The Group Project: A Story of Failure and Redemption

Chapter 4

The silence in the classroom was deafening. Skye felt everyone's eyes on her, judging her and mocking her. She wished she could sink into the ground and disappear.

The teacher frowned and repeated his question. "What is your topic?"

Skye opened her mouth again, but still no sound came out. She felt a lump in her throat and tears in her eyes. She wanted to say something, anything, but she couldn't.

The teacher sighed and shook his head. He looked at Anna and the other members of their group, who also said nothing. He said, "I'm sorry, but this is unacceptable. You have wasted your time and mine. You have shown no respect for the subject or the assignment. You have failed to prepare or present your project. You have failed as a group."

He turned to the class and said, "Class, this is an example of what not to do. This is an example of how not to work as a team. This is an example of how not to approach a project. This is an example of how not to learn from history."

He turned back to Skye and her group and said, "You will receive a zero for this project. You will also receive detention for today and tomorrow. You will write me a 10-page essay on why history is important and how you can improve your skills and attitude. You will submit it by Friday. No excuses."

He paused and added, "And don't expect any sympathy or help from me or your classmates. You have brought this upon yourselves."

He dismissed them and asked the next group to come up.

Skye felt a wave of shame and regret wash over her. She had ruined everything. She had let down Anna and the others. She had let herself down.

She gathered her things and walked back to her seat, followed by Anna and the other two members of their group. They did not look at each other or say anything.

They sat in silence and watched the rest of the presentations.

They knew they had no chance of redemption.

They knew they had learned their lesson.

But they also knew it was too late.