Tiny Transfer

"Er, hi..." I awkwardly blurted, trying to clear my throat. "So I'm Simon.. and if you haven't noticed, which I seriously doubt, I was born small. Like really small. So small in fact scientists consider me an ongoing physiological anomaly. Today, even at the age of 18 and 12 days I still stand a mere total of 3 centimetres tall (1.18 inches). As far as people can tell I'm the first person to be born this way. Ever. Sure there are story's throughout history that refer to tiny people but nothing has ever been recorded in a serious, discernible manner." The classroom was filled with mostly blank and mildly curious stares. I mean.. its not like I was something new, I'd been plastered across the news their whole lives.

"Naturally I've spent my life up until now in and out of research labs as the most accredited of scientists struggle to understand my existence. The lab currently tasked with researching me has made the grand and rather irritating decision to relocate their headquarters here, a full 9 hour drive from where I had previously been living. And thus here I am. Standing before you atop your teachers desk. Starting at this school even though we're already halfway through final year."

"Thank you for that rather detailed introduction Simon. I'm sure everyone appreciated it." The homeroom teacher smiled as he looked down at me and then towards the class. "I'm going to buddy you up with Thomas today, he'll show you around, get you settled in."

Thomas was sitting in the second row from he front. He didn't exactly seem excited to be tasked with the chore of inducting me but I can't blame him.

"Thomas would you mind getting up and helping Simon back to your desk? I'll have him sit with you for the time being." Thomas slowly pushed his chair back and got to his feet rather lazily, he made no effort to rush his way over as he approached.

Getting help like this from people never ceases to feel awkward. Needing to depend on others for what any normal person would consider the most basic of tasks can become rather dehumanising.

Thomas lay his hand out flat, palm side up on the desk next to me, gesturing with a roll of his eyes and a sigh to climb on. To approach me so unwillingly I can only assume that to him I was a hinderance, something for him to take care of. At least, that's the vibe I got.

Climbing up onto and towards the centre of his palm I found his hand a little clammy. Pretty typical honestly. Slowly Thomas lifted me into the air and we headed back to his desk at much the same rate he left it. And thus ensued two agonisingly awkward class periods.

Thomas made no real effort to hold a conversation with me. Simply carrying me from homeroom to first period and then from first period to second period. Occasionally pointing out locations such as the direction of the nurses office or cafeteria whilst enroute between classes.

Finally the bell rung, a slightly different bell to those that had rung previous. This marked the end to second period and the beginning of lunch. Maybe now I'd be able to meet some people and begin to socialise. Even if it was only for half the school year, it'd be nice to have a circle of friends.

Walking down the hallway sat in Thomas's palm it felt like a battlefield. Lockers swung open and slammed shut while students rushed past each other shoulder to shoulder. Thomas was repeatedly bumped into, rocking me from side to side. There was no way I'd be able to stand up on his palm without being almost immediately being knocked down.

Halfway towards the cafeteria Thomas stopped and looked down at me and then to the door next to us. It was the bathroom door. He then spoke to me in his longest sentence yet "so err.. I gotta use the bathroom, where am I supposed to put you?"

Reflexively I scanned around for a moment. Just by the entrance to the bathroom was a fire extinguisher stored in a red metal box behind breakable glass. It sat bolted to the wall at around the same level Thomas had been carrying me in his palm, so roughly chest hight. Atop this red box was a flat surface with ample room where I could wait. Usually in situations like this people would just leave me by the wash basin but if he'd leave me outside then perhaps I'd finally get a conversation with someone.