Archaeology 101... The Classroom of Despair

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     It all happened 9 years ago... I remember it as though it was yesterday...

                                                                   ~Day 1~

     The first day back to college, sophomore year. Ten happy faces all headed to Archeology 101 taught by Professor Tom Ranking at Plainfield Community College. People filtered in and chose their seats as they entered. Everybody started to pull out their notebooks, excited to see what was to happen in class today. Everyone was surprised by the lack of people in the room and the diversity as well. Then the professor showed up, he was an old, friendly-looking guy. He walked in with a big smile on his face. A smile that made you want to smile as well. He was very tall and somewhat tanned, wrinkles formed as crow's feet and smile lines. Everything about The Professor was welcoming. Class started, and the Professor started to talk.

     "Hello everyone! Welcome to Archeology 101! I am so glad that you are all here! Archaeology is my passion, so let me first tell you a bit about myself. I often go on archaeological digs and adventures all throughout Africa and the Middle East during the summer semester. I was in Israel for a prolonged period of time, but that was to broaden my horizons by working on a banana farm. Just recently in fact, over this last summer break, I participated in a dig in Egypt. I found the most amazing thing that I would love to introduce you to..." Professor Ranking went behind his desk and pulled out this... Rock? It was weathered and gray, darker in some places than others. Textured like Gabbro or Diorite. The Rock was in the shape of a face, its mouth was an enormous smile with small, closed eyes. The top of its head was small and it had a massive smile too big for its head and high cheeks plastered wider than his face. The teeth were large and uneven, with three front ones in the middle of its mouth, the mouth occupied the majority of its face. It had a large, wide nose that rested right above the mouth, with a large protruding bottom lip. The bottom portion of the head was the same small size as the forehead. It was flat on the button so it easily rested on flat surfaces.Everyone stared at it as an odd feeling emanated through the room.

     The silence was broken.

     "Oh. My. God. He's AMAZING!" A blond girl in the front of the class exclaimed. Everyone in class snapped their heads towards where she was seated in the front of the room. Shocked, she turned a slight shade of red sunk down in her seat a bit more as she pulled her knit beanie further down her face.

     "Are you insane?? Amazing??? It's absolutely terrifying??? That THING gives me the heebie jeebies." Claimed another girl, this time with brown wavy hair and glasses, also seated in the front row, a couple seats away from the blonde girl. She had naturally red rosy cheeks and a disgusted look on her face. Her face was scrunched up with an eyebrow raised and curled lip with a frown. As she wiggled her pen between her fingers. She wore high waisted light blue jeans and a cute black sweatshirt with a cat on it.

     Professor Ranking chuckled a little bit, "This is Earl, he will be like our class mascot. Be good to him." The brunette groaned loudly, and there was a mix of cheers and confused groans from everyone else. It was a strange looking rock. But it had its own charm to it you know?

     "Well, considering this class is so small, why don't we all introduce ourselves!" Stated this black haired, tan, relatively built man. "I'll Start bros, my name is Andrew Matthews. I am mental about surfing in my free time. It's my favorite thing to do. I'm a big beach bum so You can always find me there if I am unfindable. Let's hear from you next bondie." He wore a loose sleeved tank top and some khaki shorts. He accessories heavily with bracelets and anklets, though he wore a thick pair of glasses, which seemed a little strange.

     "Uhmmm me?" The blonde from earlier exclaimed. Andrew nodded. "Oh. Well. Uhm my name is Makayla Willis and uhm I love to knit in my free time and I made the hat that I'm wearing right now." The room erupted with oOOoOo's and Makayla tugged on her hat a little and gave a small smile. She was wore ripped cuffed light blue jeans with a cute pink and white cropped checkered sweater. Her hair was pretty straight, but with a slight wave and thickness to it.