responsive
    On the table a tape recorder was running. The detectives were also taking notes. Mr Parrish had removed his glasses and was stroking his eyes as if they ached. There was a glimmer of perspiration on the principal's upper lip, and his face was crisscrossed with faint lines like scratches with a dry pen. His assistant was there, a young woman frowning over a notepad. Mrs Hale, the school guidance counsellor, and Mr Rainey, the school psychologist, were present, staring at Matt as if they'd never seen him before.
    It was then that Matt did an unexpected thing. He grinned.
    His mouth twisted like some sort of rubber mouth. Maybe he even laughed. Mr Parrish said sharply, "Matthew, this isn't funny. Very serious accusations have been made against you."
    "I'm not … I don't think it's funny," Matt said quickly.
    He was feeling tired suddenly. As if he'd been running around the track for miles.
    "Let's go over what we've been told. You did, or did not, make threats to 'blow up the school' in the cafeteria today?"
    "Look, ask my friends! They can tell you."
    "Certainly we will. If it's necessary, we will."
    Matt had given them the guys' names: Russ, Skeet, Neil, Cal … Who else? But Mrs Hale said, "We don't want to involve anyone unless it's necessary. We'd like to clear this up at the source."

run (ran, run) här vara igång

take notes anteckna

stroke stryka, smeka

ache värka, göra ont

principal rektor

crisscross gå kors och tvärs

faint svag

frown rynka pannan

guidance counsellor rådgivare (studie- och yrkesvägledare alt. kurator)

present närvarande

rubber gummi

sharply skarpt

accusation anklagelse, beskyllning

track löparbana

mile (längd) engelsk mil; 1 mile = 1609m

certainly säkerligen, javisst

involve involvera, blanda in

unless om inte

source källa