Green Night Challenge

It was mid may and Mrs. Soloman's class had just received their literature tests back on Sir Gawain and the Green Night. Some did very well, and some did not. So Mrs. Soloman decided to give her students the chance to gain or lose points on their tests. "I am going to ask those of you willing to participate, a question on the story that was not on your test. Whomever gets the question right will get ten points added to their test, but if you get it wrong, you will lose five points," Mrs. Soloman explained. The students looked around at each other uneasy and deep in thought.

"Mrs. Soloman, is the question going to be extremely difficult?" asked one girl.

"Not difficult, but if you were paying attention when we read it most of you should get it right ," Mrs. Soloman said. "Alright, if you are going to participate come up to my desk and get a piece of paper. And remember, you cannot take back your choice after you hear the question."

All of the students went up to her desk and got a sheet of paper except for one boy, Dempsey Phillips. Dempsey was an average student who was very quiet.

"So everyone but Dempsey," said Mrs. Soloman making sure.

"Yeah, because Dempsey is too afraid to ever gamble on anything," said the bully of the class, Armani Richards.

"Shut up Armani," Dempsey said trying to yell back.

"Ha ha Dempsey you know its true, you will not even bet nickels with us in the morning," said Armani.

"And what exactly are you betting nickels on, Armani," said Mrs. Soloman sternly.

"Umm, our grades mam," said Armani getting flushed.

"Mmm. I see well, I will be talking about that later with you Armani. Okay class the question is: What did King Arthur want before he started his meal in the beginning of the story?" Some students groaned, some cheered silently, and some sat silently looking at their papers as if waiting for an answer to appear. "Okay, times up, pass up your papers."

"Okay now who could tell me the answer. Bridget?"

"Arthur wanted a story told of adventures before he would begin to eat," Bridget answered.

"Very good." said Mrs. Soloman just as the final bell rang. The students quickly got up and left.

Dempsey was passing the Hartland Woods on his way home when Armani and his friends came up behind him. The Hartland Woods had a legend behind it. Years ago a man and his family used to live there, and one day the man went absolutely crazy and killed his wife and his three children. They never found the man or his body.

"Hey chump why don't you take a shortcut through the woods instead of walking all the way around," said Armani. Dempsey muttered something ineligible and tried to get away. "Ha ha he's scared."

" No, well fine, I'll go but you guys better come if your not too scared," said Dempsey full of fear.

"Fine, we're not scared."

The boys entered the woods and started walking the barely visible path. About two miles into the woods a man appeared leaning against a tree. When the man saw the four boys he jumped up and quickly approached them.

"These are my woods, you are trespassing in," said the man.

The boys stood in shock glaring at the man. The man walked up to Dempsey and said, "You come into my woods, so now one of you has to play a game with me." The other boys backed up behind Dempsey as the man singled Dempsey out with his dark eyes.

"Dempsey you do it. Prove to us your not scared and will take a chance once in awhile." said Armani, scared for his life. Dempsey looked around his peers and took a breath. He wanted to fit in, he would show them.

"What do I have to do," asked Dempsey apprehensively.

"I challenge you to a tree climbing competition," said the man. "Today