A Poem By Walt Whitman

𝐶𝒉𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝘐𝘐: 𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑝𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑚.

-Father, I thought you'd gone.

-Mr. Perry, sir. -The other girls said in unison.

-Keep your seats, fellas. -He answered. -Nicole, i've just spoken to Mrs. Nolan. I think that you're taking too many extracurricular activities this semester, and I've decided that you should drop the school annual.

-But I'm the assistant editor this year. -She complained.

-Well, I'm sorry ,Nicole.

-But, father, I can't. It wouldn't be fair.

-Fellas. -Mr. Perry shouted. -Could you excuse us for a moment?

Mr. Perry and his daughter went out of the room. Charlie looked at them with disappointment.

-Don't you ever dispute me in public. -Mr. Perry said, looking at his daughter.

-Father, I wasn't-

-After you've finished medical school and you're on your own, then you can do as you damn well please, but until then, you do as I tell you. That clear?

-Yes, sir, I'm sorry. -Nicole answered, scared.

-You know how much this means for your mother, don't you?

-Yes, sir. You know me, always taking up too much. -Nicole looked down.

-Well, that's my girl. Now listen, you need anything, you let us know, huh?

-Yes, sir.

Then her father left. She leaned her head to the wall. Charlie and Kim came out of the room as she sighed.

-Why doesn't he let you do what you want? -Charlie asked her.

She looked at them.

-Yeah, Nick. Tell him off. It couldn't get any worse.-Kim answered.

Nicole laughed.

-Oh, that 's rich. Like you guys tell your parents off? Mrs. Future-Lawyer and Mrs. Future-Banker?

-Okay, so I don't like it any more than you do.-Charlie laughed.

Nicole sighed again.

-Don't tell me how to talk to my father. You guys are the same.

-All right, all right. Jesus. -Kim stopped her, as Meeks came out of the room. -So, what are you gonna do?

-What I have to do. -Nicole answered. -Drop the annual.

-Well, I wouldn't lose so much sleep on it. It's just a bunch of jerks trying to impress Nolan. -Charlie joked.

-I don't care. I don't give a damn about any of it.

Awkward silence.

-Well, uh,Latin? 8:00 in my room? -Meeks intervened.

-Yes. -Nicole entered quickly in her room, passing through Charlie.

-Taylor, you're welcome to join us! -Meeks said to Taylor.

-Yeah, come along, pal. -Kim said.

-Thanks. -Taylor nodded.

The next day, the bells rang. The birds rose and flew just as they sounded, causing the small lake to spew out sparks of water as the birds passed by. A big bunch of girls went down the stairs, making so much noise.

The first class they had was chemistry.

-Pick 3 laboratory experiments from the project list and report on them every five weeks. -The chemistry teacher said. -The first 20 questions at the end of chapter I are due tomorrow.