Book 5- 1969 (Michael Jackson)

Chapter 23- Too Young, Too Much

Chapter 23- Too Young, Too Much

Date: Monday, October 27, 1969

Time: 2:14PM

MICHAEL'S POV

"And that," concluded the teacher, Miss Barnes, "is the difference between direct currents and alternating currents. Simply, the direct current creates an undeviated flow of electricity, while an alternating current periodically flows in the opposing direction." She set her dull, orange chalk in its respective spot, facing the class of semi-intrigued students.

I, for one, had never truly been interested in this branch of science. Yes, I took joy in the sciences and the nature of how things work, but electrical science was never my cup of tea. No, I much preferred the studies of anatomy and biology over electrical and engineering sciences.

Either way, I was giving most of my attention to the plump figure whose eyes perused the room for drifters. Absent-mindedly, she retrieved her metal ruler from her over-crowded desk, her eyes glued to us the entire time. Seconds later, she whacked the desk of Alyssa, a student in the front row of the class.

Nearly everyone speculated that she would be the first target. She had been moved to the front of the classroom near the beginning of the year due to her incessant talking habit. However, after learning that keeping her lips flapping was difficult to hide in the front of class, she resorted to daydreaming and sometimes sleeping.

Needless to say, she had multiple office visits a month.

As if that was not enough of a wake-up for anyone, Steel resumed making some rather unnecessary faces to the other students. Miss Barnes was quick to slap his hand with the ruler, forcing him to withdraw. However, when she faced away to find her next "victim", he recommenced his ridiculous, yet hilarious face-making.

Steel was another one of the troublesome pupils. I thought he was an all-around nice kid, and a funny one at that, but he did come across as a disturbance when it came to actual classwork. His behaviour ensued in getting slapped with the ruler, being sent to the office, and receiving an assigned seat that isolated him from the rest of the class.

Everyone called the seat Siberia.

Before the fair teacher could make her complete round with everyone, the school intercom screeched, and then our vice principal's voice echoed through. In the tinny tone the intercom gave, Mr. Parton stated, "If sixth grade is available, class picture-taking is ready."

All day, usually on the hour, Mr. Parton would direct a number grade to get their photos taken for the annual. I, for one, was particularly excited, for I had never gotten an annual. I figured that this would be my very first yearbook in which I could keep and cherish forever. The best part was, everyone's pictures would be in the book, so I could remember each of the classmates that I went to school with.

However, I thought that I would most likely not remember the majority of them ten years from now. Most of us were going to different schools when this year ended, and I didn't socialize like I did back in Gary. Even Kayla noticed that my new behavior at school was much more reserved and demure than it had once been. The new change between schools had not been treating me well, to say the least.

Either way, I loved the idea of getting a yearbook for everyone to sign. So did Kayla, who actually wanted to be on the yearbook committee.

Everyone rose from their seats almost instantaneously. One by one, we neatly filed into a straight line in the front of the classroom in no particular order. Miss Barnes had not waited for us to completely get together before setting foot outside. It was clear she wanted the photos to be over and done with, too.