Golden Gooses

11

     It was 2:59 in the mid-afternoon by now, and the classroom had already been deserted; all the kids being picked up or going to their earlier-arrived buses. Nobody but Mrs. Montgomery and Evan were left in the room. He had his backpack on, staring regrettably at his shoes while gripping the straps of his backpack, still sitting beside her desk. Mrs. Montgomery quickly wrote up something on a piece of paper and tore it out of her binder. She packaged it up in an envelope and handed the paper to Evan. "Give this to your parents. Don't try to hide it, because I'll call them either way." Evan nodded, grabbing the envelope and placing it in his backpack's back pocket before picking at his dried tears. Mrs. Montgomery stood up, looking down at Evan. She sighed reluctantly and softened her rigid attitude. "C'mon, now let's get you to the bus." She offered her hand and he clung to her fingers as they left the classroom. Mrs. Montgomery walked Evan out to the bus, and he reluctantly waved goodbye as he turned and ran up the bus stairs. She smiled and waved back until he was on the bus. She turned and gave a parting side-glare. That kid's gonna be a doozy, she thought, before walking to the parking lot.

     As Evan walked down the aisle to look for a place to sit, he could hear people whispering about him amongst themselves. Some glared or stared in amazement. Others shifted closer to each other while gossiping quietly and staring. A few immediately pushed over in their seats out of fear, while some purposely put their backpacks in any empty seats. Evan silently sighed to himself and walked to the back of the bus. He looked out the window and chewed on bits of his nails, trying to occupy himself. The events of today were burrowed into his mind, making him feel awful. When he felt tears well up in his eyes, he bit his lips and gripped his shorts while sniffling, desperate to keep from crying. He kept his head down for the rest of the ride home.