Students dismissed after bomb threat

“There’s a bomb in Lincoln High School.”

That seven-word sentence was the only thing spoken by an anonymous caller when he contacted the Ellwood City Fire Department shortly before ten o’clock in the morning the day before junior-senior prom; after which, the fire chief sounded the alarm for an immediate evacuation of the educational facility and dispatched emergency personnel to the scene of the potential bomb threat.

Within a matter of seconds following a brief telephone conversation with the fire department’s top official, superintendent of schools Dr. John J. DeCaro pulled a nearby fire alarm triggering what students and teachers alike thought to be a regularly scheduled fire drill.

After the entire student body and our dedicated instructors patiently waited for what seemed like an eternity, my boon companions and I knew this was no run-of-the-mill exercise once we witnessed a couple of squad cars enter the rear parking lot with sirens blaring.

“I smell a rat,” quipped Robert ‘Mags’ Magnifico as he shared some interesting thoughts with a few of his fellow classmates. “Since they’ve called in the local police department, there’s definitely something bigger going on behind the scenes; not to mention the fact that we’ve been standing out here for the past ten minutes without returning to class.”

You would know since your dad’s the chief of police!

“My guess is that there’s a full-fledged fire inside the school,” gasped Steve Grossman catching his breath after running back from the opposite end of the boy’s gymnasium facing Oak Avenue. “Considering I just saw several fire trucks pull into the bus depot next to the Commons, one of those Burnouts must’ve finally set fire to one of the restrooms with a cigarette.”

“That hypothesis probably needs to be re-evaluated,” reasoned Robert “Robbie” Brough when he spotted two canines being escorted through the gym entrance. “While they wouldn’t bring in K-9 units to sniff out a fire, there is one other thing that comes to mind; so, I bet they’re searching for an explosive device.”

Are you saying that there could be a bomb in the school?!

“Keep your voice down, Marcus Welby,” whispered Bruce Thalmann while cupping his hand around my big mouth in an attempt to shut me up. “Due to the fact that we’re just voicing our opinions, we need to remain calm, cool and collect; and we definitely don’t need to cause a widespread panic and start a stampede.”

Point taken!

“Robbie was spot on with his assumption,” muttered Lee Winegar once he sidestepped a few sophomores to rejoin our little circle of friends. “My dad just had a confirmation concerning a credible bomb threat from the superintendent on his walkie-talkie; so, once the boy’s gymnasium is cleared, we’re supposed to gather there to await further instructions.”

By the time we were allowed into the recreational facility, news of the possible bomb threat had spread like wildfire throughout the entire student body; but I’m not quite certain everyone drew the same conclusions as these Hardy Boys, or if it was due to my melodramatic statement echoing across the parking lot.

Either way, the noise level reached a deafening crescendo before our principal Mr. Richard Santillo stepped up to a microphone to address our concerns.

“Your safety is our top priority,” revealed the chief administrator looking out into the crowded multi-purpose room. “With that in mind, no student will be allowed to return to classrooms or lockers to retrieve any items; but if something is an absolute necessity, one of your parents can reacquire them on your behalf.”

Once a few more questions were asked and answered, we were required to filter through the double doors into the corridor where emergency personnel blocked every exit except the one leading to the back parking lot.

“This is unbelievable,” declared the redheaded athlete as he descended the bleachers. “Considering there’s no school tomorrow, that means that all of our stuff – in the classrooms and lockers – will have to remain there until we return to school on Monday morning.”

“This is a crock of horse manure,” interjected the offensive center while walking out into the crowded hallway. “Since my parents are busy running the restaurant, neither one of them will have time to run up to the school to get my things; and besides, this is nothing more than a prankster getting his rocks off.”

“You’re probably right about that,” admitted Mags before stepping outside. “But how do you think they would feel if one of us opened up our locker and a bomb went off; so, they’re only trying to take precautions to avoid any lawsuits later.”

I’m glad my dad’s a high school teacher!

“We can at least still decorate for the prom,” mentioned the blond-haired choir boy with a broad smile. “Since we’re having our prom on the Liberty Belle over in Rochester, this little mishap won’t interfere with any of that; and we’re only decorating the boy’s gym which has already been cleared.”

Who’s driving Marcus home?

All three football jocks – Mags, Robbie and Steve – immediately offered for me to ride shotgun in their respective vehicles.

“There’s no need to fight over me, fellas,” I proclaimed looking at three of my most treasured companions. “Although I usually walk back and forth to school, I’m not going to look a gift horse in the mouth; so, since Stevie Wonder lives around the corner from me, I’ll let him take me for a spin.”

Due to the fact that there were no classes scheduled for the following day because of the prom, I was ecstatic to have a longer than expected weekend when the business entrepreneur’s son and I peeled out of the parking lot at eleven o’clock that morning.