by Andrew Baumgartner and John Tarr

It seemed like a normal morning at Bethel High School. Students moved idly by from class to class, teachers walked briskly in and out of the office, and the administration was giving out their usual insight for the days ahead. As my associate John Tarr and I walked into the office to do our usual morning announcements, we were astonished to find out that the yellow folder, the folder that was so bright and vivid when it sat at its usual place on the front desk, had gone missing. Anger took over as we searched every single crevice and cabinet in the vast room of the main office. It had gone forever the folder that held every bit of information deemed important enough to read over the intercom in the morning. Throughout the rest of the school day, clues unfolded and pieces were beginning to be seen in a clearer light.

Mrs. Hallock, the secretary for the student service office, claims that she saw the folder on her way out to a meeting that morning. “The announcements were there,” says Hallock, “It was after the first bell, after block one, around 8:23”. Hallock says the only announcement she could discern in the folder, was that of the band teacher Mr. Coachman. During the usual afternoon announcements, Coachman stopped by the office to write another announcement, and that announcement, was one of the only ones that was read that afternoon. Is it possible that this innocent band teacher could steal the announcement folder just so that his announcement was the only one read? Is it also possible that Mr. Coachman, a very easy going and kind person could commit such a dreadful crime? “I did not steal the announcements,” stated Coachman, when confronted face to face about the idea. Could it be possible that the man who stole our hearts also stole our folder? However, after a quick search of the band room was conducted, many yellow folders were spotted, but none contained the vital information that was needed.

Still, a week later, this search is on. And although a replacement folder has been prepared, it still does not ease the pain that somewhere out there, in this large building we all call school, some man, or woman, is making off with our precious information, the things we value most about the clubs and organizations in our school. How will we know what colleges are visiting, or what time the Japanese club is meeting, or when the bus for the freshman football team is? It is lost forever along with that vibrant folder, and the hearts of every man, woman and child who is loyal to our great learning establishment.