“Get a job doing something you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life!” That’s what Miss Lehman used to tell her students back when you were in her class, and in her case it certainly rang true. Miss Lehman loved the arts, whether it was painting, sculpting, acting, or dancing, the smile she wore as she urged her students to find imaginative ways to express themselves was genuine. Unfortunately, much like the art program at Valley View High, she is a mere shadow of her former self. The art budget has been decimated under the Principal Roy administration, shrinking smaller and smaller with each passing year to help buoy the school’s bottom line. At first, it was manageable. With each passing year, however, Miss Lehman’s joy faded along with the art program. Still, she has fought tooth and nail for basic supplies. This past year, she sanded down her own paintings to reuse the canvases in class. Yet, as Principal Roy looks ahead to the next school year, it’s heavily rumored that what little funding is left for art will be on the chopping block once more.

Miss Lehman looks to be in a state of shock, staring off into the distance. She snaps to, and her eyes meet your gaze.

“Well look at you! If it isn’t the best “Soldier” Valley View ever had! Of course I remember, you were my go-to “Soldier #1” from King Lear to Le Mis! Weren’t you also in my Intro to Creative Art three times? Ah, yes, had to get that base credit to stay on the team. Well, the muse is always a harsh mistress. We must hope she’s on our side tonight. You have to believe I had nothing to do with this! I don’t know what happened! I had just finished having a chitchat with Principal Roy about the upcoming school year and decided to step outside for a uh… breath of fresh air. The math teacher, that dashing Mr. Hunefeld, offered to bring refreshments out too. I finished smok- er… finished my breather, and Mr. Hunefeld came out. Then, some dark figure came creeping around the side of the house! I will admit my nerves may have gotten the best of me and I screamed. Not for nothing did I win an award for my scream in my college’s stage production of Dracula. I thought I had managed to startle the others, as Mr. Hunefeld dropped his glass and someone from inside screamed as well. I belatedly realized the creep was none other than Vice Principal Alden, fashionably late as usual. As he slid past us, I noticed the abrasion on his head, already bruising to a painful mulberry hue. We followed him in to find Mrs. Marcott standing over the fallen figure of Principal Roy! It was Gentileschi’s Judith and Holofernes, it was Lady Macbeth decrying that foul spot! Well, I imagine it was. I had to look away from the blood. I did look up in time to see Coach Flannigan join us last, drying his hands. What a tableau! Who could have done something like this?“