𝑬𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝑴í𝒂 | ᴮᵒʸ ᴹᵉᵉᵗˢ ᵂᵒʳˡᵈ

9: Back To The Future

"Taxation without representation." Mr. Feeny said. "King George."

"We provide the colonists with all their finished manufactured goods." Minkus said. "We deserve remuneration." "General Washington." Mr. Feeny said.

"Fine. Keep your goods like we need your stinking British goods. We're American. We're independent. We'll get our goods from Japan." Cory said, causing the class to erupt with laughter. " "General, I'm dying for you to elaborate." Mr. Feeny said. "What's the point, Mr. Feeny? We all know we kicked British butt." Cory replied. " Winners and losers aside, General. If we do not understand history, we are doomed to repeat its mistakes." "Oh, who cares about George Washington? Who cares about King George? Was every boring guy in history named George?" Mr. Feeny looked at Cory offended. "I meant, every dead boring guy." Cory said awkwardly.

"Apparently, the past holds no fascination for you." Mr. Feeny said. "No, it's happened. It's done." "It's history." "I'm saying!" Cory replied. "Perhaps you should study your history, Mr. Matthews." "I have no history, Mr. Feeny. I'm eleven." Cory sat down on the stool next to Mr. Feeny. "I'm more interested in my future." "Oh, well, then it might be more interesting for us to look into our futures." Mr. Feeny said. "To see if we can avoid our mistakes before they happen."

"I smell an assignment." Shawn said. "I swear, I didn't see it coming." Cory said. "The assignment for all of you is to create personal histories for yourselves as if you were returning for your 20th high school reunion." Mr. Feeny announced.

"More like a preunion." Minkus said. "Well said, Mr. Minkus." Mr. Feeny complimented. "You are the graduating class of the year 2000." That's a while away. "What is your profession? Do you have children? Are those children tormenting their sixth-grade teacher?"

I wanna be a famous artist. Like Picasso or Da Vinci. I wanna have at least one kid. A girl. I want her to resemble me and have the personality of whoever I marry. I want that person to be Shawn. If my daughter does have the personality of Shawn, she will, without a doubt, torment her sixth-grade teacher.

But I know I'll end up working at a grocery store restocking shelves and getting yelled at by angry people who can't seem to find the item that's right in front of them. I know I won't marry. I know I won't have kids. And one hundred percent, without a doubt, I won't make it out of high school. If I do, I won't make it anywhere near college. I know I won't marry Shawn. Nothing will come close to what I want or dream of.

"Mr. Feeny. Is it okay if I bring my wife?" Minkus asked. Who in this entire universe would wanna marry Minkus? Gross. "Oh, come on, Minkus. What's gonna marry you?" Shawn asked. "Topanga." He spoke. Oh.

"Well, Stuart. I am flattered that you would consider me as a potential life mate, but I'm not sure I even recognize the institution of marriage." She said, "Trust me, babe. I've seen the future, and it's me." Minkus said. In his dreams.

♥

"You're going to show up as a tire salesman?" Cory asked Shawn as we walked to a lunch table.

"That's what my dad does." Shawn said. "So?" Cory said. "I know what to wear. I know how to use a pressure gauge. I can spot a retread from a mile away." "Shawn, you're so boring." "And lazy." "How about you, Adriana-Camila?"

"Well, I know what I wanna be, but I know what I'll end up as." I spoke. "Then, let's hear it." Cory said. "I wanna be an artist, but I'll end up as a grocery store worker, so I'm coming as that." "Why?" Cory asked. "Cause that'll be the way life takes me. What are you gonna go as?" I asked. "Cory Matthews. Center fielder for the Philadelphia Phillies." Shawn and I laughed. "What are you laughing at?" Cory asked. "You had thirty-one errors in Little League last season." Shawn said. "Okay, so I didn't play up to my enormous potential. Come on, guys. Let's be what we really want to be. Are we gonna be grownups or be grownups with boring jobs?" Shawn and I thought for a moment. "We're gonna be grownups!" Shawn said.

♥

The next day at school, I showed up wearing what I'd wear as an artist in the future. I had a paint pallet and a brush. I also brought some paintings I did the night before and in the past. I even put some paint on my cast, so it looked like I've been painting forever.

"You really showed up as a tire salesman?" I asked Shawn. "And muffler specialist." He spoke. "Well, what do you really wanna be?" "I honestly don't know. I haven't given much thought." "Well, I feel like you should. I don't think you'll end up as a tire salesman." I said with a smile. "You really think?" Shawn asked. "Actually, I know. You have more than enough potential." Shawn smiled. "Thanks, Adriana." "You're welcome, Shawn." I smiled back at him.