The More Things Change (Shawn Hunter)

Cory's Alternative Friends

A/N: If anyone doesn't like the fact that the oc is black, go away.

The class was somewhat quiet while we were doing presentations. Seeing how that did absolutely nothing to ease my anxiety to do it alone, I had to practically beg Mr. Feeny to do it privately.

Now, I was zoned out reading as two girls, Barbara and Paige, stood in front of the classroom, giving a lecture of some sort. There is a large pitcher of water in front of them, and Paige holds a small beaker like Vana White in front of the class. "In conclusion, some products we use every day cause algae to grow in lakes..." she said before she poured the contents of the beaker, which I cannot identify, into the pitcher, making the water a murky white colour. Gross.

Barbara continued Paige's thought "...cutting off oxygen and disrupting the ecosystem." I watched as she dropped a fake fish into the water with tongs.

"So, what we've learned is that we must choose biodegradable products to help protect our environment." Paige concluded as Barbara pulled a fake fish skeleton from the murky water with the tongs. Gross!

Feeny, who was Sitting at his desk, smiled proudly. "Excellent report! Inspired visuals." He praised before turning to the rest of class. "Next team!" I watched as Cory and Shawn stood, gave high fives, and went around the back of Feeny's desk. I smiled as Shawn pulled down the map. He saw me and smiled back, so Cory sent me a quick wave before they began.

Cory looked to Mr. Feeny to introduce their assignment. "How air pollution effects our everyday life." I could tell that I wasn't the only one impressed. Mr. Feeny looked shocked too. "Excellent topic."

Shawn cleared his throat dramatically. He and Cory simultaneously took out pointers. He hits the map in the Gulf of Mexico. "Denver." He said and I cringed. Mr. Feeny moves his pointer to the right place. "High atop the majestic Rocky Mountains. Elevation: five thousand feet." I nodded.

Cory slapped Iowa with his pointer. "Philadelphia." Like Shawn, Feeny corrected him and I rolled my eyes at him. I'll have to teach them the Animaniacs song later. "Lying low in the Delaware basin, 250 feet above sea level."

Mr. Feeny nodded approvingly at them. "Well researched." He said and my heart broke at the poor man. He's going to be so disappointed.

Shawn moved his pointer sharply to Yucatan. "Denver. Clean crisp mountain air." My head was starting to hurt.

Cory moved his pointer sharply to the middle of Mexico. Buffoons, both of them! "Philadelphia. Polluted Industrial smog." I already know where this is going.

Shawn moved his pointer stridently to the Texan coast. "Mile High Stadium: home of the Colorado Rockies." Yup.

Cory moved his pointer violently to the Arkansas/Oklahoma border. "Veterans Stadium: home of the Philadelphia Phillies." Knew it.

Feeny cringed with an eye roll. "Oh, here we go..."

Shawn and Cory lean towards the class on Feeny's desk like detectives in an interrogation room. "The Rockies, a bogus expansion team, mind you, are averaging four more runs per game than anyone in the league... because of their clean air." I loved them but geez they were nut jobs.

Cory continued the thought. "Our theory is, if Philadelphia would clean up its smoggy air, the ball would slice through the atmosphere with a greater velocity." I would be laughing out loud if my anxiety didn't work against me.

Shawn did his last part. I heard him practising it this morning at our table seven times. "Therefore the Phillies would score more runs." At least he didn't mess it up.

Cory delivered the final line. "And win every home game. The end." both boys stood up straight again. Cory and Shawn simultaneously contract their pointers before the curly haired boy turned to Mr. Feeny. "So, how'd you like our report?"