"Okay", Tony began, "You all pretty much know about the Binding Agreement, and today I'm gonna run through the details and the changes that have been agreed to."
His captive audience settled in their seats but made no comment, so he continued. "I'm going to...Uh...Run thorough each section one at a time here..." Tony picked up the first page of the Agreement from the table. "First...Section One. THE RIGHT OF CLIQUES TO EXIST. This section recognizes all established Cliques as they presently exist...Jocks, Preps, Greasers, Nerds, and Bullies. It also recognizes the Non-Clique faction and the Girls faction as their own Cliques for the purposes of this Agreement. Further, the rights of those established Cliques shall not be denied or abridged in any way, shape, or form, and said Cliques are entitled to exist in perpetuity."
"What's....Per-pet-too-a-hee ?", Trent stupidly piped up.
Interrupted, Tony looked at him. "It means, like, forever...Or at least until there is no more Bullworth Academy." Up in the Balcony, Karen giggled, but not loud enough to be heard. Tony's eyes swept the group. "Now, if there is any questions, hold them until I read through each section."
The other Clique Leaders snickered, and Trent gave a sheepish grin. Tony continued, "Now, if another Clique wants to establish itself, like the Rockers tried to do this past year, they will have to wait for a year after they first arrive on Campus to apply to the Council of the established Cliques to do so, and can only be recognized by a unanimous vote of said Council as a valid Clique. Until then, they will be treated as Non-Clique. No other Cliques will be allowed to exist except under the conditions set out above. So, any Questions ?"
There wasn't, so Tony moved on. "Section Two...CLIQUE TERRITORY AND OPEN AREAS. First, exclusive areas...For the Jocks, this is the Clubhouse and territory West of the West End Goalposts. For the Preps, this is Harrington House and the House Quad, plus the pathway that leads to it from the Fountain. For the Greasers, this is the Autoshop and the entire areas around them, including the South third of the Parking Lot, plus the pathway that leads from the Fountain. For the Nerds, this is the Observatory, and the grounds around it that is behind the barricade, plus their Battle Staging Area to the East of the School Grounds. They will also have a protected area at the South-East corner on the first floor inside the Library. For the Bullies, who have no exclusive buildings, there is the North two-thirds Parking Lot, along with the old Hobo's area, and will include the Boy's Dorm Quad on either side of the pathway. The Girls will have the Girl's Dorm Quad on either side of their pathway. The Non-Cliques...Well, they get nothing, no exclusive areas, nor did they want any. But they are to be protected in all common areas, just as anyone else will be." Tony stopped to take a breath or two, then continued. "Now, the area South of the Fountain, including the Gym and Pool buildings, will be restricted from 10 PM until 6 AM to the Jocks. Similarly, the Library Quad will be restricted from 10 PM to 6 AM to the Nerds. This is in accordance with present practice, ans should be no surprise. In these areas, Cliques are free to invite any other Student or group of Students anytime they wish. Are there any Questions on Territory ?"
There wasn't, it had all been worked out. Tony picked up the next page and continued on. "Section Three....RIGHTS OF PROTECTION AND DEFENSE. This is pretty self-explanatory...Every Clique has the right to protect their territory from Invaders from either outside or another Clique. That mean, if anyone hostile is in your restricted area without your permissions, or are attacking you there, you have the right to repel them by whatever means necessary. Questions ?"
"So's, does dat means if'n somebodys is in our parts of de Parking Lot, we gets to beat da Shit outta dem ?", Peanut piped up.
"Just if they have hostile intent", Tony answered him. "Not if they are friendly, or maybe a newbie who just wandered into your territory by mistake. And, this also doesn't apply to Students who are taking Shop Class or Gym Class during the day. That will draw trouble from the Prefects, and probably the Administration as well."
That seemed to answer Peanut's question. There were no others, and Tony moved on. "Ok...Section Four....RESOLUTION OF ALL DISPUTES. Basically, this Section deals with the resolving of all Clique-on-Clique disputes, and also Individual disputes. In the case of Clique disputes, if no agreement can be reached, then the Parties may elect to settle in their dispute in the Hole, using their best fighters. If it be a dispute between Individuals, then those will also be settled in the Hole. The lone exception to that is disputes involving any of the Preps, those disputes will be resolved in the Boxing Ring at the Glass Jaw."
"Whatsmatter, dem Pussies can't fight in the Hole ?" jeered Trent.
"We like a Cultured setting", Tad spoke up, "Not the gutter like all you others."
"Dey always think dere better dan da rest of us", Interjected Peanut.
"We ARE better !", retorted Tad. "Not like you low-lifes !"
"But not very smart !", Melvin threw in.
"ENOUGH !", Tony said firmly. "Remember, this has all been negotiated and agreed to !" They subsided, and Tony went on. "One more proviso to this is that the Nerds are allowed to fight with certain Melee Weapons in Hole fights or the Boxing Ring."
"That doesn't seem very sporting", Tad said Icily.
"A lot you know about Sporting !", Melvin retorted.
"This has all been worked out !", Tony said from the stage. "Let's move on, we don't want be here all day." He waited a bit bit until everyone settled down, and continued. "Section Five...COMMERCE BETWEEN CLIQUES. This part covers things you buy, sell, or trade between you. These things include...Bikes for trade, sale or repair by the Greasers, Clothing for trade or sale by the Preps, all Athletic Equipment for trade or sale by the Jocks, Weapons and Computers and such for sale or trade by the Nerds, and Protection Services offered by the Bullies. Each Clique will retain exclusivity on the items mentioned above. Any Questions on that ?"
The Clique leaders were not aware of what this provision could mean later, and Tony was counting on that. Nobody asked anything, so Tony quickly moved on to the next part. "Alright, Section Six...RIGHTS OF WEAPONS PARITY. Now, everyone should be familiar with this by now. This section is meant to enforce mutual Parity between all the Cliques regarding Weapons. Naturally, the Nerds will have a slight advantage here, since they make the Weapons. Cliques are not allowed to hoard Weapons or make false reports of their Weapon Strength to the Board in order to gain more Weapons. Each Clique had the right to be protected from others, both from those inside and outside the School. Now, this has been working well these past few months, so this provision is just a re-assertion of your rights."
Tony paused, and got the next sheet from the table. "Moving on...Section Seven...PAYMENTS AND REPARATIONS. All goods and services commerce between the Cliques and Any others must be offered at a fair price or trade, and must be fairly paid for or traded for. In addition, any Reparations ordered by the Board for damages must be made in a timely fashion. Is that clear ?"
It must have been, since no one voiced any opinions on that sections. Tony continued on. "Next...Section Eight...CLIQUE MISSIONS AND ERRANDS. Each Clique and individuals within Cliques, along with non-Clique individuals and Girls, are entitled to Missions and Errands of their choosing, as long as they are not carried out AGAINST other individuals or Cliques. Further, the commission of legal Missions and Errands are not to be hindered or interfered with by any other individuals or Cliques. Does everyone understand this ?"
Apparently they did. This provision was one everyone had agreed with, at least in spirit. Tony picked up the last paper from the table. "So, on to Section Nine...COLLECTIVE DEFENSE AGAINST ATTACKS. Now, we have all seen how well this can work when we all pull together against an attack from outside the School...The Townies attack last Spring, and then the attack on the School and the Towns by the Punks, both engineered by Jake Brown. And, the cooperation in the assault on the Chem Plant to free the hostages....Everyone who fought valiantly at those times knows what I mean, for we all pulled together for the mutual good of everyone. I mean, we saved the School...We all had a part it it. The provisions of this Agreement will do the same thing, for all of us. You all will become famous in School History as being the founding Cliques in the beginning of this enlightened new era, and will be remembered as well as...Darrold Ford, the only player from Bullworth to make it in the Pros...Arthur the Fonz, who made it to Hollywood and whose acting made being a Greaser mainstream...George Harrington, one of the Co-Founders of Bullworth Academy...The REAL Piff the Skull, legendary G&G Gamer...And, Howard 'Biff' Tannen, the only Bully from here to star as the Villain in three consecutive movies. YOU will be the future remembered, the true Heros of Bullworth Academy !"
Listening in the Balcony, Karen felt swept away at Tony's impassioned rhetoric, and could tell the effect it was having on the others. The tension in the Auditorium had vanished, replaced by a feeling of...Well, call it cooperation, if nothing else. They were being primed to sign.
Tony even half-smiled himself. Looking back to the page, he said, "The last Section...ENDORSEMENT OF THE ADMINISTRATION. Now, the Administration has agreed in principle to support this Binding Agreement, although it can't be officially endorsed...But this is OUR Agreement, for Our Future...For OUR School. If you're with us, come up and sign now, and let's begin the New Era !"
One by one, they left their seats and climbed to to Stage to affix their signatures to the seven copies of the Binding Agreement Document that Tony had laid out on the table. Each one came to sign for their Cliques, Ted for the Jocks, Melvin for the Nerds, Peanut for the Greasers, Trent for the Bullies, and Mandy for the Girls. Tad was the last to sign, and he did so with a sneer, but he signed. Tony then signed off for the Non-Cliques, and it was a done deal. It would take effect immediately on this date, Friday, August 1. Tony congratulated everyone, even Tad, and the Clique Leaders and Mandy all left the Auditorium, each taking a copy of the signed Agreement.
Karen came down from the Balcony then, and ran up the Stage, throwing her arms around Tony and giving him a huge, wet kiss. "That was magnificent !", she exclaimed. "You had me wanting to sign that thing !"
"Yeah", Tony said, slumping into her embrace. "Boy, am I glad that's all over !"
"You did fine, Tony, really fine !", Karen went on. "Do you think they know just what they have now ?"
Tony sank wearily onto the chair, pulling Karen down in his lap. "A Republic, I think", he said, "The Republic of Bullworth...If they can keep it."
________________________________________
------{{ END OF CHAPTER NINE }}----------