Geff and Jerald

News

"Darn it, Jerald! Did you steal my underwear again?" He had a bad habit of doing that, considering Mom had the great idea of buying us the same pairs of boxers. "I wrote your names in them," she had said. Except Jerald never read the tags. So, that's how that happened. He went and changed, then he gave it back. "Why would I want a pair of underwear that I didn't even use? Put it in the hamper!" Chucking it in, we got called down for breakfast. "BACON!" I ran down the stairs and sat down. A plate of bacon got placed before me, and I gobbled it up. "Easy, now. Leave some for your brother!" Mom said after I asked for seconds. Jerald ate and we both got half of thirds. "Okay, so listen, boys. I have news for you two. "Mm. Yeah. Okay." I wiped my face with a napkin and listened. "So I got a letter from the department, and they want to send you to school! Isn't that fun?" I was astonished. My whole time I have spent here in the farm I have been homeschooled. I had ZERO experience on social-based things. So did Jerald. "Look, I know that you're nervous, Geffrey. But don't worry! Besides, what's the worst that could happen?" The worst that could happen? "Anything. I don't know what, but I don't think we belong in a public school with city kids!" She sighed. "I know it'll be difficult, and you'll be different than most kids, but I promise it'll go well." I walked away, and Jerald went and sat on the couch. "If the school tells me that you two did well, I'll give you a surprise." My eyes widened. "What kind of surprise?" She smiled. "If can't tell you. You'll just have to trust me." She held up two backpacks. Oh, no... but it could be worth a shot. After all, with us not here, we could miss a day of work! I explained it to Jerald. "But why? We don't even know how school is like!"
"Jerald, Jerald, Jerald. Look. If we go and spend some time with some city kids, maybe we could get some stuff from them! I heard they have these modern foods that you put in a microwave and poof! Instant food. We could grab some of that good stuff, right!" Jerald frowned. "I don't know... I guess. Let's do it to make Mom happy." He got up and grabbed his backpack. "Come on, Geff. Let's get this over with." I grinned. "Attaboy! That's the attitude!" I grabbed my backpack and headed out. I was confident. After all, what was the worst that could happen?

"Detention!" The teacher stuck a yellow piece of paper on my desk. I groaned, but stopped. "Wait, what's detention?" I ask. Everybody laughs. Was that supposed to be funny? "Read the slip." I was confused. "What slip? I didn't-- oh, yeah... but I didn't slip! I'm sitting down!" I just got screamed to 'read the paper' or whatever. Apparently, detention is this empty room (which is not really that empty)
where you sit for half an hour or so to "think about your actions' or whatever. I wish I had a string of grain to chew on. I always chew grain when I'm nervous. Hoo, boy. Mom was not going to be happy. Afterwards, I balled up the paper and met Jerald at the 'lockers'. "Did you see that lady in the morning? She was downright crazy!" Jerald shushed me. "Keep it down! You don't want to get noticed." I looked around. "People already notice me," I say, pulling up my overall straps. "Man, what a place. I could be here all day. The more school, the less work!" Jerald sighed. "You don't understand. It's not like that. We still have to contribute on the farm, even if we have to give up our free time to do it." I tried to find a loophole, but couldn't. "But--"
"End of conversation." Then he left me hanging. Something that Jerald has never done before.