‘Oliver, Oliver, never before has a boy asked for more!’
Remember that story? Well that’s exactly what Toone wants the students to think about and learn from. A story about children who didn’t have all of today’s luxuries but still managed to accept what they had and enjoy their lives to the full.
This was supposed to lead to a project in class but when a feud begins over who had it tougher at school - the street kid (Felix) or the posh toff (Ollie), the projects challenge stretches to an extra curricular bet!
Before you can say Oliver twist, Ollie bets Felix he can live in the back shed of the school with no mod cons for a whole week! Ridiculous maybe, but Felix shakes on the bet and Amy kindly sets the consequence for whoever loses…scrubbing the school’s floors for a week, dining only on gruel and no matter how vile it tastes, having to beg for more! Urgh.
His bags are packed and he’s ready to go and he’s not alone either.
Enter Frankie, Khush, Jay and Stacey who’ve all decided to join him for a week of back to basics!
Even Natalie’s impressed with their decision and offers to make the Outsiders a cup of tea on their first night, but Felix is adamant they are to have no help (because let’s face it, he wants to win the bet!) and orders Chinese takeaway for himself and the others who’ve decided to stick to modern day living.
No TV, no DVD’s, no computer games, no stereos! What on earth are a group of young students supposed to do for entertainment without such essential items? Make up games and use their imagination for a start!
And so, before you can say Farmer Giles, the Outsiders are picking veg, making soup, playing games and having a very good time.
Looks like the easy life isn’t quite as exciting as it seems after all
Ain’t THAT the truth. Cut to Felix, Calvin, Natalie, Daisy, Rochelle, Amy and Hannah who are starting to miss their friends and feel more than a little jealous of the fun they appear to be having.
Back in the classroom, Ollie surprises Patrick by handing in The Outsiders essays which were written in chalk, on slate, but when Patrick insists they type them up properly or they’ll fail, they’re faced with a serious dilema?
Do they fail the class or fail the bet?
Felix is loving having the upper hand but when Ollie tells him they’re not quitters, Amy is quick to point out that he may have gone to a posh school but he’s clearly tougher than Felix thinks…
Back at the barn life is getting more interesting by the hour.
Even Natalie’s starting to envy their lifestyle and makes a surprise visit to the haystack - she wants to be part of the gang, until, that is, she’s told there are rats! Hmm, nice idea but perhaps she’ll go back to her room. It’s the thought that counts anyway right…?
Aha, the week is up, the bet is over and Ollie has won!
Time for Felix to admit defeat, face the music, scrub the floors and swallow his pride (and a load of vile gruel at dinner times! Yuk.).
Looks like the hardship does him good though because he apologises to Ollie and even calls himself a dipstick – ah, he’s such a loveable rogue isn’t he?
And Ollie shows his good side too by tucking into Felix bowl of gruel.
‘Hmm, it’s not bad once you get past how absolutely disgusting it is!’
Laughter all round and he and Felix both beg for more gruel which has the whole class in fits