Diary/Journal/Whatever is Manly

Chapter 18

Tyler sat down at his desk, and proceeded to lay out his material in front of him. Humming a tune, he made sure everything was in it's proper before settling back in his chair. Drumming his hands against the desk, he waiting patiently for the room fill up. Pretty soon the chair next to him was filled, smiling Tyler looked over at Tonya as she dumped her things onto the table. 

"Hey Tonya." He greeted, getting nothing but silence in return. Trying again, he greeted her again, which earned him a glare. Reeling back, he wondered what was wrong, so he asked her.

"As if you don't know," Tonya huffed with a roll of her eyes. Another response he was not expecting. Leaving her alone, he retreated back to his area, racking his brain for what he did to offend her. Slowly, more and more people entered until the place was full. 

"Okay, I give up. Just tell me what I did, so I can fix it please." Tyler pleaded. Tonya's response had him reeling back, faster than a 'whack-a-mole'. He knew that look, he had seen it on her face before, Frigga ended up in the emergency department with a concussion. Five minutes after the last student strolled in, Professor Flume entered as the clock stuck nine, signalling the start of class. 

"Okay students, today we are doing concepts for our major works. I'm going to show you examples from past classes, and then we're going to put themes in a hat and use it as a practice major work. This will be your last assignment for your degree so have fun with it, and hopefully inspiration will strike for your actual major work." Professor Flume announced. Students started murmuring amongst themselves, excited for what was about to come. 

"Okay calm down children," Professor Flume teased, as she brought up the major works from previous years on the screen. "So these were for the word 'connection'. What can we say about this first this work?"

The work in question was a pop-up book, opened in the middle. The left was old, tattered and torn. The pages were cut in a way, that a pop-up scene from the 16th century came out from the left side. The right side was similar except it was in pristine condition. The pages were cut out to create a pop-up scene from the 21st century. The 16th century scene, featured an arena were they were acting out 'Henry VI', with the audience holding the admission papers, with 'Henry VI' on the front. The 21st century had a theatre were they were acting out the play. As well as a school were the the class was holding the play and studying it.

"Their showing how past and future can connected through the power of words." Tyler yelled out absentmindedly as he tried to figure out why Tonya was so angry with him. 

"Yes, exactly. Now rate their artwork."

"Well a lot of time was taken in preparing this. Definitely a creative and imaginative way to go about it. It allowed them to showcase their skills and techniques."

"Yet, all and all when you peel everything back, it's pretty simple concept. Anyway moving on," Professor Flume stated as though she were giving a massive hint, before changing to the next slide. They continued like that until they gone through four more examples.

"Okay now for your practice word, drum roll please... 'literal'!" Professor Flume paused for a moment as she started at the word on the piece she was holding, before shrugging. "Well, look on the bright side, it's about as vague as you literal major work. All right then off to work," She clapped her hands, throwing the scrunched up paper over her shoulder and into the bin.

---

"I have so many people who want to kill me, it's not even funny anymore." Tyler announced as he quite literally collapsed on the chair next to Stanley.

"Hello to you to," Stacey told him sarcastically, never removing her eyes from the thumb war she was having with Stanley.

"Sorry, hey guys. These gaps in my memory are gonna get me murdered. I don't know what the other me is doing, but Tonya won't speak to me anymore. Instead I now have Rebecca following me around like a lost puppy." 

"Who's Tonya?" Who's Rebecca?" Stacey questioned, still engrossed the thumb war.

"Tonya is my art buddy, we help each other with techniques and give each other constructive criticism. Rebecca is well, Rebecca. She just floats around and does Rebecca." Tyler explained. 

"Why is Tonya not talking to you?" Stanley asked, he does not remember any incidents from their recent classes.

"I asked her the same question, and she told me I should know the reason. When I told her I didn't, she was this close to punching me." Tyler pouted, not liking the fact someone did not like him. Especially his art buddy, he needed that constant back and forth to make sure his art was at its best level. 

"I've been meaning to ask, can the doctors do anything about the fluid?" Dennis asked.

"Nah, but they did say that it was non life threatening." Tyler's awkward demeanour had Misty staring him down. Fidgeting, he picked up the menu to hide his face, and asked, "any progress on your major works?"