Inside

Chapter 11

Eleven

Josh smiles back at me with gleaming eyes. I know that look.

"What did you do?" I ask intrigued. He always looks at me that way when he's done something bad.

"You see him?" He says pointing his short, round finger at the boy sitting in front of him. I nod.

"I stuck gum under his chair table. On the edge," Josh says smilling widely, unable to contain his happiness. I gasp and cover my mouth. Then we both start to snicker. I enjoy being his sidekick when he does pranks. It's funny to see the person's reaction and we never get caught. The teacher walks into the classroom and Josh and I sit up straight and wait for the boy to touch the gum.

I remember this. Barely. Faintly. Josh and I were small; around six years old. The boy never really touched the gum. But I don't remember why...

The boy sits down and puts his books under the chair. Then he opens the book he left ontop and starts to flip the pages.

"Is he going to touch it?" I ask Josh impatiently.

"Wait," Josh tells me. He waits for the teacher to be facing the board and then leans closer to the boy. Josh pokes his shoulder.

"Touch your desk," Josh tells the kid.

"Josh!" I whisper loudly. He's making it too obvious.

"What?" The boy asks.

"Josh!" I call again.

"Naomi Bless!" The teacher says loudly, making me jump. "You have something to share?"

I look around at all the other kids who stare at me wide-eyed. Even Josh and the other boy look at me. Well, at least I got Josh's attention.

"No, ma'am," I answer.

"Good. Now, do you know the answer?" She asks.

I wasn't paying attention, so I had to ask her to repeat it.

"In what building is the hospital located?" the teacher asks annoyed.

"Oh..." I answer. I should know this. It's one of the question she asks everyday. I should have it memorized by now... but I haven't. So my eyes search around the room for the map of the buildings the teacher put up a few days ago. Where is it?

"You won't find it," the teacher says.

"What, ma'am?" I ask inocently.

"The map of the buildings," she states.

"Oh..." I repeat. "Um..." I look at Josh who mouths some words.

"Gray Building!" I yell believing it's the right answer.

"No. White," the teacher says turning back to the board.

I slump in my chair and Josh leans back.

"Sorry," he apologizes for telling me the wrong answer.

After that, the teacher started asking the same questions as always and we had to give the same answers as always: the government is in the Gray Building; Mr. Collins is the governor; Nurses, teachers, doctors and police are to be respected. I have them all memorized by now.

Mr. Collins is still the governor. He has been the governor ever since I can rememeber. He must be old.

Then the teacher started telling us new things about History. Stuff like who was the first doctor and something about the first medicines. I don't remember much because I was paying too much attention to the boy. I asked Josh a couple of times if the boy had touched it and I missed it. But Josh always shook his head, looking disappointed.