: Examine
response: What do you want to examine?
action: About yourself
response: You feel, unsurprisingly, like a building fell on you, and you're sure that your appearance matches the feeling. Constant tremors run
through your hands, and it's an effort just to stay standing. But there doesn't seem to be any blood, and that's something.

(You can also think about many things, such as THINK ABOUT
yourself.)

You are wearing a striped red tie, a rumpled white shirt, some pair of black slacks, and a gold wedding band.
action: You think about yourself
response: You feel worse than you've ever felt, including the time when you were seventeen and three guys kicked the shit out of you just for existing. Maybe now hurts more because it's happening right now... but it's a
bad sign.
action: You check what you're carrying
response: You are wearing a striped red tie, a rumpled white shirt, some pair of black slacks, and a gold wedding band.
action: You think about Avery
response: The kids love Avery Thomas, but he doesn't deserve it. He hates teaching elementary, and he mutters in the teacher's lounge about how kids are only worthwhile once they grow up. He probably daydreams about beaning a kid with a chunk of rock quartz someday.
action: You examine band
response: It's a thin gold band, a little scratched, unobtrusive. And very important.
action: You think about the band
response: You wanted a custom ring, but Adam talked you out of it. "We'll get something simple, classic," he said. Unspoken: something it would be safer to wear.
action: Look around
response: This was the approved route to shelter, before the bombs hit and the ceiling collapsed. Now, shards of plastic and glass jut from the rubble, and more than one corpse lies buried beneath the weight of stone. Heavy debris lies half-propped upon long pieces of rebar, creating a hazardous barrier that blocks the way north. The way south remains open.

To the west, more debris blocks off the door to Avery Thomas's classroom.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

(If you SHOUT, someone might hear you.)
action: Shout
response: You shout, "Hello! Can anyone hear me?"

You hear a crash from the direction of Mr. Thomas's classroom,
followed by silence.
action: You look at the debris
response: You take a closer look at the pile of debris, but what you see only makes your spirits sink. The pile of debris blocking the door is unstable and heavy, definitely too dangerous for you to shift it.
action: You look at the corpse
response: There's no room for doubt: the closest body is Emily Wagner. Her
torso is completely obscured, but you can see the patterned edge of
her skirt, and you recognize the strappy sandals she was wearing.
action: You look at your surroundings
response: This was the approved route to shelter, before the bombs hit and the ceiling collapsed. Now, shards of plastic and glass jut from the rubble, and more than one corpse lies buried beneath the weight of stone. Heavy debris lies half-propped upon long pieces of rebar, creating a hazardous barrier that blocks the way north. The way south remains open.

To the west, more debris blocks off the door to Avery Thomas's classroom.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You look at the shards
response: Which do you mean, the plastic shard or the glass shard?
action: Glass
response: The glass shards look like they came from a door's broken windowpane.
action: You look at the plastic
response: The plastic shards look like they came from the shattered panel on a light fixture.
action: You talk to the door
response: You can only do that to something animate.
action: You go to the west
response: You try to stand up, but misjudge your own weakness and almost fall into the rubble.

You remain still for a moment, breath burning in your throat, and wait for the strength to try again.
action: You keep going
response: You grit your teeth and get successfully to your feet. You've never been so proud of just standing before... well, maybe after that fourth JÃ¤ger Bomb at Nellie's. But it feels like college was about a hundred years ago.

The pile of debris blocking the door is too dangerous to shift.
action: You think about the school
response: Seeing the school in ruins makes you feel very fragile. You didn't love the place - the architecture was weird, and the administration
was frustrating, and the mural at the hallway junction was seriously ugly. But now it's been destroyed, and perversely, you feel
abandoned.
action: You think about Emily
response: Emily Wagner was in your classroom when the warning siren went off.
She was helping to get your kids out when the bombs hit. She didn't approve of you, and you didn't approve of her methods all the time,
and you bitched about her behind her back - but she was good with kids and she gave a damn. You don't want her to be dead.
action: You think about yourself
response: You feel worse than you've ever felt, including the time when you were seventeen and three guys kicked the shit out of you just for existing. Maybe now hurts more because it's happening right now... but it's a
bad sign.
action: Shift debris
response: The pile of debris blocking the door is unstable and heavy, definitely too dangerous for you to shift it.
action: You go south
response: You shout, "I have to be away for a moment, but I'll come back soon."

Samir yells, "Go away, leave me alone!"

Fire alarm lights strobe across a painfully cheerful mural on the east wall, positioned exactly opposite the west-facing hallway. The classrooms and the gymnasium are off to the west, the science and computer labs are north, and the cafeteria is off to the south, but
you can see from here that no part of the building went unravaged. At least it looks like most of the kids made it out.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

There's a bulletin board lying face-down on the floor.
action: You think about Samir
response: One day, he's helping Dylan cement his reign of terror, and the next, he's helping George build the ISS out of Tinkertoys.

Left to his own devices, you think he might be a bit of a bookworm,
but it's hard to tell. Despite your best efforts, school is a poor place for self-discovery.
action: You examine the board
response: This bulletin board was once mounted on the north corner, but the explosions jarred it loose. It's not much of a loss.
action: You examine the mural
response: It's one of those multiracial sunshine-and-handholding jobs that
school administrators particularly love, even at a base school. The colors are particularly toxic under the flickering fire alarm lights.
action: You get the mural
response: The cheerful mural is far too heavy to move in your weakened state.
action: You get the board
response: The bulletin board is far too heavy to move in your weakened state.
action: Look around
response: Fire alarm lights strobe across a painfully cheerful mural on the east wall, positioned exactly opposite the west-facing hallway. The classrooms and the gymnasium are off to the west, the science and computer labs are north, and the cafeteria is off to the south, but
you can see from here that no part of the building went unravaged. At least it looks like most of the kids made it out.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

There's a bulletin board lying face-down on the floor.
action: You turn board
response: It is fixed in place.
action: Go south
response: This part of the hall has been plastered with signs in unsubtle red, white, and blue, occasionally accented with yellow smiley-face stickers. The overhead lights are flickering weakly here, and the power probably won't last long. The hall continues south toward the school kitchen and north toward the classrooms.

The cafeteria doors are to the east, but they're closed and probably locked, since lunch ended a good two hours ago.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You examine the signs
response: The patriotic virtues extolled here include playing nicely with others and never running in the hallway.
action: You run
response: You'll have to say which compass direction to go in.
action: Describe the surroundings
response: This part of the hall has been plastered with signs in unsubtle red, white, and blue, occasionally accented with yellow smiley-face stickers. The overhead lights are flickering weakly here, and the power probably won't last long. The hall continues south toward the school kitchen and north toward the classrooms.

The cafeteria doors are to the east, but they're closed and probably locked, since lunch ended hours ago.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You go south
response: With the overhead fluorescents out, it's particularly dim at this end of the hallway, but the flashing fire alarms illuminate the door labelled "KITCHEN STAFF - NO STUDENTS". To your surprise, it's partly open.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You examine the door
response: The school kitchen door is unusually wide, perhaps because there's no alternate loading door for the kitchens.

Looking down, you see a plastic tray wedging the door.
action: You look at the tray
response: This is one of the orange plastic trays that the kids use to carry lunch to their tables.
action: You get tray
response: You're not sure whether the kitchen door locks automatically. It's probably better to leave it propped open.
action: You look at your surroundings
response: With the overhead fluorescents out, it's particularly dim at this end of the hallway, but the flashing fire alarms illuminate the door labelled "KITCHEN STAFF - NO STUDENTS". The door is partly open, wedged in place with a serving tray.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You look at the lights
response: (the fire alarm)
They're really not helping your headache.
action: You go east
response: You've never been in the school kitchen before. The kitchen has no windows, and without the overhead lights, it's seriously dark here. Counters and shelves are barely discernable glints in the blackness.

Why isn't there a fire alarm in the kitchen? It would make sense -
and it would mean you could see, no matter how poorly. But there are only flickering reflections from the west doorway, almost worse than nothing in the darkness.
action: You examine the shelves
response: The shelves are barely a glint of steel in the darkness.
action: You examine counters
response: It's barely a glint of steel in the darkness.
action: Go north
response: This part of the hall has been plastered with signs in unsubtle red, white, and blue, occasionally accented with yellow smiley-face stickers. The overhead lights are flickering weakly here, and the power probably won't last long. The hall continues south toward the school kitchen and north toward the classrooms.

The cafeteria doors are to the east, but they're closed and locked, since lunch ended hours ago.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go west
response: The locker-lined hallway stretches from east to west. Pictures of famous Americans gaze starchily down from above the dull brown
lockers, almost successfully concealing the old water damage on the walls. You can smell something burning.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You look at the lockers
response: The lockers are narrow, brown, and about four feet tall. Every
student gets a locker on their first day, along with a lecture about how they are strictly forbidden to decorate the lockers or change
their locker combinations.
action: You open lockers
response: You check one of the lockers, but, as you suspected, the locker is locked.

There's a combination lock that could be used to enter a combination, if you knew any of the locker combinations - which you don't right
now.
(Enter combinations on a combination lock with TURN DIAL LEFT
action: You examine the americans
response: The most prominent image is George Washington (complete with horse and saber). His anachronistic companions include Thomas Jefferson,
Abraham Lincoln, the Wright brothers (complete with plane), Charles Lindbergh, Buzz Aldrin, and John Glenn.
action: You go west
response: Emily's classroom is - was - to the north, marked with a construction paper sign reading "Ms. Wagner's room - Come In!" To the south, there's an alcove that splits off toward the bathrooms. The hallway continues to the east and west, decorated with inexpertly drawn
posters about When I Grow Up.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You examine the posters
response: The posters are from Emily Wagner's class. At the top, each one bears the crooked heading, "When I Grow Up, I Will Be A...." followed by a crayon-and-marker drawing to represent the aspired profession. Unsurprisingly, there are a lot of airplanes and little stick figures with carefully drawn insignia, including an unlikely number of
generals and chief master sergeants. However, you also see a ballerina, a firefighter, a teacher (William Bradley is a notorious suckup), and a unicorn rancher.
action: You think about William
response: William Bradley, notorious suckup. Either he'll grow an opinion of
his own someday, or he has a glowing future ahead as President of the United States.
action: You think about Samir
response: One day, he's helping Dylan cement his reign of terror, and the next, he's helping George build the ISS out of Tinkertoys.

Left to his own devices, you think he might be a bit of a bookworm,
but it's hard to tell. Despite your best efforts, school is a poor place for self-discovery.
action: You think about Dylan
response: It would be an easier world if the bullies all had names like Biff and Brick and Grunt. Dylan Rierson is your least favorite kid in school right now, and you predict a round in juvie for him before he's sixteen.
action: You think about George
response: His mom was an astronaut candidate. She died in a car crash, which is why George lives on base with his dad, but George either forgets that or won't admit it most of the time. His art projects are littered
with women with recognizable cornrows waving hello out of rocket ship windows.
action: You go to the north
response: Ms. Wagner's Room
This classroom is reasonably undamaged, apart from a fallen ceiling tile. The decorations are straight out of the 70's, all giant cardboard apples and smiling cartoon children, occupying not only the walls but the front of Ms. Wagner's desk. The air smells of markers and chalk dust.

You can see a closet door and an enormous blackboard here.
action: You open the closet
response: It seems to be locked.
action: You look at the desk
response: This desk is smaller than most teacher desks at the school, but it's sturdy and well-made, which is more than can be said for a lot of the furnishings. Also, it's possible to remove the desk from the room without disassembling it.

On Ms. Wagner's desk are a decorated mug (in which are some pens and pencils) and a round blue tray (in which is a tangle of paper clips).
action: You take the paperclip
response: You fish a striped green paper clip out of the tangle.
action: You unlock the closet with the paperclip
response: (the striped green paper clip)
There's no way you can pick a lock. Your hands are trembling far too much.

The striped green paper clip falls from your shaking hands to the floor.
action: You take the paperclip
response: (the striped green paper clip)
Taken.
action: You put the paperclip in the pocket
response: (the striped green paper clip in the left pocket of your slacks)
You put the striped green paper clip into the left pocket of your slacks.
action: You look at the pocket
response: These aren't very good pants - they're a little faded from repeated washing, and there's a hole that makes the right pocket unusable. You still wear them because at least the hole isn't visible.
action: You look at the mug
response: The red and blue lettering proclaims "#1 Teacher!" It's full of pens and pencils.
action: Go south
response: Emily's former classroom is to the north, marked with a construction paper sign reading "Ms. Wagner's room - Come In!" To the south, there's an alcove that splits off toward the bathrooms. The hallway continues to the east and west, decorated with inexpertly drawn
posters about When I Grow Up.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You go to the east
response: The locker-lined hallway stretches from east to west. Pictures of famous Americans gaze starchily down from above the dull brown
lockers, almost successfully concealing the old water damage on the walls. You can smell something burning.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You go south
response: The failing fluorescent lights illuminate a kid-height drinking fountain in the south wall. The boys' bathroom is to the east and the girls' bathroom is to the west, both marked with Happy Hygiene signs reminding everyone about handwashing.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

It's hard to be sure in this light, but it looks like there's a wet spot on the carpet by the door to the girls' room.
action: You examine the wet spot
response: That spot is definitely wet.
action: You look at the happy hygiene
response: It's in the style of those old recruitment posters - "Harry the Happy Hand wants YOU to wash your hands!" There are happy girls waving at Harry on the girls' room sign and happy boys waving at Harry on the boys' room sign, just to avoid any mixups.
action: Smell spot
response: It's actually hard to inhale on purpose - memories of the toxic gas, probably.

A burning, acrid smell overlays the usual odors of the school.
action: Shout
response: You call, "Hey, can anyone hear me?"

A student calls back from the girls' bathroom. "Mr. Ginsberg! I can't get up!" It's Keiko, and her voice sounds tight and strange.

You also get a response from the boys' bathroom. "Help me!" a boy calls, "That asshole Dustin wedged me in here!" It sounds like Tyrone - he's supposed to be in Emily Wagner's class, not yours.

(You can ask students to perform tasks with [student], [command].
For example, KEIKO, LOOK will ask Keiko to tell you what she can see right now.)
action: You think about Keiko
response: Keiko is the oldest of your students. She's been held back twice now, not because she's stupid, but because the school isn't prepared to handle a kid with dyslexia. They're moving her up this year come hell or high water... or so you would have said, before the school was bombed. Right now, you don't even know who's alive, let alone who's graduating.
action: You think about Tyrone
response: Tyrone isn't one of your students. You know him because he's been giving Emily a headache and a half, not to mention the recess
monitors. He's bright enough to get pissed off and destructive in a classroom geared to the lowest common denominator, and he pounds back on the kids who try to pound him, which doesn't help anything much. He's pretty well-behaved in detention, though.
action: You think about Dustin
response: If Dustin weren't so quick to help beat people up, he'd be the one getting beat up. You try to keep this in mind, but you still don't feel much sympathy.
action: You look
response: You call, "What can you see, Keiko?"

Keiko shouts back, "Can't you just come in here? The door's open!"
action: You go to the west
response: You call, "I need to do something, but I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Come back soon!" Keiko calls. Tyrone doesn't answer.

(first opening the girls' door)
The door has a push panel, so you lean on the door, but nothing happens. Briefly, you wonder if the door is blocked - but it's just a measure of your weakness. The hinges yield a moment later, and the door opens.

You've never actually been in the girls' bathroom before, but it has the same ugly cream-and-black tile as the boys' room does, plus all
the accoutrements you'd expect - sinks, a mirror, stalls, the works.
Or so you surmise, because half the back wall collapsed in, and
there's now water spraying across the room from a burst pipe and pooling on the floor.

Keiko is sitting on the bathroom floor. Her hair and clothing are soaked from the spraying water.

Keiko looks up at you miserably. "I got out from under the bricks,
but I can't get up. I tried, but my leg won't work. It hurts so
bad." She points to her right leg.

You say inarticulately, "Keiko. It's going to be okay, I promise."
But you don't know how, because you're pretty sure her leg is broken.
action: You look at the bricks
response: This morning, there was a solid, sturdy wall here, and now it's a shattered heap of masonry. It hardly seems real.

The girls' room door hisses closed on its hinge.
action: You look at the leg
response: Which do you mean, Keiko's right leg or Keiko's left leg?
action: You look at right leg
response: There's a nasty scrape partway down Keiko's right shin, and a gruesome bulge in the flesh beneath it. You're not well versed in first aid, but you're pretty sure that it's broken.

Keiko breathes through her teeth for a moment.
action: You talk to Keiko
response: What do you want to talk to Keiko about?
action: Right leg
response: You ask, "Keiko, what happened to your leg?"

Keiko says, "I tried to hide in here, like during a tornado drill, but the ceiling fell on me. I got my leg out, but it really hurts and I think something's really wrong."
action: You ask Keiko about the teacher
response: Which do you mean, the half-buried corpse or the teacher desk?
action: You ask Keiko about the desk
response: Which do you mean, the cheap wooden desk, the massive steel desk, the teacher desk, Ms. Wagner's desk, or the desk drawer?
action: You get Keiko
response: You take Keiko's hand, squeeze it reassuringly, and then let go again.

Keiko breathes through her teeth for a moment.
action: Drag keiko
response: In the movies, people always pull the leg straight before splinting
it. In real life, you're not so sure about this at all. You'll need something long and straight (a broom, maybe?), and something to fasten it in place. You also need something to use for a crutch, because Keiko is the biggest of your students, and you're too weak to support her yourself.
action: You go to the east
response: (first opening the girls' door)
With a massive effort of will, you pull open the door to the girls' room.

The failing fluorescent lights illuminate a kid-height drinking fountain in the south wall. The boys' bathroom is to the east and the girls' bathroom is to the west, both marked with Happy Hygiene signs reminding everyone about handwashing.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

There's a wet spot growing on the carpet near the door to the girls' room.
action: You go east
response: (first opening the boys' door)
You pull, but the door won't open. Looking down, you see a small rubber wedge jammed under the door.
action: You take wedge
response: The small rubber wedge is jammed tightly under the door, and your shaking fingers don't have the strength to pull it out.

You hear a hard thump from the boys' bathroom door, suggestive of someone kicking it from the other side.

You shout, "And lay off kicking the door!"

Tyrone says unrepentantly, "Yes, Mr. Ginsberg."
action: Kick wedge
response: You think dark and terrible thoughts about the small rubber wedge.
action: You get the wedge
response: You shout, "Tyrone, can you please grab that wedge?"

Tyrone calls, "How'm I supposed to get it from this side? It's on
your side of the door!"
action: You look
response: You call, "Tyrone, tell me what you can see around you?"

Tyrone yells back, "I see a wedge! A wedge that won't let me get this damn door open!"
action: You push the wedge
response: You shout, "Tyrone, can you push the wedge out from your side of the door?"

Tyrone calls back, "I tried, but I can't get it to move!"
action: Inventory
response: You call, "Tyrone, what have you got with you?"

Tyrone calls, "I don't think I have anything."

You call back, "Okay, that's fine. Let me think for a minute."
action: You tie the tie to wedge
response: You'd give a lot for some rope right now. But lacking any, you'll
have to proceed without it.
action: You remove the tie
response: You struggle with the knot, but your hands are shaking so much that
you can't loosen it. You give it up as a bad job.
action: You give the paperclip to Tyrone
response: (first taking the striped green paper clip)
You give the striped green paper clip to Tyrone.
action: You push the wedge with the paperclip
response: Tyrone shouts, "I don't know how to do that, the wedge is bad for pushing!"

Tyrone calls, "I don't know how to do that, the wedge is bad for pushing!"
action: You give the clip
response: (to Tyrone)
You shout, "Tyrone, please hand the paper clip to Tyrone."

Tyrone shouts back, "Mr. Ginsberg, who did you want me to give it to?"

You call, "Sorry, must have been a bit rattled."
action: You give the clip to Ginsberg
response: Tyrone won't understand those instructions. You need to rethink your strategy.

(Reminder: If you just saw a "What do you want Tyrone to ?" message, please reenter your second command now.)
action: You look
response: You call, "Is anything broken, or leaking, or on fire?"

Tyrone calls back, "No, nothing like that. Just the wedge." He sounds worried now. "Is there, like, fire and stuff out there?"

You call, "I'm going to get you out safe. Hang on." It seems better than answering his question.
action: Go west
response: The wall buckled a bit here, but didn't collapse entirely - unlike to the west, where outright wreckage is visible by the gym entrance. Colorful leaf rubbings and magazine mosaics hang drunkenly off their moorings.

The door to the art classroom - your classroom -  hangs open on its twisted doorframe.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You go north
response: This was your classroom - the art room, mostly, but also where you had homeroom and study hall and sometimes detention. A gaping hole in the wall provides unexpected access to Mrs. McCaskill's room, where it looks like the sprinklers are going off. Tissue paper trees line the intact east wall of this room, striving to brighten the desolation.

You left a long table shoved up against the west wall. Now, that
table supports half the rubble from the collapsed wall and partially blocks your access to the gaping hole.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.

Jude sits on the ground beside the rubble-strewn table, peering miserably into the darkness underneath.

Jude looks up at you tearfully. "I can't get him out, Mr. Ginsberg! He's stuck under the table!"
action: You think about Jude
response: Like several of your other kids, Jude is "suddenly military", and she hasn't taken the change well. Her mom has been at wits' end dealing with her, which is why she's allowed to keep her bunny in class for now.
action: You look at Jude
response: Misery crinkles Jude's face like an old woman's. Her dark eyes have swollen from tears, and her nose is smeared with mucus.

Jude is wearing a lime green shirt, a brilliantly colored My Little Pony backpack, and a pair of flower-embroidered overalls.
action: You ask Jude about Bunny
response: You ask, "Jude, tell me about your bunny?"

Jude sniffs, "His name is Mr. Bunny! He's very important, my dad gave him to me, and I really need him back!"
action: You look at Bunny
response: Jude's favorite stuffed animal is awkwardly big, purple, furry, and rather in need of a wash. He always reminds you of a prize from the fair.
action: You look under the table
response: Jude's Mr. Bunny is wedged far back under the table.

It's easy enough to put two and two together - you told the students yesterday that there would be painting today, so she put Mr. Bunny somewhere safe. And then the wall collapsed over the table, and now it'll be a serious problem getting him out.
action: You follow you
response: You ask, "Jude, would you please hold hands with me?"

Jude takes your hand.
(To stop leading a student around, RELEASE that student.)
action: You examine the trees
response: It's not a complicated project - cut out brown construction paper trees, draw bark on them in black marker, and then glue colorful
tissue paper leaves on the branches.
action: You think about McCaskill
response: Jenny McCaskill teaches English to kids being raised by TV. It's a thankless job and it's probably killing her soul, but she dutifully hauls out the latest Macmillan recommendations every year. She also performs a number of quasi-administrative tasks, such as collecting roll call sheets and handing out locker combinations.
action: You open the backpack
response: You say, "Jude, I need to see your backpack for a moment."

You open the brilliantly colored My Little Pony backpack.
action: You look in the backpack
response: You say, "Jude, hold still so I can look at your backpack."

The brilliantly colored My Little Pony backpack is empty.
action: Exits
response: From here, you can try going south to the hallway or west through the hole into Mrs. McCaskill's room.
action: You go west
response: You say, "I'm going to need both of my hands for this," and drop
Jude's hand.

Despite your trembling hands, you scramble successfully over the table and through the gap.

Mrs. McCaskill's Room
Half the ceiling has fallen, crushing the west side of the room
beneath debris and blocking the door entirely. The water sprinklers spew frantically, turning papers and decorations to mush, but it doesn't do much good - despite the acrid stench, whatever's burning isn't actually in this room. Still, the water might be reducing the smoke.

A gaping hole in the east wall allows you back into your classroom, if you scramble over the rubble-strewn table in the way. The north wall is in similarly poor state, and you might be able to go that way.

A crumpled poster projects from the rubble, mostly sheltered from the sprinklers by a fallen corkboard.

Water flows down the legs of the cheap wooden teacher's desk to the growing puddle on the floor.
action: Examine poster
response: It depicts all the past presidents of the United States. So far, the presidents have avoided death by water, but the delay of sentence is only temporary. Rutherford B. Hayes looks worriedly at the coursing droplets.
action: You look at the desk
response: Jenny McCaskill's desk is a cheap wooden affair. The locking metal drawer bolted onto the right side was clearly an afterthought, but
it's all that saves her from having no drawers at all.
action: You look at Bunny
response: Jude's favorite stuffed animal is awkwardly big, purple, furry, and rather in need of a wash. He always reminds you of a prize from the fair.
action: You take Bunny
response: There's too much debris in the way, and you can't fit your arm through the gap. Mr. Bunny is still out of reach.
action: You open drawer
response: It's either locked, or jammed beyond your current strength to unjam. Locked seems more likely.
action: You pick the lock
response: What do you want to pick the metal drawer with?
action: You pick the lock with the paperclip
response: (first taking the striped green paper clip)
There's no way you can pick a lock. Your hands are trembling far too much.
action: You put the paperclip in the pocket
response: You put the striped green paper clip into the left pocket of your slacks.
action: Go north
response: You lean through the gap into the north room - Mr. DeWitt's room, you think, but the chokingly thick smoke makes it hard to tell. The sprinklers aren't working in here, and there's even greater structural damage than you've already seen. This isn't a viable exit.

You retreat back to Mrs. McCaskill's room.
action: You think about DeWitt
response: Paul "Do It" DeWitt teaches basic math at the elementary, and his wife Marianne teaches trig and calculus at the elementary.
action: You think about Adam
response: Thinking of your husband is both comforting and painful. He must be
up in the air right now, raining righteous fury over whichever bastard was in that plane. He'll keep you safe, just like you'll keep your kids safe.
action: You examine corkboard
response: The sprinklers have destroyed whatever was pinned to this corkboard, leaving disintegrating pages and illegible smears of ink behind.
action: You examine the puddle
response: The puddle on the floor is growing by the minute.
action: You go east
response: Despite your weakened muscles, you scramble successfully over the
table and through the gap.

This was your classroom. A gaping hole in the wall provides
unexpected access to Mrs. McCaskill's room. Tissue paper trees line the intact east wall, striving to brighten the desolation.

You left a long table shoved up against the west wall. Now, that
table supports half the rubble from the collapsed wall and partially blocks your access to the gaping hole.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.

Jude sits on the ground beside the rubble-strewn table, peering miserably into the darkness underneath.
action: Go south
response: The wall buckled a bit here, but didn't collapse entirely - unlike to the west, where outright wreckage is visible by the gym entrance. Colorful leaf rubbings and magazine mosaics hang drunkenly off their moorings.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You go to the west
response: The air reeks of smoke and chemicals. To the south, two large double doors lead into the gymnasium. Mrs. McCaskill's classroom used to be accessible to the north, but there's no going that way now.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Exits
response: From here, you can try going south into the gym or east along the
hall.
action: Go south
response: Thankfully, one of the double doors is open.

The elderly gymnasium looks relatively unscathed. Since this room doubles as an auditorium, stacked bleachers line the north wall. The door to the equipment room is west, and the locker room is south. The double doors leading back to the hallway are north.

Blue exercise mats are piled to one side. Two have been separated
from the pile and layered over the base of a pommel horse, and others are arranged around a balance beam.
action: You examine the mats
response: They're standard exercise mats, designed to protect kids when they
fall down in gym class.
action: You examine the horse
response: It's a standard pommel horse - two handles, two poles, and broad metal feet at the bottom to keep it from falling over when it's being used.
action: You examine the bleachers
response: Stacked up the way they are, the bleachers form a solid extension of the wall. There aren't even any sizeable gaps between the bleachers.
action: You get the poles
response: Lifting the pommel horse would be far too taxing for you. However, it's narrow enough to go through the doorway, so if you got at least two students together, they might be able to drag it out of the room.

around.)

Lifting the pommel horse would be far too taxing for you. However, it's narrow enough to go through the doorway, so if you got at least two students together, they might be able to drag it out of the room.
action: You go south
response: Heavy wooden benches separate long rows of battered green gym lockers. Everything smells like old socks in here. The coach's office is over to the east, and the gym is back to the north.

The gym office door is closed.

A old boombox sits quietly on one of the wooden benches.
action: You look at the boombox
response: (the boombox)
Straight out of the 80's - make that the 90's, since it has a CD
player instead of a cassette tape. There's a battery compartment on the back.

The boombox is currently switched off.
action: Shout
response: You shout, "Hello! Can anyone hear me?"

A shaggy boy's head pops up at the window of the gym office door,
"It's me, George!" he hollers through the door. "I'm here!" His
voice is a little muffled, but still quite audible.

You say, "Let's get you out of there, George."
action: You open the door
response: It seems to be locked.
action: You think about George
response: His mom was an astronaut candidate. She died in a car crash, which is why George lives on base with his dad, but George either forgets that or won't admit it most of the time. His art projects are littered
with women with recognizable cornrows waving hello out of rocket ship windows.
action: You ask George about the door
response: (the gym office door)
You shout, "George, tell me about the door."

George shouts through the door, "Um... I don't know what you mean... it's just a door."
action: You look
response: You call, "Hey, George? What can you see in there?"

George sounds puzzled. "It's Mr. Lewis's office."
action: You think about Lewis
response: Jack Lewis is the gym coach. He won't give you the time of day, but
he cares about sportsmanship and he cares about his kids, and that's why you only ever call him Jackass Lewis in private with Adam. (Well, that and a strong desire to keep your job.)
action: You unlock door
response: (with the oversized T-shirt)
George might have trouble fitting the oversized T-shirt into the lock on the gym office door.
action: You ask George,  to check what you're carrying
response: You call, "George, do you have anything useful?"

George hollers through the door, "I don't think I have anything."

You shout back, "Okay, that's fine. Let me think for a minute."
action: You take off the shirt
response: Some people are confused about the difference between gay people and pedophiles. That confusion leads to good teachers being fired every day. There must be a way to get your students out without feeding
that fire.
action: You look at the window
response: There's a small window in the gym office door, through which you can see mostly George.
action: Wave
response: You already have George's attention.

You wave, feeling foolish.
action: You break the window
response: You think dark and terrible thoughts about the gym office door.
action: Shout
response: You shout, "Stay calm, we're all getting out of here."
action: You ask George about office
response: You shout, "George, tell me about the door."

George shouts through the door, "Um... I don't know what you mean... it's just a door."
action: You break the window
response: There's no point in asking. George isn't strong enough to break the gym office door.
action: Exits
response: [That command asks to do something outside of play, so it can only
make sense from you to me. George cannot be asked to do this.]
action: You ask George,  to check what you're carrying
response: You call, "George, what have you got with you?"

George hollers through the door, "I don't think I have anything."

You call back, "Okay, that's fine. Let me think for a minute."
action: You ask George,  to go to the south
response: Running the layout of the school through your head, you don't think George can go south from where he is.

You could ask him to go west to the gym lockers.
action: You ask George,  to go west
response: You shout, "George, can you open the door?"

George shouts, "No, I need pants! You have to bring me pants!"
(You can get more information from students by asking them about things, such as ASK GEORGE ABOUT PANTS.)
action: You ask George about the pants
response: (the pants)
You call, "George, what happened to your pants?"

George shouts through the door, "I had an accident!"
action: You remove the pants
response: No. When the rescuers come, you want to have pants on. God only
knows what they'd say if you didn't.
action: You ask George about the lockers
response: (the gym locker)
You shout, "Do you mean your gym locker or your regular locker?"

George hollers through the door, "My regular locker!"
action: You ask George about the combination
response: You call, "George, what's your locker combination?"

George shouts through the door, "I can't remember."
action: You examine the lockers
response: Judging by the number of dents, it's common practice for students to come back in here and kick the crap out of the lockers after gym.
action: You kick the lockers
response: You think dark and terrible thoughts about the gym locker.
action: You open compartment
response: You open the battery compartment of the boombox, revealing some Duracell D-cell batteries.
action: You get all
response: black wire wastebasket: To avoid confusing George, ask about one thing at a time.
lacrosse stick: To avoid confusing George, ask about one thing at a time.
soggy pants: To avoid confusing George, ask about one thing at a time. George: To avoid confusing George, ask about one thing at a time.
action: You put the batteries in the pocket
response: The Duracell D-cell batteries doesn't fit in your pocket because the striped green paper clip is already in there. (These pants never had much in the way of pockets.)

(first taking the Duracell D-cell batteries)

You pry the Duracell batteries out of the boombox.

You put the Duracell D-cell batteries into the left pocket of your slacks.
action: GEORGE, ,EXAMINE PANTS
response: You shout, "George, tell me about the soggy pants."

George hollers through the door, "They're pretty gross."
action: You get the stick
response: You call, "George, would you please get that lacrosse stick?"

George shouts through the door, "I can't reach it, the desk is in the way!"
action: GEORGE, ,LOOK AT DESK
response: (the massive steel desk)
You shout, "George, tell me about the desk."

George hollers through the door, "Um... I don't know what you mean... it's just a desk."
action: You move the desk
response: (the massive steel desk)
You call, "George, I need you to push that desk."

George shouts through the door, "I tried, but it won't move!"
action: GEORGE, ,EXAMINE BASKET
response: You shout, "George, tell me about the wastebasket."

George hollers through the door, "Um... I don't know what you mean... it's just a wastebasket."
action: You look in the basket
response: GEORGE, LOOK IN WASTEBASKET

You call, "George, what do you see in the black wire wastebasket?"

George shouts through the door, "I see some soggy pants in there."

You shout, "George, what do you see in the black wire wastebasket?"

George hollers through the door, "I see some soggy pants in there."
action: You look in the desk
response: (the massive steel desk)
You call, "George, what do you see on the massive steel desk?"

George shouts through the door, "I don't see anything special there."
action: You get the basket
response: You shout, "George, can you please grab that wastebasket?"

George hollers through the door, ""I can't, it won't move!"
action: You open the desk
response: (the massive steel desk)
You call, "George, can you open the drawer?"

George shouts through the door, "It's open now!"
action: You look in the drawer
response: You shout, "George, what do you see in the desk drawer?"

George hollers through the door, "I see Mr. Lewis's keys in there."
action: You get the keys
response: You call, "George, would you please pick up Mr. Lewis's keys from that drawer?"

George shouts through the door, "Okay...."
action: You unlock door
response: What do you want George to unlock the gym office door with?
action: Keys
response: You shout, "George, can you unlock the door if you use Mr. Lewis's keys?"

After a pause, George hollers through the door, "None of these keys
fit the lock!"

You call back, "Okay, thanks for trying."
action: You get on the desk
response: (the massive steel desk)
You call, "George, can you get on top of the desk?"

George shouts through the door, "Okay, I climbed up on the desk!"
action: You take the stick
response: You call, "George, can you please grab that lacrosse stick?"

George hollers through the door, "I already have the lacrosse stick!"
action: You break the door with the stick
response: George won't understand those instructions. You need to rethink your strategy.

(Reminder: If you just saw a "What do you want George to ?" message, please reenter your second command now.)
action: You ask George about the accident
response: You shout, "What kind of accident?"

George shouts through the door, "You know, an accident! A pants accident!"
action: You open the door
response: You call, "George, can you open the door?"

George shouts, "No, I need pants! You have to bring me pants!"
(You can get more information from students by asking them about things, such as ASK GEORGE ABOUT PANTS.)
action: You look at the door
response: There's a small window in the gym office door, through which you can see mostly George.
action: You throw the keys out the window
response: You shout, "George, can you throw Mr. Lewis's keys at the door?"

George hollers through the door, "I hit the door, but nothing happened!"
action: You open the lockers
response: Through willpower alone, you force your hand to stop shaking long enough that you can grasp the gym locker's handle. You try to lift
the handle - and the effort sends black spots dancing in front of your eyes.

You'll need someone to help you with this.
action: You get keys
response: You call, "George, could you please pick up Mr. Lewis's keys?"

George shouts through the door, "Got Mr. Lewis's keys, now what?"
action: You go north
response: You shout, "I have to be away for a moment, but I'll be right back."

George hollers through the door after you, "Come back with pants!"

The elderly gymnasium looks relatively unscathed. Since this room doubles as an auditorium, stacked bleachers line the north wall. The door to the equipment room is west, and the locker room is south. The double doors leading back to the hallway are north.

Blue exercise mats are piled to one side, arranged around a balance beam, and scattered over the floor.

You can also see a pommel horse here.
action: You go west
response: (first opening the equipment room door)
You try to pull the equipment door open, and you can't do it. You're running out of reserves.

Your entire body aches in time with the pulses of darkness swirling through your vision.
action: You go to the north
response: The air reeks of smoke and chemicals. To the south, two large double doors lead into the gymnasium. Mrs. McCaskill's classroom used to be accessible to the north, but there's no going that way now.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

The black spots slowly fade from your vision, but the pain remains.
action: You go to the east
response: The wall buckled a bit here, but didn't collapse entirely - unlike to the west, where outright wreckage is visible by the gym entrance. Colorful leaf rubbings and magazine mosaics hang drunkenly off their moorings.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You go east
response: Emily's former classroom is to the north, marked with a construction paper sign reading "Ms. Wagner's room - Come In!" To the south, there's an alcove that splits off toward the bathrooms. The hallway continues to the east and west, decorated with inexpertly drawn
posters about When I Grow Up.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You take the pencil
response: You try to pick up the pens and pencils, but it seems to weigh a thousand pounds. Your head swims with the effort and you have to give up.

Whatever was in that gas really wrecked you. You can't remember ever feeling this bad before.
action: You look at the apples
response: Most of the characters are from Family Circus, with a few highlights from Marmaduke and Little Orphan Annie. It would be a surprise if any of these kids get a newspaper, and Little Orphan Annie was cancelled
in 2010.
action: You look at the chalk
response: Which do you mean, the chalk tray or the white chalk?
action: You examine the tray
response: Which do you mean, the chalk tray or the round blue tray?
action: Blue tray
response: Small blue writing on the top says:

Find A Penny
Leave A Penny

Despite this, the tray is filled with paper clips.
action: You examine the chalk tray
response: In the chalk tray are some white chalk.
action: You get the chalk
response: (the white chalk)
You gather your energy and pick up the chalk. You write, in large, shaky letters:

IF YOU FIND THIS:
Leave the school ASAP.
I have located Jude, Keiko, George, Samir, and Tyrone
and we are leaving as soon as we can.

~ Mr. Ginsberg

After a moment, you draw a rectangle around it and add, "DO NOT
ERASE!"

Your entire arm aches as you drop the chalk back into its tray.
action: You get all
response: black wire wastebasket: To avoid confusing George, ask about one thing at a time.
soggy pants: To avoid confusing George, ask about one thing at a time. George: To avoid confusing George, ask about one thing at a time.
action: You get all
response: framed photo: To avoid confusing Samir, ask about one thing at a time. rock collection: To avoid confusing Samir, ask about one thing at a time.
Samir: To avoid confusing Samir, ask about one thing at a time.
action: You get all
response: Tyrone: You call, "Tyrone, would you please hold hands with Tyrone?"

Tyrone shouts back, "That doesn't make any sense! How can I hold
hands with myself?"

You call back, "Never mind, I got confused for a moment."
action: I love you
response: Adam won't understand those instructions. You need to rethink your strategy.

(Reminder: If you just saw a "What do you want Adam to ?"
message, please reenter your second command now.)
action: You get all
response: blue exercise mat: To avoid confusing Adam, ask about one thing at a time.
your former self: To avoid confusing Adam, ask about one thing at a time.
striped yellow paper clip: To avoid confusing Adam, ask about one
thing at a time.
oversized paper clip: To avoid confusing Adam, ask about one thing at
a time.
silvery paper clip: To avoid confusing Adam, ask about one thing at a time.
striped red paper clip: To avoid confusing Adam, ask about one thing
at a time.
striped orange paper clip: To avoid confusing Adam, ask about one
thing at a time.
purple paper clip: To avoid confusing Adam, ask about one thing at a time.
industrial flashlight: To avoid confusing Adam, ask about one thing at a time.
Mr. Bunny: To avoid confusing Adam, ask about one thing at a time. ratty towel: To avoid confusing Adam, ask about one thing at a time. scrap of paper: To avoid confusing Adam, ask about one thing at a
time.
torn notebook cover: To avoid confusing Adam, ask about one thing at a time.
pleated skirt: To avoid confusing Adam, ask about one thing at a time. deodorant spray bottle: To avoid confusing Adam, ask about one thing
at a time.
bobby pin: To avoid confusing Adam, ask about one thing at a time. broken ponytail holder: To avoid confusing Adam, ask about one thing
at a time.
reeking air freshener: To avoid confusing Adam, ask about one thing at a time.
broken shoelace: To avoid confusing Adam, ask about one thing at a time.
empty Cheetos bag: To avoid confusing Adam, ask about one thing at a time.
heap of blue exercise mats: To avoid confusing Adam, ask about one thing at a time.
distant black helicopter: To avoid confusing Adam, ask about one thing at a time.
rope ladder: To avoid confusing Adam, ask about one thing at a time. hazmat suited woman: To avoid confusing Adam, ask about one thing at a time.
Adam: To avoid confusing Adam, ask about one thing at a time.
action: You get the woman
response: You shout, "hazmat suited woman, would you please hold hands with hazmat suited woman?"

hazmat suited woman calls back, "That doesn't make any sense! How can I hold hands with myself?"

You call back, "Never mind, I got confused for a moment."
action: Go south
response: Emily's former classroom is to the north, marked with a construction paper sign reading "Ms. Wagner's room - Come In!" To the south, there's an alcove that splits off toward the bathrooms. The hallway continues to the east and west, decorated with inexpertly drawn
posters about When I Grow Up.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You go to the east
response: The locker-lined hallway stretches from east to west. Pictures of famous Americans gaze starchily down from above the dull brown
lockers, almost successfully concealing the old water damage on the walls. You can smell something burning.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You go east
response: The kitchen has no windows, and without the overhead lights, it's seriously dark here. Counters and shelves are barely discernable glints in the blackness.

Reflected fire alarm light flickers in the doorway to the west.
action: Go north
response: You feel your way carefully through the maze of counters until you reach the cafeteria door.

Even pushing through the swinging door takes more effort than it should.

This is one of the few modern-day cafeterias that doesn't sport a set of vending machines in addition to standard cafeteria fare. Pale sunlight streams down through the high bank of huge windows, shining carelessly over the faded tile and the ceiling-high folded lunch
tables alike. The kitchen door is to the south.

The cafeteria doors are to the west, but they're completely blocked
off behind the folded lunch tables.

The door swings shut behind you.
action: Shout
response: You call, "Hello! Does anyone hear me?"

Nobody answers.
action: Exits
response: From here, you can try going south into the kitchen or west toward the hallway.
action: You examine the tables
response: The windows are huge, almost six feet square, and they're positioned
so far up the wall that the bottom of the frame is roughly even with your chin. You've heard Coach Lewis hypothesize that, since the kids aren't tall enough to see outside during lunch, it helps keep them focused on school during the day. It's yet another reason why you've hypothesized that Coach Lewis is a jackass.

The ground slopes away on this side of the school, so the sidewalk is about fifteen feet below the window. Looking outside, you see a relatively untouched expanse of grass and concrete, though dark smoke rises from the high school across the way. Though contrails
crisscross the sky, there is no one in sight, either on foot or overhead to the sidewalk below.

The cafeteria lunch tables are peculiar industrial affairs that have the seats and tables all connected together. Unfolded, they stretch the entire length of the cafeteria; folded against the north wall, as they are now, they reach up to the ceiling.
action: You move the tables
response: The folded lunch tables are far too heavy to move in your weakened state.
action: You climb the tables
response: You're not up for clambering around right now. You might climb on something large and flat, like a desk, but some folded lunch tables? No.
action: You go to the south
response: You lean against the swinging door, which eventually yields.

The kitchen has no windows, and without the overhead lights, it's seriously dark here. Counters and shelves are barely discernable glints in the blackness.

Reflected fire alarm light flickers in the doorway to the west.

The door swings shut behind you.
action: Shout
response: You shout, "Hello! Can anyone hear me?"

Nobody answers.
action: Shout
response: You call, "Hey, can anyone hear me?"

Nobody answers.
action: Shout
response: You shout, "Is someone there?"

Nobody answers.
action: Shout
response: You call, "This is Mr. Ginsberg! If you can hear me, yell back!"

Nobody answers.
action: Shout
response: You shout, "Is anyone here?"

Nobody answers.
action: Shout
response: You call, "Hello! Can anyone hear me?"

Nobody answers.
action: You go south
response: The failing fluorescent lights illuminate a kid-height drinking fountain in the south wall. The boys' bathroom is to the east and the girls' bathroom is to the west, both marked with Happy Hygiene signs reminding everyone about handwashing.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

There's a wet spot growing on the carpet near the door to the girls' room.

There's a small rubber wedge jamming the boys' room door shut.
action: You go to the west
response: Rubble and debris fill the back half of the bathroom. At least one pipe burst in the collapse, and water sprays steadily across the room to bounce off a stall door and pool on the ugly cream-and-black tiles.

Keiko is sitting on the bathroom floor. Her hair and clothing are soaked from the spraying water, and her right leg is visibly broken.
action: You ask Keiko,  to inventory
response: You ask, "Keiko, do you have anything useful?"

Keiko goes through her pockets, but comes up empty-handed. "Nothing," she says, looking worried.
You say, "Okay, thanks for checking."
action: You ask Keiko about George
response: You ask, "Keiko, what do you think of George?"

Keiko says in a lowered tone, "Do you know his mom died?"

You pause for a moment. "Yeah, I knew. I didn't know you knew."

Keiko says, "He doesn't tell many people. I bet he's pretty lonely."
action: You ask Keiko about Keiko
response: You ask, "Keiko, how are you doing?

Keiko says, "It really hurts. I'm trying to be strong, Mr. Ginsberg"
- she blinks for a moment - "but it really, really hurts."

You say, "You're doing great, and you're being super strong. We'll
get you to a hospital as soon as we can, I promise."
action: You ask Keiko about Dylan
response: You can't think of a sensible question to ask Keiko about dylan.
(You could try asking Keiko about Keiko's right leg, Keiko's left
leg, or Ashley.)
action: You ask Keiko about Ashley
response: You ask, "Keiko, what do you think of Ashley?"

Keiko says, "She's friendly, and she's good at being in charge and making people work together."
action: You ask Keiko about Adam
response: You can't think of a good question to ask Keiko about Adam.
(You could try asking Keiko about Keiko's right leg, Keiko's left
leg, or Ashley.)
action: You ask Keiko about Tyrone
response: You ask, "Keiko, what do you think of Tyrone?"

Keiko says, "He gets in a lot of fights, but it's mostly because he gets bored. And then he riles people up."
action: You ask Keiko about Samir
response: You ask, "Keiko, what do you think of Samir?"

Keiko says, "He thinks about big stuff. Like clean water, and how to plant more trees. But he doesn't think about small stuff... like how to make things better now."

You say, "Give him time."

She shrugs a little and smiles.
action: You ask Keiko about Jude
response: You ask, "Keiko, what do you think of Jude?"

Keiko sings, "Hey Jude...." She laughs a little at herself, and then says, "Jude's not bad. She doesn't fit in yet, but she's working on it."
action: Where is Ashley
response: Keiko won't understand those instructions. You need to rethink your strategy.

(Reminder: If you just saw a "What do you want Keiko to ?" message, please reenter your second command now.)
action: You ask Keiko about the lockers
response: Which do you mean, the narrow locker or the gym locker?
action: You ask Keiko about the narrow locker
response: You can't think of a good question to ask Keiko about the narrow locker.
(You could try asking Keiko about Keiko's right leg, Keiko's left
leg, or Ashley.)
action: You tell Keiko about the weddge
response: Rescue your students now, enlighten them later.
[something].)
action: You ask Keiko about the flashlight
response: Which do you mean, the industrial flashlight, the battery compartment on the industrial flashlight, or the Energizer D-cell batteries?
action: Industrial
response: You can't think of a good question to ask Keiko about the industrial flashlight.
(You could try asking Keiko about Keiko's right leg, Keiko's left
leg, or Ashley.)

Keiko breathes through her teeth for a moment.
action: You ask Keiko about the crutch
response: You can't think of a sensible question to ask Keiko about crutch.
(You could try asking Keiko about Keiko's right leg, Keiko's left
leg, or Ashley.)
action: Sing
response: You ask, "Hey, Keiko, why don't you sing to keep your spirits up?"

Keiko says, "I only sing along with the radio, or when it's music class."

Keiko breathes through her teeth for a moment.
action: Exits
response: You can't go that way.

From here, you can try going east to the hallway alcove.

From here, you can try going east to the hallway alcove.
action: Go north
response: You can't go that way.

From here, you can try going east to the hallway alcove.
action: Shout
response: You shout, "Is anyone here?"

You hear a girl's faint cry from the supply closet. "Mr. Ginsberg!
Is that you?"

You call back, "It's me! Is that you, Ashley? Are you okay?"

She shouts something back, but you can't understand her response. Her voice is really muffled.
action: You think about Ashley
response: Last year, Ashley's Cool Older Sister gave her a subscription to Teen Vogue, and Ashley's been in a hurry to grow up ever since. She
already knows that it's not cool to raise your hand in class or to sit with the younger girls at lunch. Five years from now, she'll be holding hands with William Bradley, and she'll forget that she ever asked you how to become a painter.
action: You get the white chalk
response: You take a moment to update your note on the blackboard. Your arm aches all the way up to your shoulder as you drop the chalk back into its tray.
action: You look
response: You call through the closed door, "What do you see, Ashley?"

From inside the supply closet, Ashley calls, "Mostly it's pretty dark. I can see a little bit from the light under the door, but I'm in the back and I can't see quite what's here. There's, um, coat hooks, and shelves with paper and stuff, and a bunch of boxes. Some of the shelves are too high for me to see what's on them. There's a big
heavy block thing that has my skirt and a yardstick here."
action: You ask Ashley about Ashley
response: You call through the closed door, "Ashley, how are you doing?"

Ashley shouts, "I don't want to be stuck in the dark any more. It's scary in here."

You promise, "I'll get you out of there. Stay brave for me."
action: You ask Ashley,  to check your inventory
response: You call through the closed door, "Ashley, what are you carrying?"

Ashley calls, "I don't think I have anything."

You shout back, "Okay, that's fine. Let me think for a minute."
action: You look in the boxes
response: You call through the closed door, "Ashley, can you open the next box
in there?"

Ashley shouts, "It's all just teacher stuff!"

You call through the closed door, "Could you be more specific?"

Ashley calls back, "Uh... you know, stuff like the smiley face clocks for teaching time."

You call back, "You're right, that sounds pretty useless right now.
You can close that box up again."
action: You take the yardstick
response: You call through the closed door, "Ashley, would you please grab that yardstick?"

Ashley shouts back, "Okay...."
action: You put the yardstick under the door
response: Ashley won't understand those instructions. You need to rethink your strategy.

(Reminder: If you just saw a "What do you want Ashley to ?" message, please reenter your second command now.)
action: You give the yardstick
response: (to Ashley)
You call through the closed door, "Ashley, please hand the yardstick
to Ashley."

Ashley calls back, "Mr. Ginsberg, who did you want me to give it to?"

You call through the closed door, "Sorry, must have been a bit rattled."
action: Climb box
response: You call through the closed door, "Ashley, can you climb up on the boxes?"

Ashley shouts back, "I don't think I can climb on the boxes."
action: You look at the shelves
response: You call through the closed door, "Ashley, tell me about the low shelves."

Ashley calls, "I see some paper and a pair of kid scissors on there."
action: You push the yardstick south
response: It would be easier if Ashley just picked up the yardstick instead.
action: You get the scissors
response: You call through the closed door, "Ashley, can you please get that
pair of scissors?"

Ashley shouts back, "Got it!"
action: You put the yardstick in the door
response: It'll be hard for Ashley to put the yardstick into the closet door. Better to find a more appropriate container.
action: You cut the paper
response: You call through the closed door, "Ashley, can you cut the paper?"

Ashley shouts, "Okay, I cut it!"
action: You open the door with the yardstick
response: For safety, the closet door doesn't lock from the inside. If Ashley can reach the door, she can open it.
action: You unlock door
response: What do you want Ashley to unlock the closet door with?
action: You ask Ashley,  to go south
response: You call through the closed door, "Ashley, can you open the door?"

Ashley calls back, "I can't reach the door! The big heavy block thing has my skirt!"
action: Cut skirt
response: You shout, "Ashley, I need you to cut through your skirt so that it won't be stuck under the block any more. Be super careful, all
right?"

You can hear the panic in Ashley's voice through the closet door. "I can't do that, I'll get in trouble! Clothes are expensive!"
action: Cut skirt
response: You call through the closed door, "Go ahead and cut through your
skirt, Ashley. You won't get in any trouble, I promise."

Ashley calls, "Okay... I cut through my skirt." Unhappiness wobbles
in her voice.

You call back, "You did great, Ashley. I'm really proud of you."
action: South
response: You call through the closed door, "Ashley, can you open the door now?"

There is a click from the closet door. The closet door swings open, and you see Ashley on the other side.

gather around the yardstick and try to move it. With many small-kid grunts of effort, they get the yardstick moving and successfully slide it out of the supply closet.
action: You follow you
response: You ask, "Ashley, would you please hold hands with me?"

Ashley puts the pair of safety scissors on the floor.

Ashley takes your hand.
action: You take the yardstick
response: You ask, "Ashley, could you please grab that yardstick?"

Ashley says, "I already have the yardstick!"
action: You go to the south
response: You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

Emily's former classroom is to the north, marked with a construction paper sign reading "Ms. Wagner's room - Come In!" To the south, there's an alcove that splits off toward the bathrooms. The hallway continues to the east and west, decorated with inexpertly drawn
posters about When I Grow Up.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you and carrying a yardstick.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go west
response: You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

The wall buckled a bit here, but didn't collapse entirely - unlike to the west, where outright wreckage is visible by the gym entrance. Colorful leaf rubbings and magazine mosaics hang drunkenly off their moorings.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you and carrying a yardstick.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You go to the north
response: You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

This was your classroom. A gaping hole in the wall provides
unexpected access to Mrs. McCaskill's room. Tissue paper trees line the intact east wall, striving to brighten the desolation.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you and carrying a yardstick.

You left a long table shoved up against the west wall. Now, that
table supports half the rubble from the collapsed wall and partially blocks your access to the gaping hole.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.

Jude sits on the ground beside the rubble-strewn table, peering miserably into the darkness underneath.
action: You go to the west
response: You say, "I'm going to need both of my hands for this," and drop Ashley's hand.

Despite your trembling hands, you scramble successfully over the table and through the gap.

Mrs. McCaskill's Room
Half the ceiling has fallen, crushing the west side of the room
beneath debris and blocking the door entirely. The water sprinklers spew frantically, turning papers and decorations to mush, but whatever's burning isn't actually in this room.

A gaping hole in the east wall allows you back into your classroom, if you scramble over the rubble-strewn table in the way. The north wall is in similarly poor state, but the choking smoke on that side ensures it's not a viable exit.

A crumpled poster projects from the rubble, mostly sheltered from the sprinklers by a fallen corkboard.

Water flows down the legs of the cheap wooden teacher's desk to the growing puddle on the floor.
action: You ask Ashley,  to go west
response: You call, "Ashley, please come through the hole into Mrs. McCaskill's room."

gap in the wall.

gather around the yardstick and try to move it. With many small-kid grunts of effort, they get the yardstick moving and successfully slide it out of the supply closet.
action: You push Bunny with the yardstick
response: You ask, "Ashley, we need to get Jude's bunny out from under the
table. Can you push him through with the yardstick?"

Ashley probes under the table with the yardstick for a moment before gripping the yardstick in both hands and shoving.
"I got it!" Ashley crows, pulling back the yardstick.

Jude shrieks joyously, "My bunny!"
action: Shout
response: You call, "Is anyone there?"

Jude doesn't answer you.
action: You go east
response: Despite your weakened muscles, you scramble successfully over the
table and through the gap.

This was your classroom. A gaping hole in the wall provides
unexpected access to Mrs. McCaskill's room. Tissue paper trees line the intact east wall, striving to brighten the desolation.

You left a long table shoved up against the west wall. Now, that
table supports half the rubble from the collapsed wall and partially blocks your access to the gaping hole.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.

Jude is sitting here and clinging to Mr. Bunny.
action: You ask Ashley,  to go east
response: You shout, "Ashley, I want you to come into the art room."

gap in the wall.

You say to Jude, "Now that Mr. Bunny is safe, let's get everyone else out safe, all right?"

"Right!" Jude agrees, eyes shining.
action: You follow you
response: You ask, "Jude, would you please hold hands with me?"

Jude takes your hand.
action: You follow you
response: You ask, "Ashley, would you please hold hands with me?"

Ashley takes your hand.
action: You go south
response: You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

The wall buckled a bit here, but didn't collapse entirely - unlike to the west, where outright wreckage is visible by the gym entrance. Colorful leaf rubbings and magazine mosaics hang drunkenly off their moorings.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you and carrying a yardstick.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go east
response: You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

Emily's former classroom is to the north, marked with a construction paper sign reading "Ms. Wagner's room - Come In!" To the south, there's an alcove that splits off toward the bathrooms. The hallway continues to the east and west, decorated with inexpertly drawn
posters about When I Grow Up.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you and carrying a yardstick.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You go to the south
response: You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

The failing fluorescent lights illuminate a kid-height drinking fountain in the south wall. The boys' bathroom is to the east and the girls' bathroom is to the west, both marked with Happy Hygiene signs reminding everyone about handwashing.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you and carrying a yardstick.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

There's a wet spot growing on the carpet near the door to the girls' room.

There's a small rubber wedge jamming the boys' room door shut.
action: You pull wedge
response: You say, "Ashley, I want you to pull on that wedge."

Ashley pulls on the small rubber wedge. It's not very effective.
action: You examine Tyrone
response: Tyrone realizes immediately that he's the focus of your attention and stares back challengingly. He doesn't even come up to your armpit,
but he hardly seems to notice.

Tyrone is wearing a black canvas backpack, a Notre Dame jersey, and a pair of baggy jeans.
action: You open the backpack
response: Which do you mean, the black canvas backpack (Tyrone's) or the brilliantly colored My Little Pony backpack (Jude's)?
action: Black
response: You say, "Tyrone, I need to see your backpack for a moment."

You open the black canvas backpack.
action: You look in the black backpack
response: You say, "Tyrone, hold still so I can look at your backpack."

The black canvas backpack is empty.
action: Go east
response: Ashley stops. "Uh, you know that's the boys' bathroom, right?"

You say, "I know. It's a special case."

Ashley reluctantly follows you in.

The boys' bathroom looks fully intact - industrial sinks,
beige-painted stalls, tiled flooring that isn't as clean as it should be. The shrilling fire alarms are still audible through the door.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you and carrying a yardstick.
action: You examine the stalls
response: It's a beige-painted bathroom stall. There isn't even any graffiti.
action: Examine sinks
response: The sinks are basic white basins.
action: Exits
response: From here, you can try going west to the hallway alcove.
action: Shout
response: You shout, "Hello! Does anyone hear me?"

Jude doesn't answer you.
action: Go west
response: You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

The failing fluorescent lights illuminate a kid-height drinking fountain in the south wall. The boys' bathroom is to the east and the girls' bathroom is to the west, both marked with Happy Hygiene signs reminding everyone about handwashing.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you and carrying a yardstick.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

Jude is here, carrying a small rubber wedge and Mr. Bunny.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

There's a wet spot growing on the carpet near the door to the girls' room.
action: Go west
response: You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

Rubble and debris fill the back half of the bathroom. At least one pipe burst in the collapse, and water sprays steadily across the room to bounce off a stall door and pool on the ugly cream-and-black tiles.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you and carrying a yardstick.

Keiko is sitting on the bathroom floor. Her hair and clothing are soaked from the spraying water, and her right leg is visibly broken.

Ashley cries out, "Keiko, you got hurt!" and runs to her, almost slipping on the wet tile.

You shout, "Careful!", because Ashley's still carrying the yardstick and you don't want her to clobber Keiko.

Both girls look briefly at you with the hauteur of seventeen-year-old supermodels before returning to their reunion.
action: You take the tie
response: You ask, "Ashley, would you please take that tie?"

Ashley says, "But I don't have the tie, Mr. Ginsberg. You do."
action: You give the tie to Ashley
response: (first taking the striped red tie off)
You struggle with the knot, but your hands are shaking so much that
you can't loosen it. You give it up as a bad job.

(first taking the striped red tie off)
You struggle with the knot, but your hands are shaking so much that
you can't loosen it. You give it up as a bad job.
action: You drop the yardstick
response: You say, "Ashley, please put down the yardstick."

Ashley puts the yardstick on the floor.
action: You drop Ashley
response: You let go of Ashley's hand.
action: Go east
response: The failing fluorescent lights illuminate a kid-height drinking fountain in the south wall. The boys' bathroom is to the east and the girls' bathroom is to the west, both marked with Happy Hygiene signs reminding everyone about handwashing.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

Jude is here, carrying a small rubber wedge and Mr. Bunny.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

There's a wet spot growing on the carpet near the door to the girls' room.
action: You take Tyrone
response: You take Tyrone's hand. "Stay with me," you say.
action: Go north
response: You call, "I need to do something, but I'll be back as soon as I can."

Ashley calls back, "Okay, come back soon!"

You are holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows you.

Emily's former classroom is to the north, marked with a construction paper sign reading "Ms. Wagner's room - Come In!" To the south, there's an alcove that splits off toward the bathrooms. The hallway continues to the east and west, decorated with inexpertly drawn
posters about When I Grow Up.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with you.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go west
response: You are holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows you.

The wall buckled a bit here, but didn't collapse entirely - unlike to the west, where outright wreckage is visible by the gym entrance. Colorful leaf rubbings and magazine mosaics hang drunkenly off their moorings.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with you.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You go to the west
response: You are holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows you.

The air reeks of smoke and chemicals. To the south, two large double doors lead into the gymnasium. Mrs. McCaskill's classroom used to be accessible to the north, but there's no going that way now.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with you.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You go to the south
response: You are holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows you.

The elderly gymnasium looks relatively unscathed. Since this room doubles as an auditorium, stacked bleachers line the north wall. The door to the equipment room is west, and the locker room is south. The double doors leading back to the hallway are north.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with you.

Blue exercise mats are piled to one side, arranged around a balance beam, and scattered over the floor.

You can also see a pommel horse here.
action: You open the door
response: Which do you mean, the equipment room door or the double doors?
action: Equipment
response: You ask, "Tyrone, can you open the door?"

Tyrone tries to open the equipment room door and then shakes his head. "I think it's locked," he says.
action: Go south
response: You are holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows you.

Heavy wooden benches separate long rows of battered green gym lockers. Everything smells like old socks in here. The coach's office is over to the east, and the gym is back to the north.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with you.

The gym office door is closed.

A old boombox sits quietly on one of the wooden benches.
action: You open the locker
response: You ask, "Tyrone, can you open the locker?"

Tyrone opens the gym locker, revealing a broken shoelace.
action: You take the shoelace
response: You ask, "Tyrone, could you please get the shoelace from that locker?"

Tyrone picks up the broken shoelace.
action: You ask Tyrone about the shoelace
response: You say, "Tyrone, tell me about the shoelace."

Tyrone says, "Um... I don't know what you mean... it's just a shoelace."
action: Shout
response: You call, "Hey, can anyone hear me?"

George shouts through the door, "I'm still in here! Do you have my pants?"
action: You go north
response: You shout, "I have to leave for a moment, but I'll be right back."

George hollers through the door after you, "Come back with pants!"

You are holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows you.

The elderly gymnasium looks relatively unscathed. Since this room doubles as an auditorium, stacked bleachers line the north wall. The door to the equipment room is west, and the locker room is south. The double doors leading back to the hallway are north.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with you and carrying a broken shoelace.

Blue exercise mats are piled to one side, arranged around a balance beam, and scattered over the floor.

You can also see a pommel horse here.
action: Shout
response: You shout, "Hello! Can anyone hear me?"

Nobody answers.
action: You look
response: The elderly gymnasium looks relatively unscathed. Since this room doubles as an auditorium, stacked bleachers line the north wall. The door to the equipment room is west, and the locker room is south. The double doors leading back to the hallway are north.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with you and carrying a broken shoelace.

Blue exercise mats are piled to one side, arranged around a balance beam, and scattered over the floor.

You can also see a pommel horse here.
action: You get the mats
response: You ask, "Tyrone, can you please grab one of those mats?"

Tyrone tugs a blue exercise mat free from the pile. "I don't think I can pick it up... but maybe I can drag it around?" he suggests.
action: You drop the mat
response: You say, "Tyrone, please put down the mat."

But you're not holding the blue exercise mat.

Tyrone says, "But I'm not holding the mat!"
action: You check what you're carrying
response: You are wearing a striped red tie, a rumpled white shirt, some pair of black slacks, and a gold wedding band.
action: You look in the pocket
response: In the left pocket of your slacks are some Duracell D-cell batteries and a striped green paper clip.
action: Go north
response: You are holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows you.

The air reeks of smoke and chemicals. To the south, two large double doors lead into the gymnasium. Mrs. McCaskill's classroom used to be accessible to the north, but there's no going that way now.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with you and carrying a broken shoelace.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You go east
response: You are holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows you.

The wall buckled a bit here, but didn't collapse entirely - unlike to the west, where outright wreckage is visible by the gym entrance. Colorful leaf rubbings and magazine mosaics hang drunkenly off their moorings.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with you and carrying a broken shoelace.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go north
response: You are holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows you.

This was your classroom. A gaping hole in the wall provides
unexpected access to Mrs. McCaskill's room. Tissue paper trees line the intact east wall, striving to brighten the desolation.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with you and carrying a broken shoelace.

You left a long table shoved up against the west wall. Now, that
table supports half the rubble from the collapsed wall and partially blocks your access to the gaping hole.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.
action: You ask Tyrone,  to go west
response: You say, "Tyrone, I need you to go through the hole into Mrs. McCaskill's room."

Tyrone climbs carefully over the rubble-strewn table and out through the gap in the wall.
action: Go west
response: You say, "I'm going to need both of my hands for this," and drop Tyrone's hand.

Despite your trembling hands, you scramble successfully over the table and through the gap.

Mrs. McCaskill's Room
Half the ceiling has fallen, crushing the west side of the room
beneath debris and blocking the door entirely. The water sprinklers spew frantically, turning papers and decorations to mush, but whatever's burning isn't actually in this room.

A gaping hole in the east wall allows you back into your classroom, if you scramble over the rubble-strewn table in the way. The north wall is in similarly poor state, but the choking smoke on that side ensures it's not a viable exit.

Tyrone is here, carrying a broken shoelace.

A crumpled poster projects from the rubble, mostly sheltered from the sprinklers by a fallen corkboard.

Water flows down the legs of the cheap wooden teacher's desk to the growing puddle on the floor.
action: You give the paperclip to Tyrone
response: (first taking the striped green paper clip)
You give the striped green paper clip to Tyrone.
action: You ask Tyrone about Jenny
response: You can't think of a sensible question to ask Tyrone about jenny.
(You could try asking Tyrone about Ashley, Keiko, or Samir.)
action: You open the drawer
response: You ask, "Tyrone, can you open the drawer?"

Tyrone tries to open the metal drawer and then shakes his head. "I think it's locked," he says.
action: Unlock drawer
response: What do you want Tyrone to unlock the metal drawer with?
action: You unlock the drawer with the clip
response: Tyrone won't understand those instructions. You need to rethink your strategy.

(Reminder: If you just saw a "What do you want Tyrone to ?" message, please reenter your second command now.)
action: You ask Tyrone about the narrow locker
response: You can't think of a good question to ask Tyrone about the narrow locker.
(You could try asking Tyrone about Ashley, Keiko, or Samir.)
action: You ask Tyrone about George
response: You ask, "Tyrone, what do you think of George?"

Tyrone answers, "He's a good kid, but he's young. You gotta watch out for him, keep an eye on him."
action: You look
response: Mrs. McCaskill's Room
Half the ceiling has fallen, crushing the west side of the room
beneath debris and blocking the door entirely. The water sprinklers spew frantically, turning papers and decorations to mush, but whatever's burning isn't actually in this room.

A gaping hole in the east wall allows you back into your classroom, if you scramble over the rubble-strewn table in the way. The north wall is in similarly poor state, but the choking smoke on that side ensures it's not a viable exit.

Tyrone is here, carrying a striped green paper clip and a broken shoelace.

A crumpled poster projects from the rubble, mostly sheltered from the sprinklers by a fallen corkboard.

Water flows down the legs of the cheap wooden teacher's desk to the growing puddle on the floor.
action: You ask Tyrone about the drawer
response: Which do you mean, the metal drawer or the desk drawer?
action: You examine the metal drawer
response: supply closet, she stores anything potentially sensitive in this drawer, such as attendance rolls, locker combinations, and upcoming tests.
action: You ask Tyrone about the metal drawer
response: You say, "Tyrone, tell me about the drawer."

Tyrone says, "Um... I don't know what you mean... it's just a drawer."
action: You ask Tyrone about the locker combinations
response: You can't think of a sensible question to ask Tyrone about locker combinations.
(You could try asking Tyrone about Ashley, Keiko, or Samir.)
action: You ask Tyrone about the locker combination
response: You can't think of a sensible question to ask Tyrone about locker combination.
(You could try asking Tyrone about Ashley, Keiko, or Samir.)
action: Shout
response: You call, "Is someone there?"

Nobody answers.
action: You ask Tyrone,  to go north
response: Looking around, you don't think Tyrone can go north from where he is.

You could ask him to go east into the art room.
action: Go north
response: Between the smoke and the structural damage, it's too dangerous to go into Mr. DeWitt's room.

From here, you can try going east into the art room.
action: You ask Tyrone,  to go east
response: You say, "Tyrone, please go into the art room."

Tyrone climbs carefully over the rubble-strewn table and out through the gap in the wall.
action: Go east
response: Despite your weakened muscles, you scramble successfully over the
table and through the gap.

This was your classroom. A gaping hole in the wall provides
unexpected access to Mrs. McCaskill's room. Tissue paper trees line the intact east wall, striving to brighten the desolation.

You left a long table shoved up against the west wall. Now, that
table supports half the rubble from the collapsed wall and partially blocks your access to the gaping hole.

Tyrone is here, carrying a striped green paper clip and a broken shoelace.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.
action: You take Tyrone
response: Tyrone doesn't have a free hand, since he is carrying the striped
green paper clip and the broken shoelace.
action: You examine Tyrone
response: TYRONE, PUT CLIP IN BACKPACK

You ask, "Tyrone, can you put your paper clip into your backpack?"

Tyrone puts the striped green paper clip into the black canvas backpack.

Tyrone realizes immediately that he's the focus of your attention and stares back challengingly. He doesn't even come up to your armpit,
but he hardly seems to notice.

Tyrone is wearing a black canvas backpack, a Notre Dame jersey, and a pair of baggy jeans.
Tyrone is carrying a broken shoelace.
action: You put the shoelace and clip in the backpack
response: broken shoelace: To avoid confusing Tyrone, ask about one thing at a time.
striped green paper clip: To avoid confusing Tyrone, ask about one thing at a time.
action: You put the shoelace in the backpack
response: You say, "Tyrone, let me take a look at the shoelace."

(first taking the broken shoelace)

Your hands are shaking badly enough that you're afraid of dropping the broken shoelace, but you could ask Tyrone to get it for you.
action: You put the shoelace in the backpack
response: You ask, "Tyrone, can you put your shoelace into your backpack?"

Tyrone puts the broken shoelace into the black canvas backpack.
action: You follow you
response: You ask, "Tyrone, would you please hold hands with me?"

Tyrone takes your hand.
action: You look around
response: This was your classroom. A gaping hole in the wall provides
unexpected access to Mrs. McCaskill's room. Tissue paper trees line the intact east wall, striving to brighten the desolation.

You left a long table shoved up against the west wall. Now, that
table supports half the rubble from the collapsed wall and partially blocks your access to the gaping hole.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with you.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.
action: You go south
response: You are holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows you.

The wall buckled a bit here, but didn't collapse entirely - unlike to the west, where outright wreckage is visible by the gym entrance. Colorful leaf rubbings and magazine mosaics hang drunkenly off their moorings.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with you.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go east
response: You are holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows you.

Emily's former classroom is to the north, marked with a construction paper sign reading "Ms. Wagner's room - Come In!" To the south, there's an alcove that splits off toward the bathrooms. The hallway continues to the east and west, decorated with inexpertly drawn
posters about When I Grow Up.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with you.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go east
response: You are holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows you.

The locker-lined hallway stretches from east to west. Pictures of famous Americans gaze starchily down from above the dull brown
lockers, almost successfully concealing the old water damage on the walls. You can smell something burning.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with you.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You go east
response: You are holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows you.

Fire alarm lights strobe across a painfully cheerful mural on the east wall, positioned exactly opposite the west-facing hallway. The classrooms and the gymnasium are off to the west, the science and computer labs are north, and the cafeteria is off to the south, but
you can see from here that no part of the building went unravaged. At least it looks like most of the kids made it out.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with you.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

There's a bulletin board lying face-down on the floor.
action: You go north
response: You are holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows you.

This was the approved route to shelter, before the bombs hit and the ceiling collapsed. Now, shards of plastic and glass jut from the rubble, and more than one corpse lies buried beneath the weight of stone. Heavy debris lies half-propped upon long pieces of rebar, creating a hazardous barrier that blocks the way north. The way south remains open.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with you.

To the west, more debris blocks off the door to Avery Thomas's classroom.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Shout
response: You shout, "This is Mr. Ginsberg! If you can hear me, yell back!"

Samir shouts, "Go away!"
action: You ask Samir,  to look around
response: You call, "What's around you right now, Samir?"

From somewhere behind the door, Samir screams, "I'm not listening! I can't hear you!"
action: You open the door
response: It's too dangerous. You'll have to get him out another way.
action: You ask Tyrone about Samir
response: You ask, "Tyrone, what do you think of Samir?"

Tyrone answers, "He's got some friends that he only thinks are his friends. It'll get him in trouble someday."
action: Shout
response: You say, "Tyrone, I need you to shout now, a really big shout.
Ready?"

Tyrone gives a big, wordless whoop.
action: You ask Samir about the door
response: (the lab door)
You shout, "Samir, tell me about the door."

Samir hollers from somewhere behind the door, "Leave me alone!"
action: You ask Samir about Samir
response: You call, "Samir, how are you doing?"

Samir says, "Kind of tired, and my head hurts a bit."
action: You ask Samir about the rock collection
response: You shout, "Samir, tell me about the collection."

From somewhere behind the door, Samir screams, "Leave me alone!"
action: You ask Samir,  to inventory
response: You call, "Samir, do you have anything useful?"

Samir hollers from somewhere behind the door, "I'm not listening! I can't hear you!"
action: You move the rubble
response: The pile of debris blocking the door is unstable and heavy, definitely too dangerous for Tyrone to shift it.

You say, "Tyrone, you need to shove that debris."

Tyrone heaves at the pile of debris before giving up, disappointed.
"I can't, it won't move!"
action: You shout at Samir
response: (to Tyrone)
action: You examine the door
response: The kids call Avery's room the Geo Lab because of his rock collection. Past the debris, the door looks intact, but you can't see much through the window.
action: Exits
response: From here, you can try going south along the hall or west into Avery's classroom.
action: You ask Tyrone,  to go west
response: You say, "Tyrone, I need you to go into Avery's classroom."

Tyrone says, "No, I can't!"
action: You drop Hand
response: (of Tyrone)
You let go of Tyrone's hand.
action: You go south
response: You call, "I need to do something, but I'll come back soon."

Samir yells, "Go away, leave me alone!"

Fire alarm lights strobe across a painfully cheerful mural on the east wall, positioned exactly opposite the west-facing hallway. The classrooms and the gymnasium are off to the west, the science and computer labs are north, and the cafeteria is off to the south, but
you can see from here that no part of the building went unravaged. At least it looks like most of the kids made it out.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

There's a bulletin board lying face-down on the floor.

The locker-lined hallway stretches from east to west. Pictures of famous Americans gaze starchily down from above the dull brown
lockers, almost successfully concealing the old water damage on the walls. You can smell something burning.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

Emily's former classroom is to the north, marked with a construction paper sign reading "Ms. Wagner's room - Come In!" To the south, there's an alcove that splits off toward the bathrooms. The hallway continues to the east and west, decorated with inexpertly drawn
posters about When I Grow Up.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

The failing fluorescent lights illuminate a kid-height drinking fountain in the south wall. The boys' bathroom is to the east and the girls' bathroom is to the west, both marked with Happy Hygiene signs reminding everyone about handwashing.

Jude is here, carrying a small rubber wedge and Mr. Bunny.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

There's a wet spot growing on the carpet near the door to the girls' room.
action: You go west
response: Rubble and debris fill the back half of the bathroom. At least one pipe burst in the collapse, and water sprays steadily across the room to bounce off a stall door and pool on the ugly cream-and-black tiles.

Ashley fiddles unhappily with the damaged hem of her skirt.

Keiko is sitting on the bathroom floor. Her hair and clothing are soaked from the spraying water, and her right leg is visibly broken.

You can also see a yardstick here.
action: You get Ashley
response: You take Ashley's hand. "Stay with me," you say.
action: You follow Ashley
response: Jude won't understand those instructions. You need to rethink your strategy.

(Reminder: If you just saw a "What do you want Jude to ?"
message, please reenter your second command now.)
action: Look around
response: Rubble and debris fill the back half of the bathroom. At least one pipe burst in the collapse, and water sprays steadily across the room to bounce off a stall door and pool on the ugly cream-and-black tiles.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you.

Keiko is sitting on the bathroom floor. Her hair and clothing are soaked from the spraying water, and her right leg is visibly broken.

You can also see a yardstick here.
action: Go east
response: You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

The failing fluorescent lights illuminate a kid-height drinking fountain in the south wall. The boys' bathroom is to the east and the girls' bathroom is to the west, both marked with Happy Hygiene signs reminding everyone about handwashing.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you.

Jude is here, carrying a small rubber wedge and Mr. Bunny.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

There's a wet spot growing on the carpet near the door to the girls' room.
action: You go to the north
response: You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

Emily's former classroom is to the north, marked with a construction paper sign reading "Ms. Wagner's room - Come In!" To the south, there's an alcove that splits off toward the bathrooms. The hallway continues to the east and west, decorated with inexpertly drawn
posters about When I Grow Up.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go north
response: You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

Ms. Wagner's Room
This classroom is reasonably undamaged, apart from a fallen ceiling tile. The decorations are straight out of the 70's, all giant cardboard apples and smiling cartoon children, occupying not only the walls but the front of Ms. Wagner's desk. The air smells of markers and chalk dust.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you.

You can also see a closet door, a pair of safety scissors, and an enormous blackboard here.
action: You follow Ashley
response: You ask, "Jude, would you please hold hands with Ashley?"

Jude looks at Mr. Bunny, looks at the floor, and then hugs him even tighter.

Ashley protests, "I'm out of hands!"
action: You follow you
response: You ask, "Jude, would you please hold hands with me?"

Jude looks at Mr. Bunny, looks at the floor, and then hugs him even tighter.

yourself protests, "I'm out of hands!"
action: You ask Jude,  to inventory
response: You ask, "Jude, what are you carrying?"

Jude goes through her pockets. "I've got small rubber wedge and Mr. Bunny," she reports.
You say, "Okay, thanks for checking."
action: You drop the wedge
response: You say, "Jude, please put down the wedge."

Jude puts the small rubber wedge on the floor.
action: You follow you
response: You ask, "Jude, would you please hold hands with me?"

Jude takes your hand.
action: Go north
response: You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

Emily's former classroom is to the north, marked with a construction paper sign reading "Ms. Wagner's room - Come In!" To the south, there's an alcove that splits off toward the bathrooms. The hallway continues to the east and west, decorated with inexpertly drawn
posters about When I Grow Up.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

The locker-lined hallway stretches from east to west. Pictures of famous Americans gaze starchily down from above the dull brown
lockers, almost successfully concealing the old water damage on the walls. You can smell something burning.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

Fire alarm lights strobe across a painfully cheerful mural on the east wall, positioned exactly opposite the west-facing hallway. The classrooms and the gymnasium are off to the west, the science and computer labs are north, and the cafeteria is off to the south, but
you can see from here that no part of the building went unravaged. At least it looks like most of the kids made it out.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

There's a bulletin board lying face-down on the floor.

You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

This was the approved route to shelter, before the bombs hit and the ceiling collapsed. Now, shards of plastic and glass jut from the rubble, and more than one corpse lies buried beneath the weight of stone. Heavy debris lies half-propped upon long pieces of rebar, creating a hazardous barrier that blocks the way north. The way south remains open.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

To the west, more debris blocks off the door to Avery Thomas's classroom.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Shout
response: You say, "Jude, I need you to shout now, a really big shout. Ready?"

Jude gives a big, wordless whoop.
action: Shout
response: You call, "Hello! Can anyone hear me?"

Samir shouts, "Go away!"
action: You shout at Samir
response: Whom do you want Jude to shout that to?
action: Shout
response: You say, "Ashley, I need you to shout now, a really big shout.
Ready?"

Ashley gives a big, wordless whoop.
action: Hello
response: You shout, "Samir, I need you to shout now, a really big shout.
Ready?"

From somewhere behind the door, Samir hollers, "I'm not listening! I can't hear you!"
action: You look at the door
response: You say, "Jude, tell me about the door."

Jude says, "Um... I don't know what you mean... it's just a door."
action: Shout
response: You shout, "This is Mr. Ginsberg! Is someone there?"

Samir yells from somewhere behind the door, "Go away! I'm not afraid of you!"
action: Shout
response: You say, "Ashley, I need you to shout to Samir for me, because Samir
is scared and you're his friend. Can you do that for me?"

Ashley says, "Uh... okay, I can do that." She blushes and then takes
a deep breath.

Ashley shouts at the door, "Samir, it's Ashley, stop being scared!"

Samir screams, "Ash, is that you? Watch out for the ghost!"
action: Shout
response: You say, "Jude, I need you to shout to Samir for me, because Samir is scared and you're his friend. Can you do that for me?"

Jude says, "But we're not friends."

You take a breath and say, "After this, we're all friends, okay, Jude? Just shout to him for me."

Jude shouts at the door, "Samir, it's Jude, stop being scared!"

Samir yells, "Jude, is that you? Watch out for the ghost!"
action: Shout
response: You say, "Tyrone, I need you to shout to Samir for me, because Samir
is scared and you're his friend. Can you do that for me?"

Tyrone says, "You do look kind of gross right now."

You say, "Ha. Just help me out, okay?"

Tyrone shouts at the door, "Samir, it's Tyrone, stop being scared!"

Samir hollers, "Tyrone, is that you? Watch out for the ghost!"
action: Shout
response: You nod to Tyrone and tell him, "Go ahead and shout to him again."

Tyrone shouts at the door, "Don't be a moron, it's just Mr. Ginsberg! He's trying to get us out of here!"

After a moment, Samir calls, "Oh. I thought...." His tone is distinctly sheepish.

Tyrone shouts, "Well, you don't think so good, so stop thinking and listen to the man!"

You say, "I think that'll do. Thank you, Tyrone."
action: You look
response: You call, "Samir, what can you see?"

Samir hollers, "The wall's sort of caving in on one side, around where the door is, and there's all wood and metal sticking out. I can see one of the cabinets kind of hanging off the wall. Apart from that, there's an old blackboard at the front, and the teacher desk, and the counter that runs all the way around the back, and all of Mr. Thomas's rocks on the shelves. Also, there's a whole bunch of volcano mobiles hanging from the ceiling vent."
action: SAMIR, ,EXAMINE DESK
response: You shout, "Samir, tell me about the desk."

Samir yells, "It's just Mr. Thomas's desk. He keeps it really clean, there isn't even a calendar."
action: SAMIR, ,EXAMINE VENT
response: You call, "Samir, tell me about the vent."

Samir hollers, "It's a really big vent! There's sort of a grill thing covering it. Like a car grill, not a cooking grill."
action: You open the vent
response: You shout, "Samir, can you open the vent?"

Samir yells, "I can't reach the vent, it's too far up!"
action: You stand on the desk
response: Samir won't understand those instructions. You need to rethink your strategy.

(Reminder: If you just saw a "What do you want Samir to ?" message, please reenter your second command now.)
action: You get on the desk
response: You call, "Samir, can you get up on the desk?"

Samir hollers, "Okay, I'm up on the desk now!"
action: You open the vent
response: You shout, "Samir, can you open the vent?"

Samir yells, "I tried, but I can't reach it from here!"

You call, "All right, is there anything you can climb on that's closer to the vent?"

Samir hollers, "Maybe the counter?"
action: SAMIR, ,EXAMINE COUNTER
response: You call, "Samir, tell me about the counter."

Samir yells, "It's big and wide. We sit back there sometimes when we're taking tests, so people can't see each other's papers."
action: You get on the counter
response: You shout, "Samir, can you get on top of the counter?"

Samir hollers, "Okay, I climbed up on the counter!"
action: You open the vent
response: You call, "Samir, can you open the vent?"

Samir yells, "I got the vent open, but all the volcanoes just fell on me!"

You shout back, "Don't worry about it, they're not important right now."
action: You ask Samir,  to go upwards
response: You shout, "Samir, I want you to go up into the ventilation duct."

Sounding tinny and far away, Samir hollers, "Okay, I'm going now!"
action: Shout
response: Sounding tinny and far away, Samir yells, "I'm here, I can hear you!"
action: You ask Samir,  to look around
response: You call, "Samir, what do you see?"

Sounding tinny and far away, Samir hollers, "It's really narrow up here, and it's dark, and dusty. I don't like it. There's the vent to the Geo Lab under me, and then there's a tunnel in front of me and a tunnel to the left."

You translate that mentally as west and south. You shout back,
"Okay."
action: You ask Samir,  to go west
response: You shout, "Samir, please go down the duct in front."

Sounding tinny and far away, Samir yells, "Okay, I'm going now!"
action: You ask Samir,  to look around
response: You call, "Samir, what are you seeing?"

There is no response. Samir must be too far away to hear you.
action: You go north
response: You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

Fire alarm lights strobe across a painfully cheerful mural on the east wall, positioned exactly opposite the west-facing hallway. The classrooms and the gymnasium are off to the west, the science and computer labs are north, and the cafeteria is off to the south, but
you can see from here that no part of the building went unravaged. At least it looks like most of the kids made it out.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

There's a bulletin board lying face-down on the floor.

You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

The locker-lined hallway stretches from east to west. Pictures of famous Americans gaze starchily down from above the dull brown
lockers, almost successfully concealing the old water damage on the walls. You can smell something burning.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

Emily's former classroom is to the north, marked with a construction paper sign reading "Ms. Wagner's room - Come In!" To the south, there's an alcove that splits off toward the bathrooms. The hallway continues to the east and west, decorated with inexpertly drawn
posters about When I Grow Up.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

Ms. Wagner's Room
This classroom is reasonably undamaged, apart from a fallen ceiling tile. The decorations are straight out of the 70's, all giant cardboard apples and smiling cartoon children, occupying not only the walls but the front of Ms. Wagner's desk. The air smells of markers and chalk dust.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

You can also see a closet door, a pair of safety scissors, and an enormous blackboard here.
action: You look at the ceiling
response: Looks like one of the tiles was jarred loose from above.

Ashley asks, "Mr. Ginsberg, can I draw on the chalkboard?"

You say, "Go ahead. Just don't erase my note."

Ashley wanders over to the blackboard, picks up a piece of chalk, and scratches away at the board for a while.

Satisfied with her drawing, Ashley puts the chalk back in the tray.
action: Shout
response: You shout, "Samir, can you hear me?"

Sounding tinny and far away, Samir hollers, "I'm here, I can hear
you!"
action: You ask Samir,  to look around
response: You shout, "Samir, tell me what you're seeing?"

From somewhere above the ceiling tiles, Samir yells, "It's even darker in here and it smells and I really don't like it. There aren't any turns or anything - I can only go forward, where it's getting darker, or back toward the light."
action: You open the tile
response: Samir won't understand those instructions. You need to rethink your strategy.

(Reminder: If you just saw a "What do you want Samir to ?" message, please reenter your second command now.)
action: You examine the tile
response: Looks like one of the tiles was jarred loose from above.
action: You ask Samir,  to go west
response: You call, "Samir, I need you to go down the duct where it gets
darker."

From somewhere above the ceiling tiles, Samir hollers, "Okay, I'm
going now!"

Ashley picks up a piece of chalk and adds a few more details to one of the drawings on the board.

Satisfied with the result, Ashley puts the chalk back in the tray.
action: You examine board
response: The blackboard currently contains a list of countries in Western Europe, with extra notes about Luxembourg (capital - Luxembourg, largest city - Luxembourg, official languages - French, German, and Luxembourgish).

Off to the side, the blackboard contains your note:

IF YOU FIND THIS: DO NOT ERASE!
Leave the school ASAP.
I have located Jude, Keiko, George, Samir, Tyrone, and Ashley
and we are leaving as soon as we can.

~Mr. Ginsberg

Additionally, the blackboard contains a chalk drawing of a somewhat cross-eyed tabby cat with a dead mouse in its mouth.
action: You go north
response: You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

Emily's former classroom is to the north, marked with a construction paper sign reading "Ms. Wagner's room - Come In!" To the south, there's an alcove that splits off toward the bathrooms. The hallway continues to the east and west, decorated with inexpertly drawn
posters about When I Grow Up.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

The wall buckled a bit here, but didn't collapse entirely - unlike to the west, where outright wreckage is visible by the gym entrance. Colorful leaf rubbings and magazine mosaics hang drunkenly off their moorings.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

This was your classroom. A gaping hole in the wall provides
unexpected access to Mrs. McCaskill's room. Tissue paper trees line the intact east wall, striving to brighten the desolation.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

You left a long table shoved up against the west wall. Now, that
table supports half the rubble from the collapsed wall and partially blocks your access to the gaping hole.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.
action: You ask Samir,  to look around
response: You shout, "Samir, what do you see?"

From somewhere above the ceiling tiles, Samir yells, "I can hardly see anything, and the air smells really awful, like something burning in the oven. There aren't any turns again - it just goes forward and back."
action: You look at the ceiling
response: It's very strange seeing the wreckage of the ceiling and walls. The school used to be divided into boxes, each hall and room discrete, but now those boxes have crunched like eggshell.
action: You ask Samir,  to go to the west
response: You call, "Samir, please go forward down the duct."

You hear Samir start to answer, but he starts coughing almost immediately, and you can't make out what he says.
action: Shout
response: You shout, "Samir, are you there?"

Nobody answers.
action: You go west
response: You say, "I'm going to need both of my hands for this," and drop
Ashley and Jude's hand.

Despite your trembling hands, you scramble successfully over the table and through the gap.

Mrs. McCaskill's Room
Half the ceiling has fallen, crushing the west side of the room
beneath debris and blocking the door entirely. The water sprinklers spew frantically, turning papers and decorations to mush, but whatever's burning isn't actually in this room.

A gaping hole in the east wall allows you back into your classroom, if you scramble over the rubble-strewn table in the way. The north wall is in similarly poor state, but the choking smoke on that side ensures it's not a viable exit.

A crumpled poster projects from the rubble, mostly sheltered from the sprinklers by a fallen corkboard.

Water flows down the legs of the cheap wooden teacher's desk to the growing puddle on the floor.
action: Shout
response: You shout, "Samir, can you hear me?"

Jude doesn't answer you.

You shout, "Samir, are you all right?"

From somewhere in the ceiling tiles, you can hear Samir coughing.
There is a muted bang, maybe the sound of him hitting something - you can't be sure.
action: You ask Samir,  to go to the east
response: You shout, "Samir, go back the way you came. This isn't a safe way to go, I'm sorry."

From somewhere above the ceiling tiles, you hear a metallic banging that recedes to the east.
action: Go east
response: Despite your weakened muscles, you scramble successfully over the
table and through the gap.

This was your classroom. A gaping hole in the wall provides
unexpected access to Mrs. McCaskill's room. Tissue paper trees line the intact east wall, striving to brighten the desolation.

You left a long table shoved up against the west wall. Now, that
table supports half the rubble from the collapsed wall and partially blocks your access to the gaping hole.

Ashley fiddles unhappily with the damaged hem of her skirt.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.
action: You ask Tyrone,  to go east
response: Running the layout of the school through your head, you don't think Tyrone can go east from where he is.

You could ask him to go south along the hall or west into Avery's classroom.
action: You ask Tyrone,  to go east
response: You shout, "I have to be away for a moment, but I'll be right back."

Samir hollers, "Okay...."

The wall buckled a bit here, but didn't collapse entirely - unlike to the west, where outright wreckage is visible by the gym entrance. Colorful leaf rubbings and magazine mosaics hang drunkenly off their moorings.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

Emily's former classroom is to the north, marked with a construction paper sign reading "Ms. Wagner's room - Come In!" To the south, there's an alcove that splits off toward the bathrooms. The hallway continues to the east and west, decorated with inexpertly drawn
posters about When I Grow Up.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

Ms. Wagner's Room
This classroom is reasonably undamaged, apart from a fallen ceiling tile. The decorations are straight out of the 70's, all giant cardboard apples and smiling cartoon children, occupying not only the walls but the front of Ms. Wagner's desk. The air smells of markers and chalk dust.

You can see a closet door, a pair of safety scissors, and an enormous blackboard here.

Running the layout of the school through your head, you don't think Tyrone can go east from where he is.

You could ask him to go south along the hall or west into Avery's classroom.
action: You ask Samir,  to go east
response: You shout, "Samir, are you all right?"

Samir yells, "Yeah, I think so...." His voice sounds a little weak,
but it might just be the ceiling in the way.

You call, "Samir, I want you to go down the duct toward the Geo Lab."

There is no response. Samir must be too far away to hear you.
action: You ask Samir,  to go south
response: Emily's former classroom is to the north, marked with a construction paper sign reading "Ms. Wagner's room - Come In!" To the south, there's an alcove that splits off toward the bathrooms. The hallway continues to the east and west, decorated with inexpertly drawn
posters about When I Grow Up.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

The locker-lined hallway stretches from east to west. Pictures of famous Americans gaze starchily down from above the dull brown
lockers, almost successfully concealing the old water damage on the walls. You can smell something burning.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

Fire alarm lights strobe across a painfully cheerful mural on the east wall, positioned exactly opposite the west-facing hallway. The classrooms and the gymnasium are off to the west, the science and computer labs are north, and the cafeteria is off to the south, but
you can see from here that no part of the building went unravaged. At least it looks like most of the kids made it out.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

There's a bulletin board lying face-down on the floor.

This was the approved route to shelter, before the bombs hit and the ceiling collapsed. Now, shards of plastic and glass jut from the rubble, and more than one corpse lies buried beneath the weight of stone. Heavy debris lies half-propped upon long pieces of rebar, creating a hazardous barrier that blocks the way north. The way south remains open.

To the west, more debris blocks off the door to Avery Thomas's classroom.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

Based on what Samir's told you so far, you don't think Samir can go south from where he is.

You could ask him to go east down the duct toward the Geo Lab or west forward down the duct.
action: Shout
response: You shout, "Samir, are you up there?"

Nobody answers.
action: You ask Samir,  to look around
response: You shout, "Samir, tell me what you see?"

Sounding tinny and far away, Samir yells, "It's really narrow up here, and it's dark, and dusty. There's the vent to the Geo Lab under me, and then there's a tunnel in front of me and a tunnel to the left."

You translate that mentally as west and south. You shout back, "Got it, thanks."
action: You ask Samir,  to go south
response: You call, "Samir, I need you to go along the left duct."

Sounding tinny and far away, Samir hollers, "Okay, I'm going now!"
action: Shout
response: You shout, "Samir, are you up there?"
action: You go west
response: You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

The locker-lined hallway stretches from east to west. Pictures of famous Americans gaze starchily down from above the dull brown
lockers, almost successfully concealing the old water damage on the walls. You can smell something burning.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Shout
response: You shout, "Samir, are you there?"

Sounding tinny and far away, Samir yells, "I'm here, I can hear you!"
action: You ask Samir,  to look around
response: You shout, "Samir, what are you seeing?"

From somewhere above the ceiling tiles, Samir hollers, "The tunnel turns here - " You hear a metallic banging, and then Samir resumes, "There's no way to keep going the way I was going. There's light back the way I came, from the Geo Lab, and then the tunnel turns off to the left."

You translate that mentally as north and east. You shout back, "Don't worry, I'll get you out real soon."
action: You ask Samir,  to go to the east
response: You call, "Samir, please go down the duct to the left."

From somewhere above the ceiling tiles, Samir yells, "Okay, I'm going now!"
action: Go east
response: You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

Fire alarm lights strobe across a painfully cheerful mural on the east wall, positioned exactly opposite the west-facing hallway. The classrooms and the gymnasium are off to the west, the science and computer labs are north, and the cafeteria is off to the south, but
you can see from here that no part of the building went unravaged. At least it looks like most of the kids made it out.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

There's a bulletin board lying face-down on the floor.
action: You ask Samir,  to look around
response: You shout, "What do you see, Samir?"

From somewhere above the ceiling tiles, Samir hollers, "The tunnel bends off to the right, and it gets really dark past the bend. I can see a little bit from the light coming in from the left, but only a little bit."

You translate that mentally as a bend from west to south. You shout back, "I'll stay with you until you're out."
action: You ask Samir,  to go south
response: You call, "Samir, I want you to go down the duct to the right."

From somewhere above the ceiling tiles, Samir yells, "Okay, I'm going now!"
action: Go south
response: You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

This part of the hall has been plastered with signs in unsubtle red, white, and blue, occasionally accented with yellow smiley-face stickers. The overhead lights are flickering weakly here, and the power probably won't last long. The hall continues south toward the school kitchen and north toward the classrooms.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The cafeteria doors are to the east, but they're closed and locked, since lunch ended hours ago.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You ask Samir,  to look around
response: You shout, "Samir, tell me what you can see around you?"

From somewhere above the ceiling tiles, Samir hollers, "It's another zigzag - the tunnel goes off to the left or back the way I came. It looks like there's light again to the left. The tunnel's bigger up to the left, and there isn't anywhere else  I can go."

You translate that mentally as a bend from north to east. You shout back, "Okay, just a minute."
action: You ask Samir,  to go east
response: You call, "Samir, I need you to go up the tunnel with more light."

From somewhere above the ceiling tiles, Samir yells, "Okay, I'm going now!"
action: Look around
response: This part of the hall has been plastered with signs in unsubtle red, white, and blue, occasionally accented with yellow smiley-face stickers. The overhead lights are flickering weakly here, and the power probably won't last long. The hall continues south toward the school kitchen and north toward the classrooms.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The cafeteria doors are to the east, but they're closed and locked, since lunch ended hours ago.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go south
response: You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

With the overhead fluorescents out, it's particularly dim at this end of the hallway, but the flashing fire alarms illuminate the door labelled "KITCHEN STAFF - NO STUDENTS". The door is partly open, wedged in place with a serving tray.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go east
response: Jude says, "It's too dark in there!" She lets go of your hand instead of following you into the kitchen.
Ashley protests, "Hey, there's no light in there!" She lets go of
your hand instead of following you into the kitchen.

The kitchen has no windows, and without the overhead lights, it's seriously dark here. Counters and shelves are barely discernable glints in the blackness.

Reflected fire alarm light flickers in the doorway to the west.
action: Go north
response: You feel your way carefully through the maze of counters until you reach the cafeteria door.

You push painfully through the swinging door.

This is one of the few modern-day cafeterias that doesn't sport a set of vending machines in addition to standard cafeteria fare. Pale sunlight streams down through the high bank of huge windows, shining carelessly over the faded tile and the ceiling-high folded lunch
tables alike. The kitchen door is to the south.

The cafeteria doors are to the west, but they're completely blocked
off behind the folded lunch tables.

The door swings shut behind you.
action: Shout
response: You shout, "Samir, can you hear me?"

Sounding tinny and far away, Samir hollers, "I'm here, I can hear
you!"
action: You ask Samir,  to look around
response: You shout, "What's around you right now, Samir?"

From somewhere above the ceiling tiles, Samir yells, "The tunnel is bigger here, and there's a grate in the wall with light coming
through. I think it's daylight - if I get up close, it smells like being outside, except that everything in here smells like grease too. It's all kind of sticky. There's the grate with the light ahead of
me, and a big dark tunnel to the right, and the smaller tunnel back behind me."

You translate that mentally as ducts to the south, east, and west,
with the east exit leading outside. You shout back, "Okay."
action: You ask Samir,  to go south
response: You call, "Samir, please go down the big dark tunnel."

From somewhere above the ceiling tiles, Samir hollers, "Okay, I'm
going now!"
action: Go south
response: Even pushing through the swinging door takes more effort than it should.

The kitchen has no windows, and without the overhead lights, it's seriously dark here. Counters and shelves are barely discernable glints in the blackness.

Reflected fire alarm light flickers in the doorway to the west.

The door swings shut behind you.
action: You ask Samir,  to look around
response: You shout, "What are you seeing, Samir?"

Through a vent in the ceiling, Samir yells, "It's really dark, but I can see a little bit from the light behind me. There's another grate in front of me - in the floor this time, not in the wall. It's big
and flat, as big as the whole tunnel, and I can't see anything past
it. It's even stickier here than it was before, and it smells even more like grease."
action: You look
response: You call, "Samir, what do you see?"

Through a vent in the ceiling, Samir hollers, "It's really dark, but I can see a little bit from the light behind me. There's another grate in front of me - in the floor this time, not in the wall. It's big
and flat, as big as the whole tunnel, and I can't see anything past
it. It's even stickier here than it was before, and it smells even more like grease."
action: You ask Samir,  to go downwards
response: You shout, "Samir, I need you to drop down through the grate. Hang onto the edge, then stretch yourself out as much as you can, so it won't be a long fall."

Samir asks nervously, "Will you catch me?"

There's no way you could support his weight - it's all too easy to see yourself stumbling and falling into the stove, crashing your head or his against an unyielding metal surface. You say, "I can't. I'm sorry. But I know you can do this."

Samir says, "I'm not so sure...."
action: You ask Samir,  to go downwards
response: You call, "Time to come down now, Samir. Just lower yourself through the grate, stretch yourself out long, and let go. I know you can do it."

With a squeal of unoiled hinges, a ventilation grate in the ceiling opens.

Samir lowers himself out of the grate in the ceiling. He hangs for a moment by his fingertips, then drops to the ground and rolls when he hits.

You say, "Great job! I knew you could do it."

Samir says, "They taught us how to fall in gym class", as he gets to his feet.

You say, "I bet Coach Lewis never thought something like this would happen," and you share a smile in the darkness. "Come on," you say, "let's get out of here."
action: Go west
response: With the overhead fluorescents out, it's particularly dim at this end of the hallway, but the flashing fire alarms illuminate the door labelled "KITCHEN STAFF - NO STUDENTS". The door is partly open, wedged in place with a serving tray.

Ashley fiddles unhappily with the damaged hem of her skirt.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You go to the east
response: The kitchen has no windows, and without the overhead lights, it's seriously dark here. Counters and shelves are barely discernable glints in the blackness.

Reflected fire alarm light flickers in the doorway to the west.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

Because you know exactly where to look, you can see the ventilation grate against the darkened ceiling.
action: You get Samir
response: You take Samir's hand. "Stay with me," you say.
action: You go to the west
response: You are holding Samir's hand, so he follows you.

With the overhead fluorescents out, it's particularly dim at this end of the hallway, but the flashing fire alarms illuminate the door labelled "KITCHEN STAFF - NO STUDENTS". The door is partly open, wedged in place with a serving tray.

Samir is here, holding hands with you.

Ashley fiddles unhappily with the damaged hem of her skirt.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You get Jude
response: You let go of Samir's hand.

You take Jude's hand. "Stay with me," you say.
action: You get Samir
response: You ask, "Ashley, would you please hold hands with Samir?"

Ashley takes Samir's hand.
action: Look around
response: With the overhead fluorescents out, it's particularly dim at this end of the hallway, but the flashing fire alarms illuminate the door labelled "KITCHEN STAFF - NO STUDENTS". The door is partly open, wedged in place with a serving tray.

Samir is here, holding hands with Ashley.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You get Ashley
response: You're already holding Ashley's hand.
action: Go north
response: You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.
Ashley is holding Samir's hand, so he follows Ashley.

This part of the hall has been plastered with signs in unsubtle red, white, and blue, occasionally accented with yellow smiley-face stickers. The overhead lights are flickering weakly here, and the power probably won't last long. The hall continues south toward the school kitchen and north toward the classrooms.

Samir is here, holding hands with Ashley.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The cafeteria doors are to the east, but they're closed and locked, since lunch ended hours ago.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You go north
response: You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.
Ashley is holding Samir's hand, so he follows Ashley.

Fire alarm lights strobe across a painfully cheerful mural on the east wall, positioned exactly opposite the west-facing hallway. The classrooms and the gymnasium are off to the west, the science and computer labs are north, and the cafeteria is off to the south, but
you can see from here that no part of the building went unravaged. At least it looks like most of the kids made it out.

Samir is here, holding hands with Ashley.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

There's a bulletin board lying face-down on the floor.
action: Go west
response: You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.
Ashley is holding Samir's hand, so he follows Ashley.

The locker-lined hallway stretches from east to west. Pictures of famous Americans gaze starchily down from above the dull brown
lockers, almost successfully concealing the old water damage on the walls. You can smell something burning.

Samir is here, holding hands with Ashley.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go west
response: You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.
Ashley is holding Samir's hand, so he follows Ashley.

Emily's former classroom is to the north, marked with a construction paper sign reading "Ms. Wagner's room - Come In!" To the south, there's an alcove that splits off toward the bathrooms. The hallway continues to the east and west, decorated with inexpertly drawn
posters about When I Grow Up.

Samir is here, holding hands with Ashley.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go west
response: You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.
Ashley is holding Samir's hand, so he follows Ashley.

The wall buckled a bit here, but didn't collapse entirely - unlike to the west, where outright wreckage is visible by the gym entrance. Colorful leaf rubbings and magazine mosaics hang drunkenly off their moorings.

Samir is here, holding hands with Ashley.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go west
response: You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.
Ashley is holding Samir's hand, so he follows Ashley.

The air reeks of smoke and chemicals. To the south, two large double doors lead into the gymnasium. Mrs. McCaskill's classroom used to be accessible to the north, but there's no going that way now.

Samir is here, holding hands with Ashley.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You go south
response: You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.
Ashley is holding Samir's hand, so he follows Ashley.

The elderly gymnasium looks relatively unscathed. Since this room doubles as an auditorium, stacked bleachers line the north wall. The door to the equipment room is west, and the locker room is south. The double doors leading back to the hallway are north.

Samir is here, holding hands with Ashley.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

Blue exercise mats are piled to one side, arranged around a balance beam, and scattered over the floor.

You can also see a blue exercise mat and a pommel horse here.
action: Go south
response: You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.
Ashley is holding Samir's hand, so he follows Ashley.

Heavy wooden benches separate long rows of battered green gym lockers. Everything smells like old socks in here. The coach's office is over to the east, and the gym is back to the north.

Samir is here, holding hands with Ashley.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The gym office door is closed.

A old boombox sits quietly on one of the wooden benches.
action: You go east
response: (first opening the gym office door)
It seems to be locked.
action: GEORGE, ,EXAMINE KEYS
response: You shout, "George, tell me about Mr. Lewis's keys."

George shouts through the door, "That's a whole lot of keys."
action: You get the keys
response: You call, "George, would you please pick up Mr. Lewis's keys?"

George hollers through the door, "I already have Mr. Lewis's keys!"
action: You count the keys
response: George won't understand those instructions. You need to rethink your strategy.

(Reminder: If you just saw a "What do you want George to ?" message, please reenter your second command now.)
action: You look around
response: Heavy wooden benches separate long rows of battered green gym lockers. Everything smells like old socks in here. The coach's office is over to the east, and the gym is back to the north.

Samir is here, holding hands with Ashley.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The gym office door is closed.

A old boombox sits quietly on one of the wooden benches.
action: Go north
response: You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.
Ashley is holding Samir's hand, so he follows Ashley.

The elderly gymnasium looks relatively unscathed. Since this room doubles as an auditorium, stacked bleachers line the north wall. The door to the equipment room is west, and the locker room is south. The double doors leading back to the hallway are north.

Samir is here, holding hands with Ashley.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

Blue exercise mats are piled to one side, arranged around a balance beam, and scattered over the floor.

You can also see a blue exercise mat and a pommel horse here.
action: You go north
response: You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.
Ashley is holding Samir's hand, so he follows Ashley.

The air reeks of smoke and chemicals. To the south, two large double doors lead into the gymnasium. Mrs. McCaskill's classroom used to be accessible to the north, but there's no going that way now.

Samir is here, holding hands with Ashley.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go east
response: You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.
Ashley is holding Samir's hand, so he follows Ashley.

The wall buckled a bit here, but didn't collapse entirely - unlike to the west, where outright wreckage is visible by the gym entrance. Colorful leaf rubbings and magazine mosaics hang drunkenly off their moorings.

Samir is here, holding hands with Ashley.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You go east
response: You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.
Ashley is holding Samir's hand, so he follows Ashley.

Emily's former classroom is to the north, marked with a construction paper sign reading "Ms. Wagner's room - Come In!" To the south, there's an alcove that splits off toward the bathrooms. The hallway continues to the east and west, decorated with inexpertly drawn
posters about When I Grow Up.

Samir is here, holding hands with Ashley.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go east
response: You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.
Ashley is holding Samir's hand, so he follows Ashley.

The locker-lined hallway stretches from east to west. Pictures of famous Americans gaze starchily down from above the dull brown
lockers, almost successfully concealing the old water damage on the walls. You can smell something burning.

Samir is here, holding hands with Ashley.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go north
response: You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.
Ashley is holding Samir's hand, so he follows Ashley.

This was the approved route to shelter, before the bombs hit and the ceiling collapsed. Now, shards of plastic and glass jut from the rubble, and more than one corpse lies buried beneath the weight of stone. Heavy debris lies half-propped upon long pieces of rebar, creating a hazardous barrier that blocks the way north. The way south remains open.

Samir is here, holding hands with Ashley.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

To the west, more debris blocks off the door to Avery Thomas's classroom.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You get Tyrone
response: You ask, "Samir, would you please hold hands with Tyrone?"

Samir takes Tyrone's hand.
action: Go south
response: You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.
Ashley is holding Samir's hand, so he follows Ashley.
Samir is holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows Samir.

Fire alarm lights strobe across a painfully cheerful mural on the east wall, positioned exactly opposite the west-facing hallway. The classrooms and the gymnasium are off to the west, the science and computer labs are north, and the cafeteria is off to the south, but
you can see from here that no part of the building went unravaged. At least it looks like most of the kids made it out.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with Samir.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you and Samir.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

There's a bulletin board lying face-down on the floor.
action: You go to the west
response: You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.
Ashley is holding Samir's hand, so he follows Ashley.
Samir is holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows Samir.

The locker-lined hallway stretches from east to west. Pictures of famous Americans gaze starchily down from above the dull brown
lockers, almost successfully concealing the old water damage on the walls. You can smell something burning.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with Samir.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you and Samir.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You go west
response: You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.
Ashley is holding Samir's hand, so he follows Ashley.
Samir is holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows Samir.

Emily's former classroom is to the north, marked with a construction paper sign reading "Ms. Wagner's room - Come In!" To the south, there's an alcove that splits off toward the bathrooms. The hallway continues to the east and west, decorated with inexpertly drawn
posters about When I Grow Up.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with Samir.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you and Samir.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You go west
response: You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.
Ashley is holding Samir's hand, so he follows Ashley.
Samir is holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows Samir.

The wall buckled a bit here, but didn't collapse entirely - unlike to the west, where outright wreckage is visible by the gym entrance. Colorful leaf rubbings and magazine mosaics hang drunkenly off their moorings.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with Samir.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you and Samir.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You go to the west
response: You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.
Ashley is holding Samir's hand, so he follows Ashley.
Samir is holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows Samir.

The air reeks of smoke and chemicals. To the south, two large double doors lead into the gymnasium. Mrs. McCaskill's classroom used to be accessible to the north, but there's no going that way now.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with Samir.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you and Samir.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go south
response: You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.
Ashley is holding Samir's hand, so he follows Ashley.
Samir is holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows Samir.

The elderly gymnasium looks relatively unscathed. Since this room doubles as an auditorium, stacked bleachers line the north wall. The door to the equipment room is west, and the locker room is south. The double doors leading back to the hallway are north.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with Samir.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you and Samir.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

Blue exercise mats are piled to one side, arranged around a balance beam, and scattered over the floor.

You can also see a blue exercise mat and a pommel horse here.
action: You pick the lock
response: What do you want Tyrone to pick the equipment room door with?
action: Clip
response: You ask, "Tyrone, can you unlock the door if you use the paper clip?"

(Tyrone first taking the striped green paper clip)
You ask, "Tyrone, would you please take the paper clip from that backpack?"

Tyrone picks up the striped green paper clip.

Tyrone says, "You think I know how to do something like that? I'm not a thief, you leave me alone!"
action: You pick the lock with the clip
response: You ask, "Samir, can you unlock the door if you use the paper clip?"

(Samir first taking the striped green paper clip)
You ask, "Samir, can you please grab that paper clip?"

Samir reaches for the striped green paper clip, but Tyrone holds it
out of his reach.
Samir says, "Tyrone won't give me the paper clip!"
action: You give the clip to Samir
response: You say, "Tyrone, please pass the paper clip to Samir."

Tyrone thrusts the striped green paper clip at Samir.

Samir lets go of Ashley's hand.

Samir takes the striped green paper clip from Tyrone.

You say, "Thank you, Tyrone."
action: Equipment door
response: You ask, "Samir, can you unlock the door if you use the paper clip?"

Samir asks quietly, "Am I going to get in trouble?"

You say, "No trouble. I just need to get into the equipment room
door. It will help me get everyone out safely."

Samir bends over the equipment room door and starts fiddling in the lock with the striped green paper clip.

Samir looks up and shakes his head. "It's too hard, I can't make it work."
action: You unlock the equipment door with the clip
response: You ask, "Jude, can you unlock the door if you use the paper clip?"

(Jude first taking the striped green paper clip)
You ask, "Jude, would you please take that paper clip?"

Jude reaches for the striped green paper clip, but Samir holds it out of her reach.
Jude says, "Samir won't give me the paper clip!"
action: You give the clip to Jude
response: You say, "Samir, please give the paper clip to Jude."

Samir holds the striped green paper clip out for Jude.

Jude says, "He doesn't fit, see?"
By way of demonstration, Jude attempts to stuff Mr. Bunny into her brilliantly colored My Little Pony backpack. She's right; the bunny doesn't fit.

Jude looks at Mr. Bunny, looks at the floor, and then hugs him even tighter.

Jude says, "I can't take that, my hands are full.
action: You unlock the equipment door with the clip
response: You ask, "Ashley, can you unlock the door if you use the paper clip?"

(Ashley first taking the striped green paper clip)
You ask, "Ashley, can you please grab that paper clip?"

Ashley reaches for the striped green paper clip, but Samir holds it
out of her reach.
Ashley says, "Samir won't give me the paper clip!"
action: You give the clip to Ashley
response: You say, "Samir, please pass the paper clip to Ashley."

Samir holds the striped green paper clip out to Ashley.

Ashley takes the striped green paper clip from Samir.

You say, "Thank you, Samir."
action: You unlock the equipment door with the clip
response: You ask, "Ashley, can you unlock the door if you use the paper clip?"

Ashley says, "I don't know how to do anything like that Mr. Ginsberg." Ashley gives you a worried look. "Honest I don't."
Jude snickers.
action: You drop Hand
response: Whom do you want Jude to drop hand of?
action: You follow you
response: You ask, "Samir, would you please hold hands with me?"

Samir protests, "yourself doesn't have any free hands!"
action: You drop Hand
response: Whom do you want to drop hand of?
action: You drop the ashley's hand
response: Which do you mean, the striped green paper clip (Ashley's), the Dora the Explorer shirt (Ashley's), or the damaged polka-dot skirt (Ashley's)?
action: You go north
response: You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows you.
Tyrone is holding Samir's hand, so he follows Tyrone.

The air reeks of smoke and chemicals. To the south, two large double doors lead into the gymnasium. Mrs. McCaskill's classroom used to be accessible to the north, but there's no going that way now.

Samir is here, holding hands with Tyrone.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows you.
Tyrone is holding Samir's hand, so he follows Tyrone.

The wall buckled a bit here, but didn't collapse entirely - unlike to the west, where outright wreckage is visible by the gym entrance. Colorful leaf rubbings and magazine mosaics hang drunkenly off their moorings.

Samir is here, holding hands with Tyrone.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows you.
Tyrone is holding Samir's hand, so he follows Tyrone.

This was your classroom. A gaping hole in the wall provides
unexpected access to Mrs. McCaskill's room. Tissue paper trees line the intact east wall, striving to brighten the desolation.

Samir is here, holding hands with Tyrone.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

You left a long table shoved up against the west wall. Now, that
table supports half the rubble from the collapsed wall and partially blocks your access to the gaping hole.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.
action: You get the clip
response: You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows you.
Tyrone is holding Samir's hand, so he follows Tyrone.

The wall buckled a bit here, but didn't collapse entirely - unlike to the west, where outright wreckage is visible by the gym entrance. Colorful leaf rubbings and magazine mosaics hang drunkenly off their moorings.

Samir is here, holding hands with Tyrone.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows you.
Tyrone is holding Samir's hand, so he follows Tyrone.

The air reeks of smoke and chemicals. To the south, two large double doors lead into the gymnasium. Mrs. McCaskill's classroom used to be accessible to the north, but there's no going that way now.

Samir is here, holding hands with Tyrone.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

You are holding Jude's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows you.
Tyrone is holding Samir's hand, so he follows Tyrone.

The elderly gymnasium looks relatively unscathed. Since this room doubles as an auditorium, stacked bleachers line the north wall. The door to the equipment room is west, and the locker room is south. The double doors leading back to the hallway are north.

Samir is here, holding hands with Tyrone.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

Ashley is here, carrying a striped green paper clip.

Blue exercise mats are piled to one side, arranged around a balance beam, and scattered over the floor.

You can also see a blue exercise mat and a pommel horse here.

Your hands are shaking badly enough that you're afraid of dropping the striped green paper clip, but you could ask one of the students to get it for you.
action: You get the clip
response: You ask, "Samir, would you please get that paper clip?"

Samir reaches for the striped green paper clip, but Ashley holds it
out of his reach.
Samir says, "Ashley won't give me the paper clip!"
action: You give the clip to Samir
response: You say, "Ashley, please give the paper clip to Samir."

Ashley holds the striped green paper clip out for Samir.

Samir takes the striped green paper clip from Ashley.

You say, "Thank you, Ashley."
action: You drop Hand of Tyrone
response: You let go of Tyrone's hand.
action: You drop Hand of Jude
response: You let go of Jude's hand.
action: You drop Hand of Tyrone
response: You say, "Samir, let go of Tyrone."

Samir lets go of Tyrone's hand.
action: You ask Samir,  to go west
response: You say, "Samir, I need you to go through the hole into Mrs. McCaskill's room."

the gap in the wall.
action: Go west
response: You say, "I'm going to need both of my hands for this," and drop Samir's hand.

Despite your trembling hands, you scramble successfully over the table and through the gap.

Mrs. McCaskill's Room
Half the ceiling has fallen, crushing the west side of the room
beneath debris and blocking the door entirely. The water sprinklers spew frantically, turning papers and decorations to mush, but whatever's burning isn't actually in this room.

A gaping hole in the east wall allows you back into your classroom, if you scramble over the rubble-strewn table in the way. The north wall is in similarly poor state, but the choking smoke on that side ensures it's not a viable exit.

Samir is here, carrying a striped green paper clip.

A crumpled poster projects from the rubble, mostly sheltered from the sprinklers by a fallen corkboard.

Water flows down the legs of the cheap wooden teacher's desk to the growing puddle on the floor.
action: You ask Samir,  to go east
response: You say, "Samir, please go into the art room."

the gap in the wall.
action: You go to the east
response: Despite your weakened muscles, you scramble successfully over the
table and through the gap.

This was your classroom. A gaping hole in the wall provides
unexpected access to Mrs. McCaskill's room. Tissue paper trees line the intact east wall, striving to brighten the desolation.

You left a long table shoved up against the west wall. Now, that
table supports half the rubble from the collapsed wall and partially blocks your access to the gaping hole.

Samir is here, carrying a striped green paper clip.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.
action: Black
response: You ask, "Samir, can you put your paper clip into the backpack?"

backpack.
action: You follow Samir
response: You ask, "Tyrone, would you please hold hands with Samir?"

Tyrone takes Samir's hand.
action: You follow Samir
response: You ask, "Ashley, would you please hold hands with Samir?"

Ashley protests, "Samir doesn't have any free hands!"
action: You examine Samir
response: He's heavily smudged with dust and grime, but generally looks unhurt.

Samir is wearing a bulging blue knapsack, a purple polo shirt, and a pair of black shorts.
action: You follow Tyrone
response: You ask, "Ashley, would you please hold hands with Tyrone?"

Tyrone mutters, "Don't want to hold hands with a girl." You give him
a Teacher Look, expecting that sterner measures will be required, but he quiets down.

Ashley takes Tyrone's hand.
action: You follow Ashley
response: You ask, "Jude, would you please hold hands with Ashley?"

Jude takes Ashley's hand.
action: Go south
response: You are holding Samir's hand, so he follows you.
Samir is holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows Samir.
Tyrone is holding Ashley's hand, so she follows Tyrone.
Ashley is holding Jude's hand, so she follows Ashley.

Heavy wooden benches separate long rows of battered green gym lockers. Everything smells like old socks in here. The coach's office is over to the east, and the gym is back to the north.

Jude is here, holding hands with Ashley and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with Ashley and Samir.

The gym office door is closed.

A old boombox sits quietly on one of the wooden benches.
action: You open locker
response: You ask, "Jude, can you open the locker?"

Jude closes the gym locker.

Jude opens the next gym locker, revealing nothing.
action: You open the locker
response: You ask, "Ashley, can you open the locker?"

Ashley closes the gym locker.

Ashley opens the next gym locker, revealing nothing.
action: You open the locker
response: You ask, "Samir, can you open the locker?"

Samir closes the gym locker.

Samir opens the next gym locker, revealing nothing.
action: You open the locker
response: You ask, "Tyrone, can you open the locker?"

Tyrone closes the gym locker.

Tyrone opens the next gym locker, revealing nothing.
action: Keep going
response: You ask, "Tyrone, can you open the locker?"

Tyrone closes the gym locker.

Tyrone opens the next gym locker, revealing a bobby pin.
action: You get the pin
response: You ask, "Tyrone, could you please pick up the bobby pin from that locker?"

Tyrone lets go of Samir's hand.

Tyrone picks up the bobby pin.
action: You put pin in black backpack
response: You ask, "Tyrone, can you put your bobby pin into your backpack?"

Tyrone puts the bobby pin into the black canvas backpack.
action: Continue
response: You ask, "Tyrone, can you open the locker?"

Tyrone closes the gym locker.

Tyrone opens the next gym locker, revealing a deodorant spray bottle.
action: You put the bottle in the black packpack
response: Tyrone won't understand those instructions. You need to rethink your strategy.

(Reminder: If you just saw a "What do you want Tyrone to ?" message, please reenter your second command now.)
action: You get the bottle
response: You ask, "Tyrone, would you please get the deodorant from that
locker?"

Tyrone picks up the deodorant spray bottle.
action: Continue
response: You ask, "Tyrone, can you open the locker?"

Tyrone closes the gym locker.

Tyrone opens the next gym locker, revealing a broken ponytail holder.
action: You get the holder
response: You ask, "Tyrone, could you please grab the ponytail holder from that locker?"

Tyrone lets go of Ashley's hand.

Tyrone picks up the broken ponytail holder.
action: You look at Tyrone
response: Tyrone realizes immediately that he's the focus of your attention and stares back challengingly. He doesn't even come up to your armpit,
but he hardly seems to notice.

Tyrone is wearing a black canvas backpack, a Notre Dame jersey, and a pair of baggy jeans.
Tyrone is carrying a broken ponytail holder and a deodorant spray bottle.
action: TYRONE, ,EXAMINE HOLDER
response: You say, "Tyrone, tell me about the ponytail holder."

Tyrone says, "Um... I don't know what you mean... it's just a ponytail holder."
action: You look at the holder
response: You examine the broken ponytail holder in Tyrone's hand. You see nothing special about the broken ponytail holder.
action: You give the jeans to George
response: You say, "Tyrone, please show the jeans to George."

Tyrone crowds up to the small window.

Tyrone holds the pair of baggy jeans up to the window for George's inspection. "Look, it's a jeans!"

George shouts through the door, "I don't need that, I need pants!"

Jude grins, Ashley titters, Tyrone frowns, and Samir snorts, and
George looks even more unhappy.

Tyrone says, "Like you were never six," and gives Jude and Ashley a withering look.
.

You give Jude and Ashley a stern look, and they subside hurriedly.
action: You think about class
response: The Geo Lab is Avery Thomas's classroom. He keeps a collection of rocks in there that would do a museum proud, if it were a small museum that didn't focus much on earth science. They're not rare, but they are shiny.
action: You think about the children
response: Every teacher has specific classes they teach, but every teacher gets
a homeroom class too. This year, you pulled the short straw, and you have a small class of mostly problem cases. Some of your students
were with Emily - but Jude, Ashley, and Samir definitely scattered,
and you think George and Keiko were with them.
action: You ask George about the locker
response: (the gym locker)
You shout, "Do you keep pants or shorts or something in your gym locker?"

George hollers through the door, "No, the gym lockers don't lock!"

He has a point, but you could wish he didn't.
action: You check what you're carrying
response: You are wearing a striped red tie, a rumpled white shirt, some pair of black slacks, and a gold wedding band.
action: You go to the north
response: You are holding Samir's hand, so he follows you.

The elderly gymnasium looks relatively unscathed. Since this room doubles as an auditorium, stacked bleachers line the north wall. The door to the equipment room is west, and the locker room is south. The double doors leading back to the hallway are north.

Samir is here, holding hands with you.

Blue exercise mats are piled to one side, arranged around a balance beam, and scattered over the floor.

You can also see a blue exercise mat and a pommel horse here.
action: You drop Samir
response: You let go of Samir's hand.
action: Go north
response: The air reeks of smoke and chemicals. To the south, two large double doors lead into the gymnasium. Mrs. McCaskill's classroom used to be accessible to the north, but there's no going that way now.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You search the lockers
response: You check one of the lockers, but, as you suspected, the locker is locked.

There's a combination lock that could be used to enter a combination, if you knew any of the locker combinations - which you don't right
now.
action: You open the locker
response: You check one of the lockers, but, as you suspected, the locker is locked.

There's a combination lock that could be used to enter a combination, if you knew any of the locker combinations - which you don't right
now.

George shouts through the door, "I can't remember."
action: You go to the west
response: You can't go that way.

From here, you can try going south into the gym or east along the
hall.
action: You go to the south
response: The elderly gymnasium looks relatively unscathed. Since this room doubles as an auditorium, stacked bleachers line the north wall. The door to the equipment room is west, and the locker room is south. The double doors leading back to the hallway are north.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

Blue exercise mats are piled to one side, arranged around a balance beam, and scattered over the floor.

You can also see a blue exercise mat and a pommel horse here.
action: You take Samir
response: You take Samir's hand. "Stay with me," you say.
action: Go south
response: You are holding Samir's hand, so he follows you.

Heavy wooden benches separate long rows of battered green gym lockers. Everything smells like old socks in here. The coach's office is over to the east, and the gym is back to the north.

Samir is here, holding hands with you.

The gym office door is closed.

Jude is here, holding hands with Ashley and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

Tyrone is here, carrying a broken ponytail holder and a deodorant
spray bottle.

A old boombox sits quietly on one of the wooden benches.
action: You drop Samir
response: You let go of Samir's hand.
action: You ask George about the narrow locker
response: You call, "George, where is your normal locker?"

George shouts through the door, "It's on the hallway just past the bathrooms. It's number A35."
action: You ask George about the combination
response: You shout, "George, this is a really bad time to forget your locker combination. Can you think really hard?"

George hollers through the door, "I'm thinking really hard, I can't think of it!"

Samir tries not to smile, Jude snickers, Ashley grins, and Tyrone
sighs a little, and George looks even more ashamed
action: Keep going
response: You call, "George, I'm going to ask you one more time. What's your locker combination?"

George shouts through the door, "I think it might be... 20 36 22?"

You say, "Thanks, I'll give it a try."
action: Go north
response: The elderly gymnasium looks relatively unscathed. Since this room doubles as an auditorium, stacked bleachers line the north wall. The door to the equipment room is west, and the locker room is south. The double doors leading back to the hallway are north.

Blue exercise mats are piled to one side, arranged around a balance beam, and scattered over the floor.

You can also see a blue exercise mat and a pommel horse here.
action: Go north
response: The air reeks of smoke and chemicals. To the south, two large double doors lead into the gymnasium. Mrs. McCaskill's classroom used to be accessible to the north, but there's no going that way now.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You examine the locker
response: The lockers are narrow, brown, and about four feet tall. Every
student gets a locker on their first day, along with a lecture about how they are strictly forbidden to decorate the lockers or change
their locker combinations.

There's locker A35, George's locker.
action: You unlock locker a35
response: What do you want to unlock George's locker with?
action: You open the locker a35
response: You check one of the lockers, but, as you suspected, the locker is locked.

There's a combination lock that could be used to enter a combination, if you knew any of the locker combinations - which you don't right
now.
action: You turn the lock to 20
response: I didn't understand that number.

I didn't understand that number.
action: You turn the dial left to 20
response: These lockers have combinations that start to the right.
action: You turn the dial right to 20
response: You concentrate to still your shaking hand, and reach for the locker dial.

You turn the dial right to 20.
action: Turn dial left to 36
response: You turn the dial left to 36.
action: You turn the dial right to 22
response: You turn the dial right to 22. That makes three numbers - 20 R, 36 L, 22 R - but the lock doesn't open.

You spin the lock to clear the old combination off.
That's exactly what George told you, but it didn't open the locker.
action: You go to the south
response: Heavy wooden benches separate long rows of battered green gym lockers. Everything smells like old socks in here. The coach's office is over to the east, and the gym is back to the north.

The gym office door is closed.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

Jude is here, holding hands with Ashley and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

Tyrone is here, carrying a broken ponytail holder and a deodorant
spray bottle.

A old boombox sits quietly on one of the wooden benches.
action: You ask George about the combination
response: You shout, "George, that wasn't your locker combination."

George hollers through the door, "I guess that was from last year....
"

You say, "George, I need you to think really hard about your locker combination."

George shouts through the door, "I can't remember, I'm sorry!"

Samir snorts, Jude giggles, Ashley titters, and Tyrone scowls, and George looks even more unhappy.

You say, "I'm right here, Jude and Ashley."
action: Continue
response: You call, "George, I need you to think really hard about your combination."

George hollers through the door, "I can't remember, I'm sorry!"

Samir sneezes, Jude snickers, Ashley giggles, and Tyrone frowns, and George looks even more miserable.

You say, "Enough, Jude and Ashley."
action: Keep going
response: You shout, "George, I need you to think really hard about your combination."

George shouts through the door, "I can't remember, I'm sorry!"

Samir coughs, Jude titters, Ashley snickers, and Tyrone scowls, and George looks even more embarrassed
action: You ask Jude about the combination
response: You can't think of a good question to ask Jude about the combination lock.
(You could try asking Jude about Mr. Bunny, Ashley, or
Keiko.)
action: You examine clip
response: You examine the striped green paper clip inside Tyrone's black canvas backpack. You see nothing special about the striped green paper clip.
action: Drop holder
response: You say, "Tyrone, put down the ponytail holder."

Tyrone puts the broken ponytail holder on the floor.
action: You drop the bottle
response: You say, "Tyrone, please put down the deodorant."

Tyrone puts the deodorant spray bottle on the floor.
action: You take Tyrone
response: You take Tyrone's hand. "Stay with me," you say.
action: You go to the north
response: You are holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows you.

The elderly gymnasium looks relatively unscathed. Since this room doubles as an auditorium, stacked bleachers line the north wall. The door to the equipment room is west, and the locker room is south. The double doors leading back to the hallway are north.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with you.

Blue exercise mats are piled to one side, arranged around a balance beam, and scattered over the floor.

You can also see a blue exercise mat and a pommel horse here.
action: You go north
response: You are holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows you.

The air reeks of smoke and chemicals. To the south, two large double doors lead into the gymnasium. Mrs. McCaskill's classroom used to be accessible to the north, but there's no going that way now.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with you.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go east
response: You are holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows you.

The wall buckled a bit here, but didn't collapse entirely - unlike to the west, where outright wreckage is visible by the gym entrance. Colorful leaf rubbings and magazine mosaics hang drunkenly off their moorings.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with you.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go north
response: You are holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows you.

This was your classroom. A gaping hole in the wall provides
unexpected access to Mrs. McCaskill's room. Tissue paper trees line the intact east wall, striving to brighten the desolation.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with you.

You left a long table shoved up against the west wall. Now, that
table supports half the rubble from the collapsed wall and partially blocks your access to the gaping hole.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.
action: You go to the west
response: You say, "I'm going to need both of my hands for this," and drop Tyrone's hand.

Despite your trembling hands, you scramble successfully over the table and through the gap.

Mrs. McCaskill's Room
Half the ceiling has fallen, crushing the west side of the room
beneath debris and blocking the door entirely. The water sprinklers spew frantically, turning papers and decorations to mush, but whatever's burning isn't actually in this room.

A gaping hole in the east wall allows you back into your classroom, if you scramble over the rubble-strewn table in the way. The north wall is in similarly poor state, but the choking smoke on that side ensures it's not a viable exit.

A crumpled poster projects from the rubble, mostly sheltered from the sprinklers by a fallen corkboard.

Water flows down the legs of the cheap wooden teacher's desk to the growing puddle on the floor.
action: You ask Tyrone,  to go west
response: You call, "Tyrone, I want you to come through the hole into Mrs. McCaskill's room."

gap in the wall.
action: You take the clip
response: You ask, "Tyrone, can you please pick up the paper clip from that backpack?"

Tyrone picks up the striped green paper clip.
action: You pick the metal drawer with the clip
response: You wouldn't break into Jenny's desk without good reason... but
getting George out of Mr. Lewis's office seems like a good reason.

You ask, "Tyrone, can you unlock the drawer if you use the paper
clip?"

Tyrone says, "You think I know how to do something like that? I'm not a thief, you leave me alone!"

getting George out of Mr. Lewis's office seems like a good reason."
action: You ask Tyrone,  to go east
response: You say, "Tyrone, I need you to go into the art room."

Tyrone climbs carefully over the rubble-strewn table and out through the gap in the wall.
action: You go to the east
response: Despite your weakened muscles, you scramble successfully over the
table and through the gap.

This was your classroom. A gaping hole in the wall provides
unexpected access to Mrs. McCaskill's room. Tissue paper trees line the intact east wall, striving to brighten the desolation.

You left a long table shoved up against the west wall. Now, that
table supports half the rubble from the collapsed wall and partially blocks your access to the gaping hole.

Tyrone is here, carrying a striped green paper clip.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.
action: You give the clip to you
response: You say, "Tyrone, please pass me that paper clip.

Tyrone offers you the striped green paper clip.

You accept the striped green paper clip. "Thank you, Tyrone."
action: You put the clip in the pocket
response: The striped green paper clip doesn't fit in your pocket because the Duracell D-cell batteries is already in there. (These pants never had much in the way of pockets.)

You put the striped green paper clip into the left pocket of your slacks.
action: You take Tyrone
response: You take Tyrone's hand. "Stay with me," you say.
action: Go south
response: You are holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows you.

Heavy wooden benches separate long rows of battered green gym lockers. Everything smells like old socks in here. The coach's office is over to the east, and the gym is back to the north.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with you.

The gym office door is closed.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

Jude is here, holding hands with Ashley and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

A old boombox sits quietly on one of the wooden benches.

You can also see a deodorant spray bottle and a broken ponytail holder here.
action: You drop Tyrone
response: You let go of Tyrone's hand.
action: Go north
response: You are holding Samir's hand, so he follows you.

The air reeks of smoke and chemicals. To the south, two large double doors lead into the gymnasium. Mrs. McCaskill's classroom used to be accessible to the north, but there's no going that way now.

Samir is here, holding hands with you.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go east
response: You are holding Samir's hand, so he follows you.

The wall buckled a bit here, but didn't collapse entirely - unlike to the west, where outright wreckage is visible by the gym entrance. Colorful leaf rubbings and magazine mosaics hang drunkenly off their moorings.

Samir is here, holding hands with you.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go north
response: You are holding Samir's hand, so he follows you.

This was your classroom. A gaping hole in the wall provides
unexpected access to Mrs. McCaskill's room. Tissue paper trees line the intact east wall, striving to brighten the desolation.

Samir is here, holding hands with you.

You left a long table shoved up against the west wall. Now, that
table supports half the rubble from the collapsed wall and partially blocks your access to the gaping hole.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.
action: You go west
response: You say, "I'm going to need both of my hands for this," and drop Samir's hand.

Despite your trembling hands, you scramble successfully over the table and through the gap.

Mrs. McCaskill's Room
Half the ceiling has fallen, crushing the west side of the room
beneath debris and blocking the door entirely. The water sprinklers spew frantically, turning papers and decorations to mush, but whatever's burning isn't actually in this room.

A gaping hole in the east wall allows you back into your classroom, if you scramble over the rubble-strewn table in the way. The north wall is in similarly poor state, but the choking smoke on that side ensures it's not a viable exit.

A crumpled poster projects from the rubble, mostly sheltered from the sprinklers by a fallen corkboard.

Water flows down the legs of the cheap wooden teacher's desk to the growing puddle on the floor.
action: You ask Samir,  to go west
response: You shout, "Samir, I want you to come through the hole into Mrs. McCaskill's room."

Samir crawls over the rubble-strewn table and comes in through the gap in the wall.
action: You give the clip to Samir
response: (first taking the striped green paper clip)
You give the striped green paper clip to Samir.
action: You pick the metal drawer with the clip
response: You set about corrupting America's youth, or, at least, Samir.

You ask, "Samir, can you unlock the drawer if you use the paper clip?"

Samir takes a moment to straighten out the striped green paper clip. Samir bends over the metal drawer with the straightened striped green paper clip. In a moment, you hear a click, and Samir straightens up again.
action: You open the drawer
response: Black spots pass before your eyes, and you have to steady yourself for a moment on the desk. But the drawer opens.
action: You read the notebook
response: This slim red notebook contains all the school locker combinations.
The plastic cover is protecting it somewhat from the sprinklers, but that won't survive forever.
White-Out lettering on the cover reads, "Locker Combinations - Mrs. McCaskill - Do Not Touch". The notebook is currently closed.
action: You take the notebook
response: You ask, "Samir, would you please grab the notebook from that drawer?"

Samir picks up the slim red notebook.
action: You ask Samir,  to go east
response: You say, "Samir, I need you to go into the art room."

the gap in the wall.
action: You go east
response: Despite your weakened muscles, you scramble successfully over the
table and through the gap.

This was your classroom. A gaping hole in the wall provides
unexpected access to Mrs. McCaskill's room. Tissue paper trees line the intact east wall, striving to brighten the desolation.

You left a long table shoved up against the west wall. Now, that
table supports half the rubble from the collapsed wall and partially blocks your access to the gaping hole.

Samir is here, carrying a slim red notebook and a straightened striped green paper clip.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.
action: You open the notebook
response: You ask, "Samir, can you open the notebook?"

Samir opens the slim red notebook.
action: You read the notebook
response: You examine the slim red notebook in Samir's hand. This slim red notebook contains all the school locker combinations. You search through the pages until you locate George's locker combination, which is 40 R, 52 L, 56 R this year.
action: You drop the notebook
response: You say, "Samir, please put down the notebook."

Samir puts the slim red notebook on the floor.
action: Go south
response: You are holding Samir's hand, so he follows you.

The wall buckled a bit here, but didn't collapse entirely - unlike to the west, where outright wreckage is visible by the gym entrance. Colorful leaf rubbings and magazine mosaics hang drunkenly off their moorings.

Samir is here, holding hands with you and carrying a straightened striped green paper clip.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go east
response: You are holding Samir's hand, so he follows you.

Emily's former classroom is to the north, marked with a construction paper sign reading "Ms. Wagner's room - Come In!" To the south, there's an alcove that splits off toward the bathrooms. The hallway continues to the east and west, decorated with inexpertly drawn
posters about When I Grow Up.

Samir is here, holding hands with you and carrying a straightened striped green paper clip.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You go to the east
response: You are holding Samir's hand, so he follows you.

The locker-lined hallway stretches from east to west. Pictures of famous Americans gaze starchily down from above the dull brown
lockers, almost successfully concealing the old water damage on the walls. You can smell something burning.

Samir is here, holding hands with you and carrying a straightened striped green paper clip.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You go east
response: You are holding Samir's hand, so he follows you.

Fire alarm lights strobe across a painfully cheerful mural on the east wall, positioned exactly opposite the west-facing hallway. The classrooms and the gymnasium are off to the west, the science and computer labs are north, and the cafeteria is off to the south, but
you can see from here that no part of the building went unravaged. At least it looks like most of the kids made it out.

Samir is here, holding hands with you and carrying a straightened striped green paper clip.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

There's a bulletin board lying face-down on the floor.
action: You turn the dial right to 40
response: You turn the dial right to 40.
action: Turn dial left to 52
response: You turn the dial left to 52.
action: You turn the dial right to 56
response: You turn the dial right to 56, and George's locker pops open.
action: You open the locker
response: That's already open.
action: You look in it
response: In George's locker is a pair of ragged jeans.
action: You drop clip
response: You say, "Samir, please put down the paper clip."

Samir puts the straightened striped green paper clip on the floor.
action: You take ragged jeans
response: You ask, "Samir, can you please take the pair of ragged jeans from George's locker?"

Samir picks up the pair of ragged jeans.
action: You take Samir
response: You're already holding Samir's hand.
action: Go west
response: You are holding Samir's hand, so he follows you.

Emily's former classroom is to the north, marked with a construction paper sign reading "Ms. Wagner's room - Come In!" To the south, there's an alcove that splits off toward the bathrooms. The hallway continues to the east and west, decorated with inexpertly drawn
posters about When I Grow Up.

Samir is here, holding hands with you and carrying a pair of ragged jeans.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You go to the west
response: You are holding Samir's hand, so he follows you.

The wall buckled a bit here, but didn't collapse entirely - unlike to the west, where outright wreckage is visible by the gym entrance. Colorful leaf rubbings and magazine mosaics hang drunkenly off their moorings.

Samir is here, holding hands with you and carrying a pair of ragged jeans.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You go west
response: You are holding Samir's hand, so he follows you.

The air reeks of smoke and chemicals. To the south, two large double doors lead into the gymnasium. Mrs. McCaskill's classroom used to be accessible to the north, but there's no going that way now.

Samir is here, holding hands with you and carrying a pair of ragged jeans.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go south
response: You are holding Samir's hand, so he follows you.

The elderly gymnasium looks relatively unscathed. Since this room doubles as an auditorium, stacked bleachers line the north wall. The door to the equipment room is west, and the locker room is south. The double doors leading back to the hallway are north.

Samir is here, holding hands with you and carrying a pair of ragged jeans.

Blue exercise mats are piled to one side, arranged around a balance beam, and scattered over the floor.

You can also see a blue exercise mat and a pommel horse here.
action: Go south
response: You are holding Samir's hand, so he follows you.

Heavy wooden benches separate long rows of battered green gym lockers. Everything smells like old socks in here. The coach's office is over to the east, and the gym is back to the north.

Samir is here, holding hands with you and carrying a pair of ragged jeans.

The gym office door is closed.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

Jude is here, holding hands with Ashley and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

A old boombox sits quietly on one of the wooden benches.

You can also see a deodorant spray bottle and a broken ponytail holder here.
action: You give the pants to George
response: (the pair of ragged jeans to George)
You say, "Samir, please show the pair of ragged jeans to George."

Samir crowds up to the small window.

Samir holds the pair of ragged jeans up to the window for George's inspection. "Look, it's a pair of ragged jeans!"

With a click, the gym office door opens just far enough for George to stick his hand out and grab the pants away from Samir. Before you can intervene, George slams the door shut again.
action: You wait a while
response: You wait.
action: You knock on the door
response: GEORGE, OPEN DOOR

You call, "George, can you open the door?"

George hollers through the door, "No, leave me alone! I'm changing!"

The gym office door opens again, and George comes out wearing the ragged jeans under his oversized T-shirt.

You can't see any such thing.
action: You look at George
response: He needs a bath, a hug, and a haircut, but first he needs to get out
of here.

George is wearing a pair of ragged jeans and an oversized T-shirt. George is carrying Mr. Lewis's gym keys and a lacrosse stick.
action: You drop the stick
response: You say, "George, put down the lacrosse stick."

George puts the lacrosse stick on the floor.
action: You take George
response: You take George's hand. "Stay with me," you say.
action: You go to the north
response: You are holding George's hand, so he follows you.

The elderly gymnasium looks relatively unscathed. Since this room doubles as an auditorium, stacked bleachers line the north wall. The door to the equipment room is west, and the locker room is south. The double doors leading back to the hallway are north.

George is here, holding hands with you and carrying Mr. Lewis's gym keys.

Blue exercise mats are piled to one side, arranged around a balance beam, and scattered over the floor.

You can also see a blue exercise mat and a pommel horse here.
action: You unlock the equipment door with keys
response: You ask, "George, can you unlock the door if you use Mr. Lewis's
keys?"

George sorts through the keys and finds the correct one on the fourth try. You hear a click as he unlocks the equipment room.
action: You drop the keys
response: You say, "George, put down Mr. Lewis's keys."

George puts Mr. Lewis's gym keys on the floor.
action: Equipment
response: You ask, "George, can you open the door?"

George opens the equipment room door.
action: Go west
response: You are holding George's hand, so he follows you.

A single incandescent bulb swings overhead from a short chain. Its harsh light showcases half-empty racks, bins, and boxes of gym equipment, most badly in need of repair.

George is here, holding hands with you.

You can also see a wobbly table (on which is a roll of black cloth tape) here.
action: You get all
response: wobbly table: To avoid confusing George, ask about one thing at a
time.
Duracell D-cell batteries: To avoid confusing George, ask about one thing at a time.
roll of black cloth tape: To avoid confusing George, ask about one thing at a time.
George: To avoid confusing George, ask about one thing at a time.
action: You get tape
response: You ask, "George, could you please pick up that roll of tape?"

George picks up the roll of black cloth tape.
action: You go to the east
response: You are holding George's hand, so he follows you.

The elderly gymnasium looks relatively unscathed. Since this room doubles as an auditorium, stacked bleachers line the north wall. The open door to the equipment room is west, and the locker room is south. The double doors leading back to the hallway are north.

George is here, holding hands with you and carrying a roll of black cloth tape.

Blue exercise mats are piled to one side, arranged around a balance beam, and scattered over the floor.

You can also see Mr. Lewis's gym keys, a blue exercise mat, and a pommel horse here.
action: You go to the west
response: You are holding George's hand, so he follows you.

A single incandescent bulb swings overhead from a short chain. Its harsh light showcases half-empty racks, bins, and boxes of gym equipment, most badly in need of repair.

George is here, holding hands with you and carrying a roll of black cloth tape.

You can also see a wobbly table here.
action: Exits
response: From here, you can try going east into the gym.
action: You examine table
response: It's a cheap table made from two metal rectangles and a white plastic surface between them.
action: Go south
response: You are holding George's hand, so he follows you.

Heavy wooden benches separate long rows of battered green gym lockers. Everything smells like old socks in here. The coach's office is over to the east, and the gym is back to the north.

George is here, holding hands with you and carrying a roll of black cloth tape.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

The gym office door is open.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

Jude is here, holding hands with Ashley and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

A old boombox sits quietly on one of the wooden benches.

You can also see a lacrosse stick, a deodorant spray bottle, and a broken ponytail holder here.
action: You take the stick
response: You ask, "Ashley, can you please take that lacrosse stick?"

Ashley picks up the lacrosse stick.
action: You take Ashley
response: Ashley doesn't have a free hand, since she is carrying a lacrosse
stick and holding hands with Jude.
action: You drop jude
response: You say, "Ashley, let go of Jude."

Ashley lets go of Jude's hand.
action: You go south
response: You are holding George's hand, so he follows you.

Heavy wooden benches separate long rows of battered green gym lockers. Everything smells like old socks in here. The coach's office is over to the east, and the gym is back to the north.

George is here, holding hands with you and carrying a roll of black cloth tape.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

The gym office door is open.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

Ashley is here, holding a lacrosse stick.

A old boombox sits quietly on one of the wooden benches.

You can also see a deodorant spray bottle and a broken ponytail holder here.
action: You take Ashley
response: You take Ashley's hand. "Stay with me," you say.
action: Go north
response: You are holding George's hand, so he follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

The elderly gymnasium looks relatively unscathed. Since this room doubles as an auditorium, stacked bleachers line the north wall. The open door to the equipment room is west, and the locker room is south. The double doors leading back to the hallway are north.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you and holding a lacrosse stick.

George is here, holding hands with you and carrying a roll of black cloth tape.

Blue exercise mats are piled to one side, arranged around a balance beam, and scattered over the floor.

You can also see Mr. Lewis's gym keys, a blue exercise mat, and a pommel horse here.
action: Go north
response: You are holding George's hand, so he follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

The air reeks of smoke and chemicals. To the south, two large double doors lead into the gymnasium. Mrs. McCaskill's classroom used to be accessible to the north, but there's no going that way now.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you and holding a lacrosse stick.

George is here, holding hands with you and carrying a roll of black cloth tape.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go east
response: You are holding George's hand, so he follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

The wall buckled a bit here, but didn't collapse entirely - unlike to the west, where outright wreckage is visible by the gym entrance. Colorful leaf rubbings and magazine mosaics hang drunkenly off their moorings.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you and holding a lacrosse stick.

George is here, holding hands with you and carrying a roll of black cloth tape.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You go east
response: You are holding George's hand, so he follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

Emily's former classroom is to the north, marked with a construction paper sign reading "Ms. Wagner's room - Come In!" To the south, there's an alcove that splits off toward the bathrooms. The hallway continues to the east and west, decorated with inexpertly drawn
posters about When I Grow Up.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you and holding a lacrosse stick.

George is here, holding hands with you and carrying a roll of black cloth tape.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go south
response: You are holding George's hand, so he follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

The failing fluorescent lights illuminate a kid-height drinking fountain in the south wall. The boys' bathroom is to the east and the girls' bathroom is to the west, both marked with Happy Hygiene signs reminding everyone about handwashing.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you and holding a lacrosse stick.

George is here, holding hands with you and carrying a roll of black cloth tape.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

There's a wet spot growing on the carpet near the door to the girls' room.

You can also see a small rubber wedge here.
action: Go west
response: George hangs back until you say, "It's okay, George."

George reluctantly follows you in.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

Rubble and debris fill the back half of the bathroom. At least one pipe burst in the collapse, and water sprays steadily across the room to bounce off a stall door and pool on the ugly cream-and-black tiles.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you and holding a lacrosse stick.

George is here, holding hands with you and carrying a roll of black cloth tape.

Keiko is sitting on the bathroom floor. Her hair and clothing are soaked from the spraying water, and her right leg is visibly broken.

You can also see a yardstick here.

George says, "I'm not supposed to be in the girls' bathroom."

You say, "Doesn't matter right now. Keiko needs help."
action: You drop george
response: You let go of George's hand.

Ashley asks Keiko, "Can I do something to help?"

Keiko shakes her head. "Just don't go away."
Ashley sits down next to Keiko. "I'll stay here until Mr. Ginsberg needs me again," she says.
action: You take the tape
response: You ask, "Ashley, could you please grab that roll of tape?"

Ashley reaches for the roll of black cloth tape, but George holds it out of her reach.
Ashley says, "George won't give me the roll of tape!"

Keiko breathes through her teeth for a moment.
action: You give the tape to Ashley
response: You say, "George, please pass the roll of tape to Ashley."

George pushes the roll of black cloth tape at Ashley.

Ashley takes the roll of black cloth tape from George.

You say, "Thank you, George."

Keiko breathes through her teeth for a moment.
action: You give the stick to Keiko
response: You say, "Ashley, please hand the lacrosse stick to Keiko."

Ashley offers the lacrosse stick to Keiko.

Keiko takes the lacrosse stick from Ashley.

You say, "Thank you, Ashley."
action: You take the yardstick
response: You ask, "Ashley, can you please take that yardstick?"

Ashley picks up the yardstick.
action: You examine the right leg
response: Keiko's leg is visibly broken. There's an ugly scrape mark above the break, too.
action: You put the yardstick on the right leg
response: Balancing something on Keiko's right leg is probably difficult.
Better to have Ashley leave it on the floor, if it needs to be left behind.
action: You put the tape on the yardstick
response: Balancing something on the yardstick is probably difficult. Better to have Ashley leave it on the floor, if it needs to be left behind.
action: You tie the yardstick to the right leg
response: (When you're ready to splint Keiko's leg, just SPLINT KEIKO.)
action: Splint keiko
response: The yardstick is too long and unwieldy. You'll have to break it in half.
action: You break the yardstick
response: You ask, "Ashley, can you break the yardstick?"

Ashley gives the yardstick a dubious look. "Can't you ask one of the boys?" she asks.

George volunteers, "I could do it!"
action: You give the yardstick to George
response: You say, "Ashley, please pass the yardstick to George."

Ashley holds the yardstick out to George.

George pulls the yardstick away from Ashley.

You say, "Gently, George!"
action: You break yardstick
response: You ask, "George, can you break the yardstick?"

George considers his options for a moment before leaning the yardstick up against a wall. One powerful stomp downward breaks the yardstick neatly in two, with surprisingly few splinters sticking out.

George studies the yardstick for a moment and breaks off a few last splinters before showing it off to you.

You say, "Nicely done," and George grins with pride.

Keiko breathes through her teeth for a moment.
action: Splint keiko
response: You try to rip off a length of the black cloth tape and discover that you don't have enough strength to tear it. Before the spraying water can ruin the adhesive, you hurriedly wind it back onto its spool.
action: Splint keiko
response: No. Ashley is just a kid - they all are. You can't put this responsibility on them.

You're going to have to splint Keiko's leg yourself.
action: Tear tape
response: Bad plan. If breaking the roll of black cloth tape would help save your students, that would be one thing - but encouraging vandalism
just sets a bad precedent.
action: You drop the yardstick
response: You say, "George, please put down the yardstick."

George puts the broken yardstick on the floor.
action: You take George
response: You take George's hand. "Stay with me," you say.
action: You go east
response: You are holding George's hand, so he follows you.

The failing fluorescent lights illuminate a kid-height drinking fountain in the south wall. The boys' bathroom is to the east and the girls' bathroom is to the west, both marked with Happy Hygiene signs reminding everyone about handwashing.

George is here, holding hands with you.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

There's a wet spot growing on the carpet near the door to the girls' room.

You can also see a small rubber wedge here.
action: Go north
response: You are holding George's hand, so he follows you.

Emily's former classroom is to the north, marked with a construction paper sign reading "Ms. Wagner's room - Come In!" To the south, there's an alcove that splits off toward the bathrooms. The hallway continues to the east and west, decorated with inexpertly drawn
posters about When I Grow Up.

George is here, holding hands with you.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go north
response: You are holding George's hand, so he follows you.

Ms. Wagner's Room
This classroom is reasonably undamaged, apart from a fallen ceiling tile. The decorations are straight out of the 70's, all giant cardboard apples and smiling cartoon children, occupying not only the walls but the front of Ms. Wagner's desk. The air smells of markers and chalk dust.

George is here, holding hands with you.

You can also see a closet door, a pair of safety scissors, and an enormous blackboard here.
action: You take scissors
response: You ask, "George, would you please pick up that pair of scissors?"

George picks up the pair of safety scissors.

George asks, "Mr. Ginsberg, can I draw on the chalkboard?"

You say, "Go ahead. Just don't erase my note."

George wanders over to the blackboard, picks up a piece of chalk, and scratches away at the board for a while.

Satisfied with his drawing, George puts the chalk back in the tray.
action: You go to the south
response: You are holding George's hand, so he follows you.

Emily's former classroom is to the north, marked with a construction paper sign reading "Ms. Wagner's room - Come In!" To the south, there's an alcove that splits off toward the bathrooms. The hallway continues to the east and west, decorated with inexpertly drawn
posters about When I Grow Up.

George is here, holding hands with you and carrying a pair of safety scissors.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go south
response: You are holding George's hand, so he follows you.

The failing fluorescent lights illuminate a kid-height drinking fountain in the south wall. The boys' bathroom is to the east and the girls' bathroom is to the west, both marked with Happy Hygiene signs reminding everyone about handwashing.

George is here, holding hands with you and carrying a pair of safety scissors.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

There's a wet spot growing on the carpet near the door to the girls' room.

You can also see a small rubber wedge here.
action: You go west
response: You are holding George's hand, so he follows you.

Rubble and debris fill the back half of the bathroom. At least one pipe burst in the collapse, and water sprays steadily across the room to bounce off a stall door and pool on the ugly cream-and-black tiles.

George is here, holding hands with you and carrying a pair of safety scissors.

Ashley is sitting here and carrying a roll of black cloth tape.

Keiko is sitting here and holding a lacrosse stick.

You can also see a broken yardstick here.
action: You give scissors to Ashley
response: You say, "George, please give the pair of scissors to Ashley."

George thrusts the pair of safety scissors at Ashley.

Ashley takes the pair of safety scissors from George.

You say, "Thank you, George."
action: You cut the tape
response: You ask, "Ashley, can you cut the roll of tape?"

Ashley says, "Are you sure about that, Mr. Ginsberg?"

You ask, "No, I didn't mean it. Sorry, I don't know what I was thinking."
action: You drop george
response: ASHLEY, GIVE SCISSORS TO GEORGE

You say, "Ashley, please hand the pair of scissors to George."

Ashley offers the pair of safety scissors to George.

George grabs the pair of safety scissors away from Ashley.

You say, "Gently, George!"

You let go of George's hand.
action: You cut the tape with the scissors
response: George won't understand those instructions. You need to rethink your strategy.

(Reminder: If you just saw a "What do you want George to ?" message, please reenter your second command now.)
action: You give the scissors to you
response: You say, "George, please pass me that pair of scissors.

George offers you the pair of safety scissors.

You accept the pair of safety scissors. "Thank you, George."
action: You cut the tape
response: You say, "Ashley, I need to see the roll of tape for a moment."

(When you're ready to splint Keiko's leg, just SPLINT KEIKO.)

floor.
action: You drop the tape
response: You say, "Ashley, put down the roll of tape."

Ashley puts the roll of black cloth tape on the floor.
action: You take the tape and the scissors
response: roll of black cloth tape: You're weak and trembling from the toxic
gas, and you're not actually sure you can pick up the roll of black cloth tape. Maybe you could ask one of the students to get it for
you.
(Example: George, TAKE roll of black cloth tape.)
pair of safety scissors: Your hands are shaking badly enough that you're afraid of dropping the pair of safety scissors, but you could ask one of the students to get it for you.
action: Splint keiko
response: You looked at the yardstick, the scissors, and the black cloth tape - all carried here by a student, because you didn't have the strength to carry them yourself. And you looked at your hands, which wouldn't
stop shaking. And then you looked at Keiko, and you picked up the yardstick.

When Keiko screamed, George whimpered and wrapped his arms around himself as if he could hug the sound away, and Ashley went pale and
ran out of the room,
Afterward, you might say you prayed. Or only that you thought of
Adam. Or only that you had to keep going. But when you were done at last, sitting back on your heels in the spraying water and misery, you heard Keiko whisper, "Thank you."

Keiko levers herself up with the lacrosse stick. Her balance clearly isn't great, but between her splinted leg and the lacrosse stick, she should be able to get around for the time being.
action: Look around
response: Rubble and debris fill the back half of the bathroom. At least one pipe burst in the collapse, and water sprays steadily across the room to bounce off a stall door and pool on the ugly cream-and-black tiles.

George stands looking miserable with his hands in the pockets of his too-big pants.

Keiko is here, leaning heavily on a lacrosse stick.

You can also see a pair of safety scissors here.
action: You get George
response: You take George's hand. "Stay with me," you say.
action: You get Keiko
response: You reach for Keiko's free hand, but she says, "No, I need my hand for balance. I'll just follow you."
(If you don't want Keiko to follow you, try KEIKO, SIT.)
action: You go to the east
response: You get to your feet with the help of a nearby wall.

You are holding George's hand, so he follows you.

The failing fluorescent lights illuminate a kid-height drinking fountain in the south wall. The boys' bathroom is to the east and the girls' bathroom is to the west, both marked with Happy Hygiene signs reminding everyone about handwashing.

George is here, holding hands with you.

Ashley is sitting here fiddling with the damaged hem of her skirt.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

There's a wet spot growing on the carpet near the door to the girls' room.

You can also see a small rubber wedge here.

Keiko hobbles into the hall.
action: You sit
response: You say, "Keiko, please have a seat."

Keiko sits down carefully, keeping her weight entirely off her bad
leg.

Ashley approaches Keiko with her eyes averted. "Kiki, I'm sorry I ran away. I didn't mean to, I was scared, I'm sorry."

Keiko says, "If I could've run away, I would have run too. It's all right - we're good."

Keiko reaches up to Ashley, and they exchange a hug.
action: Go north
response: You are holding George's hand, so he follows you.

Emily's former classroom is to the north, marked with a construction paper sign reading "Ms. Wagner's room - Come In!" To the south, there's an alcove that splits off toward the bathrooms. The hallway continues to the east and west, decorated with inexpertly drawn
posters about When I Grow Up.

George is here, holding hands with you.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go west
response: You are holding George's hand, so he follows you.

The wall buckled a bit here, but didn't collapse entirely - unlike to the west, where outright wreckage is visible by the gym entrance. Colorful leaf rubbings and magazine mosaics hang drunkenly off their moorings.

George is here, holding hands with you.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go west
response: You are holding George's hand, so he follows you.

The air reeks of smoke and chemicals. To the south, two large double doors lead into the gymnasium. Mrs. McCaskill's classroom used to be accessible to the north, but there's no going that way now.

George is here, holding hands with you.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You go south
response: You are holding George's hand, so he follows you.

The elderly gymnasium looks relatively unscathed. Since this room doubles as an auditorium, stacked bleachers line the north wall. The open door to the equipment room is west, and the locker room is south. The double doors leading back to the hallway are north.

George is here, holding hands with you.

Blue exercise mats are piled to one side, arranged around a balance beam, and scattered over the floor.

You can also see Mr. Lewis's gym keys, a blue exercise mat, and a pommel horse here.
action: Go south
response: You are holding George's hand, so he follows you.

Heavy wooden benches separate long rows of battered green gym lockers. Everything smells like old socks in here. The coach's office is over to the east, and the gym is back to the north.

George is here, holding hands with you.

The gym office door is open.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

A old boombox sits quietly on one of the wooden benches.

You can also see a deodorant spray bottle and a broken ponytail holder here.
action: Go east
response: You are holding George's hand, so he follows you.

Mr. Lewis's office is sparsely furnished in cement and metal. There's a massive steel desk against the left wall and a row of coat hooks on the other side. The one framed poster shows two basketball players colliding in an explosion of sweat. Everything reeks of old body
odor, and, of course, George.

George is here, holding hands with you.

The gym office door is open.

There's a black wire wastebasket beside the desk.
action: You look at wastebasket
response: It's a basic black wire wastebasket.

In the black wire wastebasket are some pair of soggy pants.
action: You examine the desk
response: (the massive steel desk)
It's quite a cut above Jenny McCaskill's, but you can also see why she wouldn't want this steel behemoth. You could probably hide under this successfully during DEFCON 2.

The desk drawer is open.
action: You look under the desk
response: (the massive steel desk)
You find nothing of interest.
action: You look in the drawer
response: The desk drawer is empty.
action: You wear the pants
response: (the pair of black slacks)
You're already wearing those!
action: Examine poster
response: One of the basketball players is white, and one is black, but you
don't know much about basketball and you can't recognize either one. Their faces are contorted with effort as one lunges for the ball and the other struggles to keep it away. The lettering underneath reads, "You better SWEAT!"
action: You get the soggy pants
response: You ask, "George, could you please grab the pants from that wastebasket?"

George says, "No, I don't need those pants now!"
action: You get the wastebasket
response: You ask, "George, can you please take that wastebasket?"

George heaves at the black wire wastebasket before giving up, disappointed. "I can't, it's too heavy for me!"
action: You look around
response: Mr. Lewis's office is sparsely furnished in cement and metal. There's a massive steel desk against the left wall and a row of coat hooks on the other side. The one framed poster shows two basketball players colliding in an explosion of sweat. Everything reeks of old body
odor, and, of course, George.

George is here, holding hands with you.

The gym office door is open.

There's a black wire wastebasket beside the desk.
action: You go to the west
response: You are holding George's hand, so he follows you.

Heavy wooden benches separate long rows of battered green gym lockers. Everything smells like old socks in here. The coach's office is over to the east, and the gym is back to the north.

George is here, holding hands with you.

The gym office door is open.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

A old boombox sits quietly on one of the wooden benches.

You can also see a deodorant spray bottle and a broken ponytail holder here.
action: You ask Samir about the flashlight
response: Which do you mean, the industrial flashlight, the battery compartment on the industrial flashlight, or the Energizer D-cell batteries?
action: Industrial flashlight
response: You can't think of a good question to ask Samir about the industrial flashlight.
(You could try asking Samir about Ashley, Keiko, or Jude.)
action: You ask Samir about the locker
response: (the gym locker)
You say, "Samir, tell me about the locker."

Samir says, "It's a gym locker, we put our other clothes in them
during gym class."
action: You ask Samir about combination
response: You can't think of a good question to ask Samir about the combination lock.
(You could try asking Samir about Ashley, Keiko, or Jude.)
action: You ask Samir about the narrow locker
response: You can't think of a good question to ask Samir about George's locker. (You could try asking Samir about Ashley, Keiko, or Jude.)
action: You look around
response: Heavy wooden benches separate long rows of battered green gym lockers. Everything smells like old socks in here. The coach's office is over to the east, and the gym is back to the north.

George is here, holding hands with you.

The gym office door is open.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

A old boombox sits quietly on one of the wooden benches.

You can also see a deodorant spray bottle and a broken ponytail holder here.
action: You get Samir
response: You ask, "George, would you please hold hands with Samir?"

George takes Samir's hand.
action: You get Tyrone
response: You ask, "Samir, would you please hold hands with Tyrone?"

Samir takes Tyrone's hand.
action: You get Jude
response: You ask, "Tyrone, would you please hold hands with Jude?"

Tyrone takes Jude's hand.
action: Look around
response: Heavy wooden benches separate long rows of battered green gym lockers. Everything smells like old socks in here. The coach's office is over to the east, and the gym is back to the north.

George is here, holding hands with you and Samir.

The gym office door is open.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with Samir and Jude.

A old boombox sits quietly on one of the wooden benches.

You can also see a deodorant spray bottle and a broken ponytail holder here.
action: You go north
response: You are holding George's hand, so he follows you.
George is holding Samir's hand, so he follows George.
Samir is holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows Samir.
Tyrone is holding Jude's hand, so she follows Tyrone.

The elderly gymnasium looks relatively unscathed. Since this room doubles as an auditorium, stacked bleachers line the north wall. The open door to the equipment room is west, and the locker room is south. The double doors leading back to the hallway are north.

Jude is here, holding hands with Tyrone and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

Samir is here, holding hands with Tyrone and George.

Blue exercise mats are piled to one side, arranged around a balance beam, and scattered over the floor.

You can also see Mr. Lewis's gym keys, a blue exercise mat, and a pommel horse here.
action: Go north
response: You are holding George's hand, so he follows you.
George is holding Samir's hand, so he follows George.
Samir is holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows Samir.
Tyrone is holding Jude's hand, so she follows Tyrone.

The air reeks of smoke and chemicals. To the south, two large double doors lead into the gymnasium. Mrs. McCaskill's classroom used to be accessible to the north, but there's no going that way now.

Jude is here, holding hands with Tyrone and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

Samir is here, holding hands with Tyrone and George.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Push horse north
response: You ask, "Tyrone, can you push the pommel horse into the hallway?
Jude, Samir, and George, he'll need your help for this."

Tyrone lets go of Samir's hand.

Tyrone lets go of Jude's hand.

Jude looks at Mr. Bunny, looks at the floor, and then hugs him even tighter.

Jude tucks Mr. Bunny under her arm for safety.

Samir lets go of George's hand.

George lets go of your hand.

Tyrone, Jude, Samir, and George gather around the pommel horse and try to move it. With many small-kid grunts of effort, they get the pommel horse moving and successfully slide it into the hallway.
action: Go north
response: The air reeks of smoke and chemicals. To the south, two large double doors lead into the gymnasium. Mrs. McCaskill's classroom used to be accessible to the north, but there's no going that way now.

George stands looking miserable with his hands in the pockets of his too-big pants.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

You can also see a pommel horse here.
action: Push horse east
response: You ask, "Tyrone, can you push the pommel horse along the hall?
George, Samir, and Jude, he'll need your help for this."

Jude looks at Mr. Bunny, looks at the floor, and then hugs him even tighter.

Jude tucks Mr. Bunny under her arm for safety.

Tyrone, George, Samir, and Jude gather around the pommel horse and try to move it. With many small-kid grunts of effort, they get the pommel horse moving and successfully slide it along the hall.
action: You go east
response: The wall buckled a bit here, but didn't collapse entirely - unlike to the west, where outright wreckage is visible by the gym entrance. Colorful leaf rubbings and magazine mosaics hang drunkenly off their moorings.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

George stands looking miserable with his hands in the pockets of his too-big pants.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

You can also see a pommel horse here.
action: Push horse north
response: You ask, "Tyrone, can you push the pommel horse into the art room? Jude, Samir, and George, he'll need your help for this."

Jude looks at Mr. Bunny, looks at the floor, and then hugs him even tighter.

Jude tucks Mr. Bunny under her arm for safety.

Tyrone, Jude, Samir, and George gather around the pommel horse and try to move it. With many small-kid grunts of effort, they get the pommel horse moving and successfully slide it into the art room.
action: You go north
response: This was your classroom. A gaping hole in the wall provides
unexpected access to Mrs. McCaskill's room. Tissue paper trees line the intact east wall, striving to brighten the desolation.

You left a long table shoved up against the west wall. Now, that
table supports half the rubble from the collapsed wall and partially blocks your access to the gaping hole.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.

George stands looking miserable with his hands in the pockets of his too-big pants.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

You can also see a pommel horse and a slim red notebook (empty) here.
action: You look at the ceiling
response: It's very strange seeing the wreckage of the ceiling and walls. The school used to be divided into boxes, each hall and room discrete, but now those boxes have crunched like eggshell.
action: Push horse south
response: You ask, "Tyrone, can you push the pommel horse to the hallway?
George, Samir, and Jude, he'll need your help for this."

Jude looks at Mr. Bunny, looks at the floor, and then hugs him even tighter.

Jude tucks Mr. Bunny under her arm for safety.

Tyrone, George, Samir, and Jude gather around the pommel horse and try to move it. With many small-kid grunts of effort, they get the pommel horse moving and successfully slide it to the hallway.
action: Push horse east
response: You shout, "Tyrone, can you push the pommel horse along the hall?
Jude, Samir, and George, he'll need your help for this."

Jude looks at Mr. Bunny, looks at the floor, and then hugs him even tighter.

Jude tucks Mr. Bunny under her arm for safety.

Tyrone, Jude, Samir, and George gather around the pommel horse and try to move it. With many small-kid grunts of effort, they get the pommel horse moving and successfully slide it along the hall.
action: You go east
response: Emily's former classroom is to the north, marked with a construction paper sign reading "Ms. Wagner's room - Come In!" To the south, there's an alcove that splits off toward the bathrooms. The hallway continues to the east and west, decorated with inexpertly drawn
posters about When I Grow Up.

George stands looking miserable with his hands in the pockets of his too-big pants.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

You can also see a pommel horse here.
action: Push horse north
response: You ask, "Tyrone, can you push the pommel horse into the classroom? George, Samir, and Jude, he'll need your help for this."

Jude looks at Mr. Bunny, looks at the floor, and then hugs him even tighter.

Jude tucks Mr. Bunny under her arm for safety.

Tyrone, George, Samir, and Jude gather around the pommel horse and try to move it. With many small-kid grunts of effort, they get the pommel horse moving and successfully slide it into the classroom.
action: You go north
response: Ms. Wagner's Room
This classroom is reasonably undamaged, apart from a fallen ceiling tile. The decorations are straight out of the 70's, all giant cardboard apples and smiling cartoon children, occupying not only the walls but the front of Ms. Wagner's desk. The air smells of markers and chalk dust.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

George stands looking miserable with his hands in the pockets of his too-big pants.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

You can also see a closet door, a pommel horse, and an enormous blackboard here.
action: You look at the ceiling
response: Looks like one of the tiles was jarred loose from above.
action: You get on the horse
response: You're not going to climb on top of the pommel horse unless it's absolutely necessary. Your weakened muscles ache at the idea alone.
action: You get on the horse
response: You ask, "Tyrone, can you climb up on the pommel horse?"

Tyrone pulls himself up onto the pommel horse and then stands up.
action: You get the tile
response: You ask, "Tyrone, would you please grab that tile?"

Tyrone sizes up the fallen ceiling tile and then shakes his head. "I don't think I can move that."

Well, you probably didn't need the fallen ceiling tile anyway.

George picks up a piece of chalk and adds a few more details to one of the drawings on the board.

Satisfied with the result, George puts the chalk back in the tray.
action: You go north
response: This is the only supply closet on the hall, but at least it's large. Boxes line the right wall beneath a row of empty coat hooks. On the left wall, files and stacks of paper cover the lower shelves, and a
few odds and ends have been tucked away on the highest shelf.

You can see a closet door and a cinder block here.
action: You look in the boxes
response: You check inside one of the boxes and discover a pile of translucent plastic file folders in various neon hues. That box doesn't look useful, so you close it up again.
action: You examine files
response: Stacks of fresh photocopies waiting for distribution to students and stacks of finished homework waiting for retrieval by teachers. Some
of them have been converted into paper snowflakes.
action: You climb on the block
response: You're not up for clambering around right now. You might climb on something large and flat, like a desk, but a cinder block? No.
action: You look at the shelf
response: Which do you mean, the low shelves or the high shelf?
action: You get the flashlight
response: (the industrial flashlight)
You try - you close your shaking hand around the flashlight's handle and lift. It's like trying to lift a semi truck with one hand. Dark spots flash instantly through your vision, and you wonder briefly if you're going to pass out.

The flashlight falls from your fingers and thumps back into place on the shelf. You managed to move it perhaps an inch.
action: Go south
response: Ms. Wagner's Room
This classroom is reasonably undamaged, apart from a fallen ceiling tile. The decorations are straight out of the 70's, all giant cardboard apples and smiling cartoon children, occupying not only the walls but the front of Ms. Wagner's desk. The air smells of markers and chalk dust.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

George stands looking miserable with his hands in the pockets of his too-big pants.

You can also see a closet door, a pommel horse (on which is Tyrone), and an enormous blackboard here.

George picks up a piece of chalk and adds a few more details to one of the drawings on the board.

Satisfied with the result, George puts the chalk back in the tray.
action: You examine the board
response: The blackboard currently contains a list of countries in Western Europe, with extra notes about Luxembourg (capital - Luxembourg, largest city - Luxembourg, official languages - French, German, and Luxembourgish).

Off to the side, the blackboard contains your note:

IF YOU FIND THIS: DO NOT ERASE!
Leave the school ASAP.
I have located Jude, Keiko, George, Samir, Tyrone, and Ashley
and we are leaving as soon as we can.

~Mr. Ginsberg

Additionally, the blackboard contains a chalk drawing of a smiling woman riding in a rocket ship toward an impressively cratered moon.
action: You ask Tyrone,  to go north
response: You say, "Tyrone, please go into the supply closet."

Tyrone jumps down from the pommel horse.

Tyrone goes north.
action: You go to the north
response: This is the only supply closet on the hall, but at least it's large. Boxes line the right wall beneath a row of empty coat hooks. On the left wall, files and stacks of paper cover the lower shelves, and a
few odds and ends have been tucked away on the highest shelf.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

You can also see a closet door and a cinder block here.
action: You get the flashlight
response: (the industrial flashlight)
You ask, "Tyrone, can you please pick up that flashlight?"

Tyrone stands on tiptoe and tries, but the industrial flashlight is
out of reach on the high shelf. "I could climb up on the low shelves, if you want?" he suggests cautiously.
action: You get on low shelves
response: You ask, "Tyrone, can you climb up on the low shelves? I want you to get down the flashlight."

Tyrone climbs up the low shelves and cranes to see the high shelf. He spots the flashlight immediately, stretches out as far as he can, and grabs it.

Tyrone jumps back down from the shelves.
action: You get the batteries
response: Taken.
action: You put the batteries in the flashlight
response: Which do you mean, the industrial flashlight (Tyrone's) or the battery compartment on the industrial flashlight (Tyrone's)?
action: Compartment
response: There isn't enough room because the battery compartment on the industrial flashlight already contains the Energizer D-cell batteries.

The Duracell D-cell batteries falls from your shaking hands to the floor.
action: You turn on the flashlight
response: (the industrial flashlight)
You say, "Tyrone, hold the flashlight over here for a moment."

You switch the flashlight on, but nothing happens. The batteries must be dead.
action: You open the flashlight
response: (the battery compartment on the industrial flashlight)
You say, "Tyrone, let me take a look at the flashlight battery compartment."

You open the battery compartment on the industrial flashlight, revealing some Energizer D-cell batteries.
action: You get the energizer
response: Your hands are shaking badly enough that you're afraid of dropping the Energizer D-cell batteries, but you could ask Tyrone to get it for
you.
action: You get the energizer
response: You ask, "Tyrone, would you please pick up the Energizer batteries
from that flashlight battery compartment?"

Tyrone pries the Energizer batteries out of the flashlight.
action: You put the duracell in the compartment
response: (first taking the Duracell D-cell batteries)

Your hands are shaking badly enough that you're afraid of dropping the Duracell D-cell batteries, but you could ask Tyrone to get it for you.
action: You drop the energizer
response: You say, "Tyrone, please put down the Energizer batteries."

Tyrone puts the Energizer D-cell batteries on the floor.
action: You put the duracell in the compartment
response: You ask, "Tyrone, can you put the Duracell batteries into your flashlight battery compartment?"

Tyrone picks up the Duracell D-cell batteries.

Tyrone checks the polarities and then fits the batteries into the battery compartment on the industrial flashlight.

Tyrone closes the battery compartment on the industrial flashlight.

The flashlight beam blinks on.
action: You close flashlight
response: (the industrial flashlight)
You say, "Tyrone, I need to see the flashlight battery compartment for a moment."

That's already closed.
action: Go south
response: You are holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows you.

Ms. Wagner's Room
This classroom is reasonably undamaged, apart from a fallen ceiling tile. The decorations are straight out of the 70's, all giant cardboard apples and smiling cartoon children, occupying not only the walls but the front of Ms. Wagner's desk. The air smells of markers and chalk dust.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with you and carrying an industrial flashlight. Light spears out from the flashlight in his hand.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

George stands looking miserable with his hands in the pockets of his too-big pants.

You can also see a closet door, a pommel horse, and an enormous blackboard here.
action: You turn off the flashlight
response: (the industrial flashlight)
You say, "Tyrone, hold the flashlight over here for a moment."

You switch the flashlight off. The beam of comforting yellow light vanishes immediately.
action: Push horse south
response: You ask, "Tyrone, can you push the pommel horse to the hallway? Jude, Samir, and George, he'll need your help for this."

Tyrone lets go of your hand.

Tyrone puts the industrial flashlight on the floor.

Jude looks at Mr. Bunny, looks at the floor, and then hugs him even tighter.

Jude tucks Mr. Bunny under her arm for safety.

Tyrone, Jude, Samir, and George gather around the pommel horse and try to move it. With many small-kid grunts of effort, they get the pommel horse moving and successfully slide it to the hallway.
action: You ask Tyrone,  to go north
response: You say, "Tyrone, I want you to go into the classroom."

Tyrone goes north.
action: You go to the north
response: Ms. Wagner's Room
This classroom is reasonably undamaged, apart from a fallen ceiling tile. The decorations are straight out of the 70's, all giant cardboard apples and smiling cartoon children, occupying not only the walls but the front of Ms. Wagner's desk. The air smells of markers and chalk dust.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

A lightless industrial flashlight is here.

You can also see a closet door and an enormous blackboard here.
action: You put the flashlight in the backpack
response: (the industrial flashlight in the black canvas backpack)
(first taking the industrial flashlight)

You can't. It's an ordinary flashlight, but you're too sick and weak to move it.
action: You put the flashlight in the backpack
response: (the industrial flashlight in the black canvas backpack)
You ask, "Tyrone, can you put the flashlight into your backpack?"

Tyrone picks up the industrial flashlight.

Tyrone puts the industrial flashlight into the bulging black canvas backpack.
action: You ask Tyrone,  to go to the south
response: You say, "Tyrone, please go to the hallway."

Tyrone goes south.
action: Go south
response: Emily's former classroom is to the north, marked with a construction paper sign reading "Ms. Wagner's room - Come In!" To the south, there's an alcove that splits off toward the bathrooms. The hallway continues to the east and west, decorated with inexpertly drawn
posters about When I Grow Up.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

George stands looking miserable with his hands in the pockets of his too-big pants.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

You can also see a pommel horse here.
action: Push horse east
response: You ask, "Tyrone, can you push the pommel horse past the lockers? George, Samir, and Jude, he'll need your help for this."

Jude looks at Mr. Bunny, looks at the floor, and then hugs him even tighter.

Jude tucks Mr. Bunny under her arm for safety.

Tyrone, George, Samir, and Jude gather around the pommel horse and try to move it. With many small-kid grunts of effort, they get the pommel horse moving and successfully slide it past the lockers.
action: You go to the east
response: The locker-lined hallway stretches from east to west. Pictures of famous Americans gaze starchily down from above the dull brown
lockers, almost successfully concealing the old water damage on the walls. You can smell something burning.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

George stands looking miserable with his hands in the pockets of his too-big pants.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

One of the lockers is standing open.

You can also see a pommel horse and a straightened striped green paper clip here.
action: Push horse east
response: You ask, "Tyrone, can you push the pommel horse along the hall? Jude, Samir, and George, he'll need your help for this."

Jude looks at Mr. Bunny, looks at the floor, and then hugs him even tighter.

Jude tucks Mr. Bunny under her arm for safety.

Tyrone, Jude, Samir, and George gather around the pommel horse and try to move it. With many small-kid grunts of effort, they get the pommel horse moving and successfully slide it along the hall.
action: Go east
response: Fire alarm lights strobe across a painfully cheerful mural on the east wall, positioned exactly opposite the west-facing hallway. The classrooms and the gymnasium are off to the west, the science and computer labs are north, and the cafeteria is off to the south, but
you can see from here that no part of the building went unravaged. At least it looks like most of the kids made it out.

George stands looking miserable with his hands in the pockets of his too-big pants.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

There's a bulletin board lying face-down on the floor.

You can also see a pommel horse here.
action: Push horse south
response: You ask, "Tyrone, can you push the pommel horse toward the cafeteria? George, Samir, and Jude, he'll need your help for this."

Jude looks at Mr. Bunny, looks at the floor, and then hugs him even tighter.

Jude tucks Mr. Bunny under her arm for safety.

Tyrone, George, Samir, and Jude gather around the pommel horse and try to move it. With many small-kid grunts of effort, they get the pommel horse moving and successfully slide it toward the cafeteria.
action: Go south
response: This part of the hall has been plastered with signs in unsubtle red, white, and blue, occasionally accented with yellow smiley-face stickers. The overhead lights are flickering weakly here, and the power probably won't last long. The hall continues south toward the school kitchen and north toward the classrooms.

The cafeteria doors are to the east, but they're closed and locked, since lunch ended hours ago.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

George stands looking miserable with his hands in the pockets of his too-big pants.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

You can also see a pommel horse here.
action: Push horse south
response: You ask, "Tyrone, can you push the pommel horse toward the school kitchen? Jude, Samir, and George, he'll need your help for this."

Jude looks at Mr. Bunny, looks at the floor, and then hugs him even tighter.

Jude tucks Mr. Bunny under her arm for safety.

Tyrone, Jude, Samir, and George gather around the pommel horse and try to move it. With many small-kid grunts of effort, they get the pommel horse moving and successfully slide it toward the school kitchen.
action: Go south
response: With the overhead fluorescents out, it's particularly dim at this end of the hallway, but the flashing fire alarms illuminate the door labelled "KITCHEN STAFF - NO STUDENTS". The door is partly open, wedged in place with a serving tray.

George stands looking miserable with his hands in the pockets of his too-big pants.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

You can also see a pommel horse here.
action: You get the flashlight
response: (the industrial flashlight)
You ask, "Tyrone, could you please take the flashlight from that backpack?"

Tyrone picks up the industrial flashlight.
action: Push horse east
response: You ask, "Samir, can you push the pommel horse into the kitchen? George, Jude, and Tyrone, he'll need your help for this."

George says, "Can we turn the lights on first?"
Tyrone says, "We need some light first!"
Jude looks at Mr. Bunny, looks at the floor, and then hugs him even tighter.

Jude tucks Mr. Bunny under her arm for safety.

Samir and Jude gather around the pommel horse and try to move it.
With many small-kid grunts of effort, they get the pommel horse moving and successfully slide it into the kitchen.

Jude comes into the hall.
action: You turn on the flashlight
response: (the industrial flashlight)
You say, "Tyrone, let me take a look at the flashlight."

You switch the flashlight on. It immediately produces a steady beam
of comforting yellow light.
action: Push horse east
response: Running the layout of the school through your head, you don't think Samir can push the pommel horse east from where he is.

You could ask him to push it north into the cafeteria, west into the hallway, or up down the big dark tunnel.
action: You describe your surroundings
response: With the overhead fluorescents out, it's particularly dim at this end of the hallway, but the flashing fire alarms illuminate the door labelled "KITCHEN STAFF - NO STUDENTS". The door is partly open, wedged in place with a serving tray.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

George stands looking miserable with his hands in the pockets of his too-big pants.

Tyrone is here, carrying an industrial flashlight. Light spears out from the flashlight in his hand.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You go east
response: The kitchen has no windows, and without the overhead lights, it's seriously dark here. Counters and shelves are barely discernable glints in the blackness.

Reflected fire alarm light flickers in the doorway to the west.

Because you know exactly where to look, you can see the ventilation grate against the darkened ceiling.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

You can also see a pommel horse here.
action: You go to the east
response: Tyrone hesitantly follows the flashlight beam into the darkness.

It's very dark in here, since the overhead lights are out. The flashlight beam paints its wavering yellow eye across a landscape of sterile steel. It's not much light, but it reduces the maze of counters to comprehensible rows, and it's enough to illuminate the swinging door leading north.

Reflected fire alarm light flickers in the doorway to the west.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with you and carrying an industrial flashlight. Light spears out from the flashlight in his hand.

Because you know exactly where to look, you can see the ventilation grate against the darkened ceiling.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

You can also see a pommel horse here.
action: You look at the counters
response: The flashlight's wavering eye reflects back from the polished steel.
action: Push horse north
response: You ask, "Samir, can you push the pommel horse into the cafeteria? Tyrone, he'll need your help for this."

Tyrone lets go of your hand.

Tyrone puts the industrial flashlight on the floor.

Samir and Tyrone gather around the pommel horse and try to move it. After straining for a few seconds, they give up. "It's too heavy!" Samir says.
action: Go west
response: With the overhead fluorescents out, it's particularly dim at this end of the hallway, but the flashing fire alarms illuminate the door labelled "KITCHEN STAFF - NO STUDENTS". The door is partly open, wedged in place with a serving tray.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

George stands looking miserable with his hands in the pockets of his too-big pants.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You get Jude
response: You take Jude's hand. "Stay with me," you say.
action: You get George
response: You take George's hand. "Stay with me," you say.
action: You go to the east
response: Jude hangs back warily before spotting the flashlight inside.
George hangs back warily before spotting the flashlight inside.

It's very dark in here, since the overhead lights are out. The flashlight beam paints its wavering yellow eye across a landscape of sterile steel. It's not much light, but it reduces the maze of counters to comprehensible rows, and it's enough to illuminate the swinging door leading north.

Reflected fire alarm light flickers in the doorway to the west.

George is here, holding hands with you.

Jude is here, holding hands with you and clinging to Mr. Bunny.

An industrial flashlight sits on the ground, emitting a yellow beam of light.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

Because you know exactly where to look, you can see the ventilation grate against the darkened ceiling.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

You can also see a pommel horse here.
action: Push horse north
response: You ask, "Tyrone, can you push the pommel horse into the cafeteria? George, Jude, and Samir, he'll need your help for this."

George lets go of your hand.

Jude lets go of your hand.

Jude looks at Mr. Bunny, looks at the floor, and then hugs him even tighter.

Jude tucks Mr. Bunny under her arm for safety.

Tyrone, George, Jude, and Samir gather around the pommel horse and try to move it. With many small-kid grunts of effort, they get the pommel horse moving and successfully slide it into the cafeteria.
action: Go north
response: You lean against the swinging door, which eventually yields.

This is one of the few modern-day cafeterias that doesn't sport a set of vending machines in addition to standard cafeteria fare. Pale sunlight streams down through the high bank of huge windows, shining carelessly over the faded tile and the ceiling-high folded lunch
tables alike. The kitchen door is to the south.

The cafeteria doors are to the west, but they're completely blocked
off behind the folded lunch tables.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

George stands looking miserable with his hands in the pockets of his too-big pants.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

You can also see a pommel horse here.

The door swings shut behind you.
action: You examine the windows
response: The windows are huge, almost six feet square, and they're positioned
so far up the wall that the bottom of the frame is roughly even with your chin.

The ground slopes away on this side of the school, so the sidewalk is about fifteen feet below the window. Looking outside, you see a relatively untouched expanse of grass and concrete, though dark smoke rises from the high school across the way. Though contrails
crisscross the sky, there is no one in sight, either on foot or overhead to the sidewalk below.
action: You break the window
response: Breaking the window by hand is dangerous, and it might not even be possible. Samir will need something appropriately heavy even to try.
action: You get on the horse
response: You ask, "Tyrone, can you get up on the pommel horse?"

Tyrone pulls himself up onto the pommel horse and then stands up.
action: You look through window
response: You ask, "Tyrone, can you check on those windows and tell me what's there?"

Tyrone gives you a confused look.
action: TYRONE, ,LOOK AT WINDOW
response: You say, "Tyrone, tell me about the windows."

Tyrone says, "They're the cafeteria windows. They're really big, and pretty high up."
action: You examine the black backpack
response: You examine Tyrone's backpack. It's a basic black canvas backpack, with all the normal zippers and accoutrements.

In the black canvas backpack are a bobby pin and a broken shoelace.
action: You examine Samir
response: He's heavily smudged with dust and grime, but generally looks unhurt.

Samir is wearing a bulging blue knapsack, a purple polo shirt, and a pair of black shorts.
action: You examine the knapsack
response: You examine Samir's knapsack. Samir's blue knapsack is generally sun-faded, but there's a brighter patch on the back. There's a suspicious bulge weighing down the bottom of the knapsack.
action: You open the knapsack
response: You say, "Samir, I need to see your knapsack for a moment."

You open the bulging blue knapsack, revealing a large geode.
action: You examine the geode
response: You examine the large geode inside Samir's bulging blue knapsack.
It's a cut geode half - boring grey on the outside, but a glittering mass of dense blue crystal on the inside. This particular geode is almost as large as a softball. It has almost no hollow space left,
and no sharp points on the inside.
action: You throw the geode at the window
response: You ask, "Samir, can you throw that geode through that window?"

(Samir first taking the large geode)
You ask, "Samir, can you please grab the geode from that knapsack?"

Samir picks up the large geode.

Samir measures the distance for a moment, hefts the geode in both hands, and then pitches it at the center window.
The geode sails through the elderly windowpane with a magnificent crash, leaving an empty window frame edged with jagged shards behind.

Samir won't understand those instructions. You need to rethink your strategy.

(Reminder: If you just saw a "What do you want Samir to ?" message, please reenter your second command now.)
action: You enter the window
response: (the empty window frame)
The bottom of the window frame is almost two feet above Samir's head. He'll need to get up on the pommel horse first.
action: You get on the horse
response: You ask, "Samir, can you get on top of the pommel horse?"

Samir pulls himself up onto the pommel horse and then stands up.
action: You enter the window
response: (the empty window frame)
You ask, "Samir, can you go through the empty window frame?"

Samir goes through the empty window frame.
action: You look
response: This is one of the few modern-day cafeterias that doesn't sport a set of vending machines in addition to standard cafeteria fare. Pale sunlight streams down through the high bank of huge windows, shining carelessly over the faded tile and the ceiling-high folded lunch
tables alike. The kitchen door is to the south.

The cafeteria doors are to the west, but they're completely blocked
off behind the folded lunch tables.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

George stands looking miserable with his hands in the pockets of his too-big pants.

One of the windows has been shattered, leaving an empty window frame edged with jagged glass shards.

You can also see a pommel horse (on which is Tyrone) here.
action: Shout
response: You shout, "Hello! Does anyone hear me?"
action: You look
response: You call, "Samir, tell me what you see?"

Samir yells, "It's the sidewalk outside school. You can see the
recess grounds over there through the fence. There's a rock here."
action: You ask Samir,  to go downward
response: Running the layout of the school through your head, you don't think Samir can go down from where he is.

You could ask him to go north along the sidewalk.
action: You look at Samir
response: He's heavily smudged with dust and grime, but generally looks unhurt.

Samir is wearing a blue knapsack, a purple polo shirt, and a pair of black shorts.
action: Go north
response: You can't go that way.

From here, you can try going south into the kitchen, east out the broken window, or west toward the hallway.
action: You ask Samir,  to go north
response: You call, "Samir, I need you to go along the sidewalk."

Samir yells, "Okay, I'm going now!"
action: You look
response: You shout, "What do you see, Samir?"

There is no response.
action: You go north
response: You push painfully through the swinging door.

It's very dark in here, since the overhead lights are out. The flashlight beam paints its wavering yellow eye across a landscape of sterile steel. It's not much light, but it reduces the maze of counters to comprehensible rows, and it's enough to illuminate the swinging door leading north.

Reflected fire alarm light flickers in the doorway to the west.

An industrial flashlight sits on the ground, emitting a yellow beam of light.

Because you know exactly where to look, you can see the ventilation grate against the darkened ceiling.

The door swings shut behind you.

With the overhead fluorescents out, it's particularly dim at this end of the hallway, but the flashing fire alarms illuminate the door labelled "KITCHEN STAFF - NO STUDENTS". The door is partly open, wedged in place with a serving tray.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

This part of the hall has been plastered with signs in unsubtle red, white, and blue, occasionally accented with yellow smiley-face stickers. The overhead lights are flickering weakly here, and the power probably won't last long. The hall continues south toward the school kitchen and north toward the classrooms.

The cafeteria doors are to the east, but they're closed and locked, since lunch ended hours ago.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

Fire alarm lights strobe across a painfully cheerful mural on the east wall, positioned exactly opposite the west-facing hallway. The classrooms and the gymnasium are off to the west, the science and computer labs are north, and the cafeteria is off to the south, but
you can see from here that no part of the building went unravaged. At least it looks like most of the kids made it out.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

There's a bulletin board lying face-down on the floor.
action: Shout
response: You shout, "Hello! Can anyone hear me?"

Jude doesn't answer you.
action: You go north
response: With the overhead fluorescents out, it's particularly dim at this end of the hallway, but the flashing fire alarms illuminate the door labelled "KITCHEN STAFF - NO STUDENTS". The door is partly open, wedged in place with a serving tray.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

It's very dark in here, since the overhead lights are out. The flashlight beam paints its wavering yellow eye across a landscape of sterile steel. It's not much light, but it reduces the maze of counters to comprehensible rows, and it's enough to illuminate the swinging door leading north.

Reflected fire alarm light flickers in the doorway to the west.

Because you know exactly where to look, you can see the ventilation grate against the darkened ceiling.

An industrial flashlight sits on the ground, emitting a yellow beam of light.

Even pushing through the swinging door takes more effort than it should.

This is one of the few modern-day cafeterias that doesn't sport a set of vending machines in addition to standard cafeteria fare. Pale sunlight streams down through the high bank of huge windows, shining carelessly over the faded tile and the ceiling-high folded lunch
tables alike. The kitchen door is to the south.

The cafeteria doors are to the west, but they're completely blocked
off behind the folded lunch tables.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

George stands looking miserable with his hands in the pockets of his too-big pants.

One of the windows has been shattered, leaving an empty window frame edged with jagged glass shards.

You can also see a pommel horse (on which is Tyrone) here.

The door swings shut behind you.
action: You enter the window
response: (the empty window frame)
You ask, "Tyrone, can you go through the empty window frame?"

Tyrone goes through the empty window frame.
action: Shout
response: You call, "Tyrone, I need you to shout now, a really big shout.
Ready?"

Tyrone gives a big, wordless whoop.
action: You enter the window
response: (the empty window frame)

Black smoke rises over the school, shattered glass litters the ground, and the daylight never looked so good. Since the fence stops you from going south, the only way to go is north along the sidewalk.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

You can also see a large geode here.
action: You jump
response: The empty window frame provides access to the outside, but it's edged with jagged shards of glass. If you try to pull yourself up by the frame, you'll slice your hands to ribbons.
action: You get on the horse
response: You get onto the pommel horse.
action: You jump
response: Ask a girl with a broken leg to jump up and down? That's an awful idea.
action: You jump out the window
response: Keiko won't understand those instructions. You need to rethink your strategy.

(Reminder: If you just saw a "What do you want Keiko to ?" message, please reenter your second command now.)
action: You look at your surroundings
response: This is one of the few modern-day cafeterias that doesn't sport a set of vending machines in addition to standard cafeteria fare. Pale sunlight streams down through the high bank of huge windows, shining carelessly over the faded tile and the ceiling-high folded lunch
tables alike. The kitchen door is to the south.

The cafeteria doors are to the west, but they're completely blocked
off behind the folded lunch tables.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

George stands looking miserable with his hands in the pockets of his too-big pants.

One of the windows has been shattered, leaving an empty window frame edged with jagged glass shards.

You can also see a pommel horse (on which are Samir and Tyrone) here.
action: You ask Samir,  to go south
response: You say, "Samir, I need you to go into the kitchen."

Samir jumps down from the pommel horse.

Samir goes south.
action: Go south
response: You push painfully through the swinging door.

It's very dark in here, since the overhead lights are out. The flashlight beam paints its wavering yellow eye across a landscape of sterile steel. It's not much light, but it reduces the maze of counters to comprehensible rows, and it's enough to illuminate the swinging door leading north.

Reflected fire alarm light flickers in the doorway to the west.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

An industrial flashlight sits on the ground, emitting a yellow beam of light.

Because you know exactly where to look, you can see the ventilation grate against the darkened ceiling.

The door swings shut behind you.
action: You ask Samir,  to go north
response: You say, "Samir, I want you to go into the cafeteria."

Samir goes north.
action: You go north
response: You lean against the swinging door, which eventually yields.

This is one of the few modern-day cafeterias that doesn't sport a set of vending machines in addition to standard cafeteria fare. Pale sunlight streams down through the high bank of huge windows, shining carelessly over the faded tile and the ceiling-high folded lunch
tables alike. The kitchen door is to the south.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

The cafeteria doors are to the west, but they're completely blocked
off behind the folded lunch tables.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

George stands looking miserable with his hands in the pockets of his too-big pants.

One of the windows has been shattered, leaving an empty window frame edged with jagged glass shards.

You can also see a pommel horse (on which is Tyrone) here.

The door swings shut behind you.
action: You get off the horse
response: TYRONE, STAND

You say, "Tyrone, please stand up."

Tyrone gets to his feet.

You seem to want to talk to someone, but I can't see whom.
action: You get off the horse
response: You say, "Okay, Tyrone, you can climb off the pommel horse now. Be careful getting down."

Tyrone gets off the pommel horse.
action: Push horse south
response: You ask, "Tyrone, can you push the pommel horse into the kitchen? Samir, Jude, and George, he'll need your help for this."

Jude looks at Mr. Bunny, looks at the floor, and then hugs him even tighter.

Jude tucks Mr. Bunny under her arm for safety.

Tyrone, Samir, Jude, and George gather around the pommel horse and try to move it. With many small-kid grunts of effort, they get the pommel horse moving and successfully slide it into the kitchen.
action: Go south
response: Even pushing through the swinging door takes more effort than it should.

It's very dark in here, since the overhead lights are out. The flashlight beam paints its wavering yellow eye across a landscape of sterile steel. It's not much light, but it reduces the maze of counters to comprehensible rows, and it's enough to illuminate the swinging door leading north.

Reflected fire alarm light flickers in the doorway to the west.

George stands looking miserable with his hands in the pockets of his too-big pants.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

An industrial flashlight sits on the ground, emitting a yellow beam of light.

Because you know exactly where to look, you can see the ventilation grate against the darkened ceiling.

You can also see a pommel horse here.

The door swings shut behind you.
action: You ask Jude,  to go north
response: You say, "Jude, I need you to go into the cafeteria."

Jude goes north.
action: You ask Tyrone,  to go north
response: You say, "Tyrone, please go into the cafeteria."

Tyrone goes north.
action: You ask George,  to go north
response: You say, "George, I need you to go into the cafeteria."

George goes north.
action: You look around
response: It's very dark in here, since the overhead lights are out. The flashlight beam paints its wavering yellow eye across a landscape of sterile steel. It's not much light, but it reduces the maze of counters to comprehensible rows, and it's enough to illuminate the swinging door leading north.

Reflected fire alarm light flickers in the doorway to the west.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

An industrial flashlight sits on the ground, emitting a yellow beam of light.

Because you know exactly where to look, you can see the ventilation grate against the darkened ceiling.

You can also see a pommel horse here.
action: You take the flashlight
response: (the industrial flashlight)
You ask, "Samir, could you please get that flashlight?"

Samir picks up the industrial flashlight.
action: You get on the horse
response: You ask, "Samir, can you get up on the pommel horse?"

Samir pulls himself up onto the pommel horse and then stands up.
action: You ask Samir,  to go upward
response: The ceiling of the kitchen is quite high. Samir wouldn't be able to reach the grate even from a counter.
action: You jump
response: You say, "Okay, Samir, being on the pommel horse isn't helping. You can get down now."

Samir gets off the pommel horse.
action: Push horse north
response: You ask, "Samir, can you push the pommel horse into the cafeteria?"

Samir puts the industrial flashlight on the floor.

Samir heaves at the pommel horse, but to no avail. "It's too heavy, I need help!" he says.
action: Go north
response: You lean against the swinging door, which eventually yields.

You are holding Samir's hand, so he follows you.

This is one of the few modern-day cafeterias that doesn't sport a set of vending machines in addition to standard cafeteria fare. Pale sunlight streams down through the high bank of huge windows, shining carelessly over the faded tile and the ceiling-high folded lunch
tables alike. The kitchen door is to the south.

Samir is here, holding hands with you.

George stands looking miserable with his hands in the pockets of his too-big pants.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

The cafeteria doors are to the west, but they're completely blocked
off behind the folded lunch tables.

One of the windows has been shattered, leaving an empty window frame edged with jagged glass shards.

The door swings shut behind you.
action: Go south
response: You push painfully through the swinging door.

You are holding Samir's hand, so he follows you.
Tyrone hangs back warily before spotting the flashlight inside.

It's very dark in here, since the overhead lights are out. The flashlight beam paints its wavering yellow eye across a landscape of sterile steel. It's not much light, but it reduces the maze of counters to comprehensible rows, and it's enough to illuminate the swinging door leading north.

Reflected fire alarm light flickers in the doorway to the west.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with you.

Samir is here, holding hands with you.

An industrial flashlight sits on the ground, emitting a yellow beam of light.

Because you know exactly where to look, you can see the ventilation grate against the darkened ceiling.

You can also see a pommel horse here.

The door swings shut behind you.
action: You go to the west
response: You are holding Samir's hand, so he follows you.
You are holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows you.

With the overhead fluorescents out, it's particularly dim at this end of the hallway, but the flashing fire alarms illuminate the door labelled "KITCHEN STAFF - NO STUDENTS". The door is partly open, wedged in place with a serving tray.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with you.

Samir is here, holding hands with you.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You go to the north
response: You are holding Samir's hand, so he follows you.
You are holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows you.

This part of the hall has been plastered with signs in unsubtle red, white, and blue, occasionally accented with yellow smiley-face stickers. The overhead lights are flickering weakly here, and the power probably won't last long. The hall continues south toward the school kitchen and north toward the classrooms.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with you.

Samir is here, holding hands with you.

The cafeteria doors are to the east, but they're closed and locked, since lunch ended hours ago.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You go north
response: You are holding Samir's hand, so he follows you.
You are holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows you.

Fire alarm lights strobe across a painfully cheerful mural on the east wall, positioned exactly opposite the west-facing hallway. The classrooms and the gymnasium are off to the west, the science and computer labs are north, and the cafeteria is off to the south, but
you can see from here that no part of the building went unravaged. At least it looks like most of the kids made it out.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with you.

Samir is here, holding hands with you.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

There's a bulletin board lying face-down on the floor.
action: Go west
response: You are holding Samir's hand, so he follows you.
You are holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows you.

The locker-lined hallway stretches from east to west. Pictures of famous Americans gaze starchily down from above the dull brown
lockers, almost successfully concealing the old water damage on the walls. You can smell something burning.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with you.

Samir is here, holding hands with you.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

One of the lockers is standing open.

You can also see a straightened striped green paper clip here.
action: You go west
response: You are holding Samir's hand, so he follows you.
You are holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows you.

Emily's former classroom is to the north, marked with a construction paper sign reading "Ms. Wagner's room - Come In!" To the south, there's an alcove that splits off toward the bathrooms. The hallway continues to the east and west, decorated with inexpertly drawn
posters about When I Grow Up.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with you.

Samir is here, holding hands with you.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go west
response: You are holding Samir's hand, so he follows you.
You are holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows you.

The wall buckled a bit here, but didn't collapse entirely - unlike to the west, where outright wreckage is visible by the gym entrance. Colorful leaf rubbings and magazine mosaics hang drunkenly off their moorings.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with you.

Samir is here, holding hands with you.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You go to the west
response: You are holding Samir's hand, so he follows you.
You are holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows you.

The air reeks of smoke and chemicals. To the south, two large double doors lead into the gymnasium. Mrs. McCaskill's classroom used to be accessible to the north, but there's no going that way now.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with you.

Samir is here, holding hands with you.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go south
response: You are holding Samir's hand, so he follows you.
You are holding Tyrone's hand, so he follows you.

The elderly gymnasium looks relatively unscathed. Since this room doubles as an auditorium, stacked bleachers line the north wall. The open door to the equipment room is west, and the locker room is south. The double doors leading back to the hallway are north.

Tyrone is here, holding hands with you.

Samir is here, holding hands with you.

Blue exercise mats are piled to one side, arranged around a balance beam, and scattered over the floor.

You can also see Mr. Lewis's gym keys and a blue exercise mat here.
action: You take the mat
response: You let go of Samir's hand.

You let go of Tyrone's hand.

It's unlikely that Samir can pick up the blue exercise mat, but dragging it around might be possible.
action: Drag mat north
response: You ask, "Samir, can you push the mat into the hallway? Tyrone, he'll need your help for this."

Samir and Tyrone gather around the blue exercise mat and try to move it. With many small-kid grunts of effort, they get the blue exercise mat moving and successfully slide it into the hallway.
action: You go to the north
response: The air reeks of smoke and chemicals. To the south, two large double doors lead into the gymnasium. Mrs. McCaskill's classroom used to be accessible to the north, but there's no going that way now.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

You can also see a blue exercise mat here.
action: Drag mat east
response: You ask, "Samir, can you push the mat along the hall? Tyrone, he'll need your help for this."

Samir and Tyrone gather around the blue exercise mat and try to move it. With many small-kid grunts of effort, they get the blue exercise mat moving and successfully slide it along the hall.
action: You go to the east
response: The wall buckled a bit here, but didn't collapse entirely - unlike to the west, where outright wreckage is visible by the gym entrance. Colorful leaf rubbings and magazine mosaics hang drunkenly off their moorings.

The door to your classroom hangs open on its twisted doorframe.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

You can also see a blue exercise mat here.
action: Go east
response: Emily's former classroom is to the north, marked with a construction paper sign reading "Ms. Wagner's room - Come In!" To the south, there's an alcove that splits off toward the bathrooms. The hallway continues to the east and west, decorated with inexpertly drawn
posters about When I Grow Up.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

You can also see a blue exercise mat here.
action: Drag mat east
response: You ask, "Samir, can you push the mat past the lockers? Tyrone, he'll need your help for this."

Samir and Tyrone gather around the blue exercise mat and try to move it. With many small-kid grunts of effort, they get the blue exercise mat moving and successfully slide it past the lockers.
action: Drag mat east
response: You call, "Samir, can you push the mat along the hall? Tyrone, he'll need your help for this."

Samir and Tyrone gather around the blue exercise mat and try to move it. With many small-kid grunts of effort, they get the blue exercise mat moving and successfully slide it along the hall.
action: You go east
response: The locker-lined hallway stretches from east to west. Pictures of famous Americans gaze starchily down from above the dull brown
lockers, almost successfully concealing the old water damage on the walls. You can smell something burning.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

One of the lockers is standing open.

You can also see a straightened striped green paper clip here.
action: Go east
response: Fire alarm lights strobe across a painfully cheerful mural on the east wall, positioned exactly opposite the west-facing hallway. The classrooms and the gymnasium are off to the west, the science and computer labs are north, and the cafeteria is off to the south, but
you can see from here that no part of the building went unravaged. At least it looks like most of the kids made it out.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

There's a bulletin board lying face-down on the floor.

You can also see a blue exercise mat here.
action: Drag mat south
response: You ask, "Samir, can you push the mat toward the cafeteria? Tyrone, he'll need your help for this."

Samir and Tyrone gather around the blue exercise mat and try to move it. With many small-kid grunts of effort, they get the blue exercise mat moving and successfully slide it toward the cafeteria.
action: You go south
response: This part of the hall has been plastered with signs in unsubtle red, white, and blue, occasionally accented with yellow smiley-face stickers. The overhead lights are flickering weakly here, and the power probably won't last long. The hall continues south toward the school kitchen and north toward the classrooms.

The cafeteria doors are to the east, but they're closed and locked, since lunch ended hours ago.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

You can also see a blue exercise mat here.
action: Drag mat south
response: You ask, "Samir, can you push the mat toward the school kitchen? Tyrone, he'll need your help for this."

Samir and Tyrone gather around the blue exercise mat and try to move it. With many small-kid grunts of effort, they get the blue exercise mat moving and successfully slide it toward the school kitchen.
action: You go to the south
response: With the overhead fluorescents out, it's particularly dim at this end of the hallway, but the flashing fire alarms illuminate the door labelled "KITCHEN STAFF - NO STUDENTS". The door is partly open, wedged in place with a serving tray.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

You can also see a blue exercise mat here.
action: Drag mat east
response: You ask, "Samir, can you push the mat into the kitchen? Tyrone, he'll need your help for this."

Samir and Tyrone gather around the blue exercise mat and try to move it. With many small-kid grunts of effort, they get the blue exercise mat moving and successfully slide it into the kitchen.
action: Go east
response: It's very dark in here, since the overhead lights are out. The flashlight beam paints its wavering yellow eye across a landscape of sterile steel. It's not much light, but it reduces the maze of counters to comprehensible rows, and it's enough to illuminate the swinging door leading north.

Reflected fire alarm light flickers in the doorway to the west.

Because you know exactly where to look, you can see the ventilation grate against the darkened ceiling.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

An industrial flashlight sits on the ground, emitting a yellow beam of light.

You can also see a blue exercise mat and a pommel horse here.
action: Drag mat north
response: You ask, "Samir, can you push the mat into the cafeteria? Tyrone, he'll need your help for this."

Samir and Tyrone gather around the blue exercise mat and try to move it. With many small-kid grunts of effort, they get the blue exercise mat moving and successfully slide it into the cafeteria.
action: Go north
response: Even pushing through the swinging door takes more effort than it should.

This is one of the few modern-day cafeterias that doesn't sport a set of vending machines in addition to standard cafeteria fare. Pale sunlight streams down through the high bank of huge windows, shining carelessly over the faded tile and the ceiling-high folded lunch
tables alike. The kitchen door is to the south.

The cafeteria doors are to the west, but they're completely blocked
off behind the folded lunch tables.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

George stands looking miserable with his hands in the pockets of his too-big pants.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

One of the windows has been shattered, leaving an empty window frame edged with jagged glass shards.

You can also see a blue exercise mat here.

The door swings shut behind you.
action: Push mat east
response: You ask, "Samir, can you heave that mat out the broken window?"
Samir says, "I can't get it up high enough!"
action: You ask Jude,  to go to the south
response: You say, "Jude, I want you to go into the kitchen."

Jude goes south.
action: You ask Tyrone,  to go south
response: You say, "Tyrone, I need you to go into the kitchen."

Tyrone goes south.
action: You ask George,  to go south
response: You say, "George, I want you to go into the kitchen."

George goes south.
action: Go south
response: You push painfully through the swinging door.

It's very dark in here, since the overhead lights are out. The flashlight beam paints its wavering yellow eye across a landscape of sterile steel. It's not much light, but it reduces the maze of counters to comprehensible rows, and it's enough to illuminate the swinging door leading north.

Reflected fire alarm light flickers in the doorway to the west.

George stands looking miserable with his hands in the pockets of his too-big pants.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

Because you know exactly where to look, you can see the ventilation grate against the darkened ceiling.

An industrial flashlight sits on the ground, emitting a yellow beam of light.

You can also see a pommel horse here.

The door swings shut behind you.
action: Push horse north
response: You ask, "Samir, can you push the pommel horse into the cafeteria? George, Tyrone, and Jude, he'll need your help for this."

Jude looks at Mr. Bunny, looks at the floor, and then hugs him even tighter.

Jude tucks Mr. Bunny under her arm for safety.

Samir, George, Tyrone, and Jude gather around the pommel horse and try to move it. With many small-kid grunts of effort, they get the pommel horse moving and successfully slide it into the cafeteria.
action: Go north
response: Even pushing through the swinging door takes more effort than it should.

This is one of the few modern-day cafeterias that doesn't sport a set of vending machines in addition to standard cafeteria fare. Pale sunlight streams down through the high bank of huge windows, shining carelessly over the faded tile and the ceiling-high folded lunch
tables alike. The kitchen door is to the south.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

George stands looking miserable with his hands in the pockets of his too-big pants.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

The cafeteria doors are to the west, but they're completely blocked
off behind the folded lunch tables.

One of the windows has been shattered, leaving an empty window frame edged with jagged glass shards.

You can also see a pommel horse and a blue exercise mat here.

The door swings shut behind you.
action: You put the mat on the horse
response: You say, "Samir, you can put the mat on the pommel horse."

Samir says, "But I don't have the mat."
action: You take the mat
response: It's unlikely that Samir can pick up the blue exercise mat, but dragging it around might be possible.
action: Push mat east
response: You ask, "Samir, can you heave that mat out the broken window?"
With a grunt of effort, Samir hauls the blue exercise mat up onto the pommel horse and then onto the edge of the empty window frame,
breaking off some of the jagged shards along the way. In a series of determined heaves, he shoves it bit by bit out the window, until gravity takes over.

The exercise mat smacks down on the sidewalk outside.
action: You go to the south
response: You lean against the swinging door, which eventually yields.

It's very dark in here, since the overhead lights are out. The flashlight beam paints its wavering yellow eye across a landscape of sterile steel. It's not much light, but it reduces the maze of counters to comprehensible rows, and it's enough to illuminate the swinging door leading north.

Reflected fire alarm light flickers in the doorway to the west.

Because you know exactly where to look, you can see the ventilation grate against the darkened ceiling.

An industrial flashlight sits on the ground, emitting a yellow beam of light.

The door swings shut behind you.
action: You go west
response: With the overhead fluorescents out, it's particularly dim at this end of the hallway, but the flashing fire alarms illuminate the door labelled "KITCHEN STAFF - NO STUDENTS". The door is partly open, wedged in place with a serving tray.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go north
response: This part of the hall has been plastered with signs in unsubtle red, white, and blue, occasionally accented with yellow smiley-face stickers. The overhead lights are flickering weakly here, and the power probably won't last long. The hall continues south toward the school kitchen and north toward the classrooms.

The cafeteria doors are to the east, but they're closed and locked, since lunch ended hours ago.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go south
response: The failing fluorescent lights illuminate a kid-height drinking fountain in the south wall. The boys' bathroom is to the east and the girls' bathroom is to the west, both marked with Happy Hygiene signs reminding everyone about handwashing.

Keiko is sitting here and holding a lacrosse stick.

Ashley is sitting here fiddling with the damaged hem of her skirt.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

There's a wet spot growing on the carpet near the door to the girls' room.

You can also see a small rubber wedge here.
action: You follow you
response: You ask, "Keiko, would you please hold hands with me?"

Keiko takes your hand.
action: You follow you
response: You ask, "Ashley, would you please hold hands with me?"

Ashley takes your hand.
action: Go north
response: Because Keiko is sitting down, she doesn't follow you.
Because Ashley is sitting down, she doesn't follow you.

Emily's former classroom is to the north, marked with a construction paper sign reading "Ms. Wagner's room - Come In!" To the south, there's an alcove that splits off toward the bathrooms. The hallway continues to the east and west, decorated with inexpertly drawn
posters about When I Grow Up.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: You stand
response: You say, "Keiko, please get up."

Keiko gets up carefully, using the lacrosse stick to maintain her balance.
action: You stand
response: You say, "Ashley, please stand up."

Ashley gets to her feet.
action: You go to the north
response: Emily's former classroom is to the north, marked with a construction paper sign reading "Ms. Wagner's room - Come In!" To the south, there's an alcove that splits off toward the bathrooms. The hallway continues to the east and west, decorated with inexpertly drawn
posters about When I Grow Up.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

Keiko hobbles into the hall.
action: You go to the south
response: The failing fluorescent lights illuminate a kid-height drinking fountain in the south wall. The boys' bathroom is to the east and the girls' bathroom is to the west, both marked with Happy Hygiene signs reminding everyone about handwashing.

Ashley fiddles unhappily with the damaged hem of her skirt.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

There's a wet spot growing on the carpet near the door to the girls' room.

You can also see a small rubber wedge here.

Keiko hobbles into the hall.
action: You follow you
response: You ask, "Keiko, would you please hold hands with me?"

Keiko takes your hand.
action: You go north
response: You are holding Keiko's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

Emily's former classroom is to the north, marked with a construction paper sign reading "Ms. Wagner's room - Come In!" To the south, there's an alcove that splits off toward the bathrooms. The hallway continues to the east and west, decorated with inexpertly drawn
posters about When I Grow Up.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you.

Keiko is here, holding hands with you and leaning heavily on a
lacrosse stick.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go east
response: You are holding Keiko's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

The locker-lined hallway stretches from east to west. Pictures of famous Americans gaze starchily down from above the dull brown
lockers, almost successfully concealing the old water damage on the walls. You can smell something burning.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you.

Keiko is here, holding hands with you and leaning heavily on a
lacrosse stick.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

One of the lockers is standing open.

You can also see a straightened striped green paper clip here.
action: You go east
response: You are holding Keiko's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

Fire alarm lights strobe across a painfully cheerful mural on the east wall, positioned exactly opposite the west-facing hallway. The classrooms and the gymnasium are off to the west, the science and computer labs are north, and the cafeteria is off to the south, but
you can see from here that no part of the building went unravaged. At least it looks like most of the kids made it out.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you.

Keiko is here, holding hands with you and leaning heavily on a
lacrosse stick.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.

There's a bulletin board lying face-down on the floor.
action: Go south
response: You are holding Keiko's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

This part of the hall has been plastered with signs in unsubtle red, white, and blue, occasionally accented with yellow smiley-face stickers. The overhead lights are flickering weakly here, and the power probably won't last long. The hall continues south toward the school kitchen and north toward the classrooms.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you.

Keiko is here, holding hands with you and leaning heavily on a
lacrosse stick.

The cafeteria doors are to the east, but they're closed and locked, since lunch ended hours ago.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go south
response: You are holding Keiko's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

With the overhead fluorescents out, it's particularly dim at this end of the hallway, but the flashing fire alarms illuminate the door labelled "KITCHEN STAFF - NO STUDENTS". The door is partly open, wedged in place with a serving tray.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you.

Keiko is here, holding hands with you and leaning heavily on a
lacrosse stick.

The fire alarms flash and shrill monotonously.
action: Go east
response: You are holding Keiko's hand, so she follows you.
Ashley hangs back warily before spotting the flashlight inside.

It's very dark in here, since the overhead lights are out. The flashlight beam paints its wavering yellow eye across a landscape of sterile steel. It's not much light, but it reduces the maze of counters to comprehensible rows, and it's enough to illuminate the swinging door leading north.

Reflected fire alarm light flickers in the doorway to the west.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you.

Keiko is here, holding hands with you and leaning heavily on a
lacrosse stick.

Because you know exactly where to look, you can see the ventilation grate against the darkened ceiling.

An industrial flashlight sits on the ground, emitting a yellow beam of light.
action: Go north
response: You push painfully through the swinging door.

You are holding Keiko's hand, so she follows you.
You are holding Ashley's hand, so she follows you.

This is one of the few modern-day cafeterias that doesn't sport a set of vending machines in addition to standard cafeteria fare. Pale sunlight streams down through the high bank of huge windows, shining carelessly over the faded tile and the ceiling-high folded lunch
tables alike. The kitchen door is to the south.

Ashley is here, holding hands with you.

Keiko is here, holding hands with you and leaning heavily on a
lacrosse stick.

The cafeteria doors are to the west, but they're completely blocked
off behind the folded lunch tables.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

George stands looking miserable with his hands in the pockets of his too-big pants.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

One of the windows has been shattered, leaving an empty window frame edged with jagged glass shards.

You can also see a pommel horse here.

The door swings shut behind you.
action: East
response: Those jagged shards have to be broken out of the window frame before anyone can get out safely.
action: Break shards
response: That splint won't hold forever, and it's best if she doesn't move around too much. You should probably ask someone else.
action: You sit
response: You say, "Keiko, please take a seat."

Keiko sits down carefully, keeping her weight entirely off her bad
leg.
action: You give the stick to George
response: You say, "Keiko, please pass the lacrosse stick to George."

Keiko holds the lacrosse stick out for George.

George pulls the lacrosse stick away from Keiko.

You say, "Gently, George!"
action: Break shards
response: You ask, "George, can you break the glass out of the windowframe? Use the lacrosse stick to protect your hands."

George stands on his tiptoes and reaches up with the lacrosse stick.
He successfully knocks out a few of the lower pieces of glass, but
most of the glass is beyond his reach, and eventually he gives up. "It's too high up for me!"
action: You give the stick to you
response: You're so torn up that you'd probably drop the lacrosse stick. Better to let George keep it.
action: You get on the horse
response: You ask, "George, can you climb up on the pommel horse?"

George pulls himself up onto the pommel horse and then stands up.
action: Break shards
response: You ask, "George, can you break the glass out of the windowframe? Use the lacrosse stick to protect your hands."

George uses the lacrosse stick to carefully break out the remaining shards of glass.

The empty frame is as safe now as it's going to get.
action: You jump
response: hazmat suited woman is still trapped. If you send George out the window now, you may find out later that you needed his help to save hazmat suited woman.
action: Go north
response: Probably a good idea.
action: You get off the horse
response: You say, "Okay, George, go ahead and get down from the pommel horse."

George gets off the pommel horse.
action: You give the stick to Keiko
response: You say, "George, please give the lacrosse stick to Keiko."

George shoves the lacrosse stick at Keiko.

Keiko takes the lacrosse stick from George.

You say, "Thank you, George."
action: You climb the tables
response: You ask, "Samir, can you climb up on the tables?"

Samir says, "I don't think I can climb on the tables."
action: You push the tables south
response: The folded lunch tables are huge and heavy. You're not sure how to move them around, and if they fall over, someone could be seriously hurt. Best to leave them alone.
action: You jump
response: The bottom of the window frame is almost two feet above Keiko's head. She'll need to get up on the pommel horse first.
action: You jump
response: The bottom of the window frame is almost two feet above George's head. He'll need to get up on the pommel horse first.
action: You get on the horse
response: You ask, "Keiko, can you get on top of the pommel horse?"

Keiko lets go of your hand.

Keiko pulls herself up onto the pommel horse and then stands up.
action: You jump
response: Ashley is still trapped. If you send Keiko out the window now, you
may find out later that you needed her help to save Ashley.
action: Y.
response: You ask, "Keiko, I don't have any other way to get you out of the building. You could come with us now, or I could try to send back
help for you."
Keiko says, "Do you think it's a good idea?"
action: Y.
response: After a long moment, you say, "Yes, I do. The building's on fire, and I don't know what's happening to the base. Worse things could happen in here. We should all stick together."

Keiko says, "Then I'll do it."

Keiko stares out the window for a moment, considering her options. Finally, she perches on the edge of the window and then throws herself sideways toward the mats on the ground.

Keiko hits with her good foot, then collapses sideways onto her good knee and her arm. Her wrenching scream of pain is hard to hear, but she doesn't seem any worse off than she was. At least, she drags herself off the mat under her own power.
action: You jump
response: The bottom of the window frame is almost two feet above Ashley's head. She'll need to get up on the pommel horse first.
action: You get on the horse
response: You ask, "Ashley, can you climb up on the pommel horse?"

Ashley lets go of your hand.

Ashley pulls herself up onto the pommel horse and then stands up.
action: You jump
response: yourself is still trapped. If you send Ashley out the window now, you may find out later that you needed her help to save yourself.
action: Y.
response: You say, "Ashley, it's time for you to go out the window. Just land
on the mats, it'll be easy."

Ashley stands on the edge of the window frame, wavers for a moment,
and then jumps down to the exercise mat below. She hits awkwardly, falls down, and then gets to her feet with no harm done.
action: You jump
response: yourself is still trapped. If you send Samir out the window now, you may find out later that you needed his help to save yourself.

Send Samir out the window anyway? Once he goes, there's no way for
action: Y.
response: You say, "Samir, go on out the window. I know you can do this."

Samir says, "Just like gym class."

You say, "That's right."

Samir starts to grip the window frame, and you have to stop him. "You could cut your hands open - the glass isn't totally gone. Just jump."

Samir gulps, wipes his hands off on his pants, and then jumps out the window. He hits feet-first, falls down, and then gets up again with a joyous yell of, "I did it!"

You say, "You sure did!"
action: Look around
response: This is one of the few modern-day cafeterias that doesn't sport a set of vending machines in addition to standard cafeteria fare. Pale sunlight streams down through the high bank of huge windows, shining carelessly over the faded tile and the ceiling-high folded lunch
tables alike. The kitchen door is to the south.

George stands looking miserable with his hands in the pockets of his too-big pants.

The cafeteria doors are to the west, but they're completely blocked
off behind the folded lunch tables.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

One of the windows has been shattered, leaving an empty window frame behind.

You can also see a pommel horse here.
action: You get on the horse
response: You get onto the pommel horse.
action: Go north
response: You retreat from the empty window frame.
action: Go downward
response: You can't go that way.

From here, you can try going south into the kitchen, east out the broken window, or west toward the hallway.
action: You stand
response: You're already on your feet.
action: You get down
response: You get off the pommel horse.

This is one of the few modern-day cafeterias that doesn't sport a set of vending machines in addition to standard cafeteria fare. Pale sunlight streams down through the high bank of huge windows, shining carelessly over the faded tile and the ceiling-high folded lunch
tables alike. The kitchen door is to the south.

George stands looking miserable with his hands in the pockets of his too-big pants.

The cafeteria doors are to the west, but they're completely blocked
off behind the folded lunch tables.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

One of the windows has been shattered, leaving an empty window frame behind.

You can also see a pommel horse here.
action: You get on horse
response: You ask, "Jude, can you climb up on the pommel horse?"

Jude pulls herself up onto the pommel horse and then stands up.
action: You jump
response: yourself is still trapped. If you send Jude out the window now, you may find out later that you needed her help to save yourself.

Send Jude out the window anyway? Once she goes, there's no way for
action: Y.
response: You ask, "Jude, you and Mr. Bunny go out the window now, okay?"

Jude says, "Just like diving class!"

You hastily say, "But don't land on your head."

Jude gives you her best my-teacher's-an-idiot look, and then she jumps out the window with her arms around Mr. Bunny. She hits the mat feet-first and doesn't even fall down.

You applaud at the window, and Jude beams up at you before getting out of the way.
action: You jump
response: Adam is still trapped. If you send Tyrone out the window now, you may find out later that you needed his help to save Adam.
action: Y.
response: You ask, "Tyrone, you can go out the window now, right?"

Tyrone brags, "No problem!"

Tyrone jumps out the window like a kid who jumps out of cafeteria windows all day. He hits the mat, rolls, and pops back up like a jack-in-the-box.
action: You get on the horse
response: You ask, "George, can you get on top of the pommel horse?"

George pulls himself up onto the pommel horse and then stands up.
action: You jump
response: your former self is still trapped. If you send George out the window now, you may find out later that you needed his help to save your former self.
action: Y.
response: You say, "George, let's get you out of here. Jump out the window, and aim for those mats."

George jumps out the window feet-first and strikes with an audible "oof!" He gets up and moves quickly out of the way.
action: Y.
response: Here goes....

The fall wouldn't even faze you, if not for your physical condition. When your feet hit, your knees immediately buckle and you bellyflop onto the mat.

There's not really an impact at all - just a full-body throb of pain, enough to turn the world gray and red for a long, lingering moment.

Black smoke rises over the school, shattered glass litters the ground, and the daylight never looked so good. Since the fence stops you from going south, the only way to go is north along the sidewalk.

George stands looking miserable with his hands in the pockets of his too-big pants.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

Ashley fiddles unhappily with the damaged hem of her skirt.

Keiko is sitting here and holding a lacrosse stick.

You can also see a blue exercise mat and a large geode here.
action: Go north
response: You get to your feet with the help of a nearby wall.

You round the bend and stop. It looks like part of the school's
second floor actually collapsed off the building and over the
sidewalk. It's not very high - you can see the driveway past it, and the soccer fields beyond that - but you can't get the students past safely.

George comes into the room.

Tyrone comes into the room.

Jude comes into the room.

Samir comes into the room.

"Mr. Ginsberg!" she cries, hurrying forward for a hug.

Keiko gets up carefully, using the lacrosse stick to maintain her balance.

Keiko hobbles into the room.

You hear the distant sound of a chopper just before you see the tiny black shape hovering over the soccer fields.
action: You describe your surroundings
response: It looks like part of the school's second floor actually collapsed off the building and over the sidewalk. It's not very high - you can see the driveway past it, and the soccer fields beyond that - but you
can't get the students past safely.

In the distance, a tiny black helicopter hovers above the soccer fields.

Keiko is here, leaning heavily on a lacrosse stick.

Ashley fiddles unhappily with the damaged hem of her skirt.

Samir is standing nearby with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

Jude is here, clinging to Mr. Bunny.

Tyrone stands with his arms folded across his pint-sized chest.

George stands looking miserable with his hands in the pockets of his too-big pants.

You see tiny figures descending from the helicopter onto the soccer fields.

Ashley says, "Are you okay, Mr. Ginsberg? You don't look so good."

With an effort, you quell the shaking in your hands. "Everything's going to be all right," you tell her. "Let's just work on getting out of here."
action: Wave
response: You already have Keiko's attention.

You wave, feeling foolish.

At a distance, the tiny figures wander about on the soccer fields.

(To lead a student from room to room, HOLD HANDS WITH that
student.)
action: You look at the rubble
response: This morning, there was a solid, sturdy wall here, and now it's a shattered heap of masonry. It hardly seems real.

At a distance, the tiny figures mill about on the soccer fields.
action: Shout
response: You try to shout, but suddenly you can only wheeze. The world wavers; you're at the end of your strength.

At a distance, the tiny figures walk around on the soccer fields.
action: Shout
response: You say, "Keiko, I need you to shout as big as you can. And Ashley. And all the rest of you, too - scream and shout and yell, let's make some noise!"

The students start yelling as loudly as they possibly can, shrieking
at volumes and pitches that only elementary school kids can manage. You're impressed - it's as good as a gym whistle.

The tiny figures on the soccer field react to the noise. You see one of them signalling to the chopper and then pointing in your direction.
action: You wait awhile
response: You wait.

The chopper rises from the soccer field and approaches the school.
action: Wait
response: You wait.

The chopper grows larger every minute. By now, you can clearly see
the US Air Force insignia on the side, and George claps his hands ecstatically.
action: Wait
response: You wait.

The chopper stops a safe distance overhead. Its whirling blades drown out almost every sound, yet you can still hear the kids around you cheering.
action: You wait
response: You wait.

A ladder descends from the chopper, carrying a broad figure in a brilliant green hazmat suit. The figure touches down and pulls off
her hood immediately to reveal a friendly smile.

The hazmat suited woman says, "Hi, kids. You're safe now. We'll
bring an evac team and get you out right away." Sighting the blue exercise mats in the background, she asks, "Did you have to jump out that window? Good thinking, laying down a mat."
action: You ask the woman about Adam
response: The hazmat suited woman doesn't seem to notice you.

Ashley says, "It was Mr. Ginsberg's idea!" and Ashley chimes in,
"Yeah, he was fantastic!"

The hazmat suited woman asks, "Where is Mr. Ginsberg now? Is he still in the building?"
action: You remove the pants
response: (the pair of black slacks)
No. Jude can see you.

The kids look at each other in bewilderment. "No, he's right back there," Samir says as he points back at you. Then Samir looks back at you and frowns. "He was here a moment ago...."
action: Shout
response: You try to shout, but suddenly you can only wheeze. The world wavers; you're at the end of your strength.

Awareness swells over you in the moment before a warm, familiar voice says quietly, "Hey. Good job."

You turn to see Adam standing nearby. You burst out, "Thank God, you made it!"

But Adam's already shaking his head. "No," he says. "You already
knew that."

Adam holds out his hand.
action: You examine Adam
response: He doesn't look hurt, which is a deep relief.

Adam says, "Hey, Mark. It's time to go."
action: You hold Hand
response: Whom do you want to hold hand of?
action: Adam
response: You ask, "They're going to be all right, aren't they?"

Adam looks over at the hazmat suited woman and the kids. "Looks like it, doesn't it?"

You say, "All right," and you take his hand. In the moment when you do, everything stops hurting.

You ask, "So... is there going to be a tunnel of white light, or something cliched like that?"

Adam laughs. "I don't know! Let's find out."

The wreckage across the sidewalk is too dangerous for your students, but danger doesn't matter any more. Hand in hand, you and Adam walk along the sidewalk, climbing over small debris or veering into the grass as the whim strikes you. Everything gets paler as you walk, and whiter, and brighter.

You take one look back at the paramedics sliding a stretcher under Keiko, and then the world dissolves entirely.