Loving Geography

Chapter 4

It was October. Days got shorter and colder.

I was thinking about geography. Every time it was I listened and took part in the class, it got more and more interesting, we talked about each country and discussed every single detail. I liked participating in Mr. Lucas's classes. I was getting good at geography. I was learning so much. I was so thankful to him for all my grades in geography. For me, geography started filling all the empty gaps in my brain. But the class was bothering me a lot lately, because every time Mr. Lucas was explaining something important they were disturbing his teaching.

The other day we couldn't do anything because some boys from my class started fighting with the girls and they ended up throwing papers at each other. You would think these people would behave appropriately but they were a bunch of eight graders.

Mr. Lucas got angry with them. I was thinking that he would go and resign from our class, just like my two favorite teachers had done. I was not going to let that happen. So to prevent it, Lily and I made sure that the whole class would apologize to him. I understood that he helped me a lot and working with him made me study geography with more interest. However, we tried to convince the class and this is what they answered.

"We are so not going to apologize! I don't know about you guys but I'm not!" Max said. Max was my classmate when he said something half of the class followed. I knew he was doing this on purpose. So I asked.

"Why? Could you tell me the reason?"

He was quiet. I got angry and shouted at him.

"Give me one good reason! Please Max! Just because he doesn't talk to you about your favorite topic? Or when you do something bad he doesn't insult you like other teachers do?" I cried. I was furious. I couldn't believe it. First of all, it was their fault. I tried to help them but instead they refused.

"Fine, I will." he said annoyingly. Giving me the stop-with-the-pressure look.

"Thank you." I replied giving him the you-have-no-choice look.

I am so doing this for me and Lily.

The rest of the class agreed. When Mr. Lucas entered everybody stood and together and we said.

"We're sorry Mr. Lucas for not behaving well."

He smiled and said to us.

"Sit down please," taking a pen and filling the record book he continued, "The important thing is that you understood your mistake and I hope you won't repeat it."

He sounded happy. I was glad that was over.

***

(After a few weeks in the middle of October)

The bell rang; everybody got up and ran from the classroom. I got up and packed my things. I looked at my timetable it was P.E. I sighed and came out of my classroom. I was on my way going down the staircase to the P.E. hall when Zara called my name.

"Sophia! Sophia! Mr. Lucas is calling you, please come!"

"Calling me? Why? Something happened?" I asked.

"I don't know, just come upstairs. He's in the classroom waiting for you."

I came up to the class. Mr. Lucas was sitting on the teacher's chair.

"Hello Sir, is something wrong?" I asked attentively.

"Hello Sophia, no everything is fine. I'm sending you to the geography Olympiad. You will take part from your class and ask if anyone else would like to, too. "

"What? Me? But I can't, can I?" I asked.

"Name and surname please," he requested.

For a moment the world had stopped turning around for me. I couldn't believe what had happened. Who would had taken me to the geography Olympiad. If Miss Jane were here she wouldn't even think about it for a minute. And even if I did go, I wouldn't be able to. He probably didn't even know I was from Germany. If he knew maybe he wouldn't even considered sending someone like me.

"Sophia Adams, but Mr. Lucas I don't think I could go and--- ." I said quietly.

"Thank you." he said. Giving me the not-to-worry look. As he stood up and left the class.

"No Sir, thank you." I said doubtfully.

***

That day, I went home still not believing what had happened. I told my mother about everything. She suggested to talk to him but I asked her to wait. I was still so shocked.