Test Week – Day 5
The reading/listening portion of test week is quick, but painful when we find out that there's a special music class shoehorned in before lunch because Mrs. K has news to break.
"Good morning, Mrs. K!" Steven shouts.
The class idiot doesn't know when to shut up.
Mrs. K doesn't either. "Let's talk about the spring concert, yes?"
At my old school, we only had a winter concert. Mrs. K has upped the ante with a spring show. According to the Dutch visionary, it'll take place in this local auditorium down the street from the school, and feature strictly fifth, sixth and seventh graders. How this lady managed to book a community auditorium is beyond me (test funding?).
Mrs. K doesn't explain what the other grades are doing in late April, and barely scratches the surface with us.
Rhythm stick medley.
Queen medley with trash can drums.
Long John Plat!num's "Downtown" for a finale.
We're nowhere near performing in downtown Esterton, but those are the elements on the agenda that I pay attention to as she rambles on about this idea that came to her during dinner at her apartment.
You can make it, Chase. Break is hours away.
"The next few weeks will be dedicated to making this show a success and participation is half your grade for the semester."
Lovely. But, couldn't she have saved this for after break?
***
At lunch, I'm too anxious to eat what's supposed to be a burrito but looks more like...not a burrito. Max doesn't want his, but I don't want it either. It's up to this "fiesta corn" to turn my red hunger bar green. Kieran enjoys the corn. I don't know what tofu kibble tastes like, but let's go with that for an accurate description. I hate the peppers.
Annoying catches Max in the act of ignoring his not-a-burrito burrito. "Aren't you hungry, bud?"
Does anything sound more insulting than "bud" or "buddy"?
"No," Max states so bleeping casually.
"If you don't eat, then you'll be hungry during class."
"Fine."
"Well," Annoying says as he walks away, "your problem."
My eyes shoot down at my tofu kibble. My new...
Let's go with "squish" because "crush" sounds too romantic.
...My new squish is the bravest kid I've ever met, and it's awesome. I thought that turning into Abbi would be a curse, a distraction, an emotional meltdown that causes my downfall. This feels like falling up. I wish I could be Max. Then, I could throw this burrito out and not cut it into a million pieces to make it look like I ate something.
Also, if I was Max, I wouldn't be stressing over presenting our project to Mrs. G and the rest of our English clash...
Clash?
...Class, you distracted fool!
I can only hope that Max does most of the talking, and I act as his color-commentator. Let him be the voice yelling "from downtown!" or "cash money!" and I'll be the ex-player, adding nothing to the scene.
"Clean up! If you didn't eat, that's your problem."
Annoying with no regard for human life!
***
YOU ARE READING
Castling: A Novel (NaNoWriMo21)
Ficção AdolescenteIt's a slice-of-life centered around "Chase the Ace," who finds himself changing schools against his will mid-year to help make the most of that brain of his. It'll be good for him, they say. He won't be so bored. He'll get to be with an old friend...
