Phrontistery Of Monster Kind - Six Feet Deep

Chapter 4

The gymnasium was buzzing with life. Years eight and above shouted at each other, catching up over their two-week Spring break. Year seven still seemed to be on their good behaviour period, it did help they were the closest to the stage, (as were the year eights but all the high levelled staff were on the other side of the gymnasium.) As well as their year coordinator dishing out detentions to anyone who sneezed.

I arrived late, situating myself between the astronomy teacher and the divination one. Each looked up at me, the astomi giving me a nod of recognition. As it wasn't a new school year; I prayed they wouldn't mention my presence as the newest staff member to grace this school. I wouldn't mind getting away with the illusion of being a substitute until the assembly is over.

But I wasn't, and soon the year nines would know, then the entire school.

From my spot on the side of the hall, it was hard to see the stage. Mors was elsewhere (which in itself seemed out of character), leaving the year to cause a stir. None of the other teachers bothered to silence their students, so I gathered it's allowed until they need to begin the ceremony.

I didn't foresee Mors to be someone lenient on this behaviour, but as no one else stepped in, he had to be.

Our year was behind the year sevens, and the year elevens behind us. The year twelves were noticeably absent from the hall, mostly like those who were at the school were cramming for their exams or catching up on much needed sleep away from their nagging families.

One good thing about starting in the last trimester was that I didn't have to deal with the stressed-out monsters or their classes. Though they make the best students, I have torn my hair out having to explain seventh grade history to a twelfth year who decided they could learn thousands of years in one week. The only good thing about these students was, at least one of them may have lived through it. Though why they were still at a high school would be beyond me.

One student shuffled out of her row and headed straight over to the astrology teacher (I'm guessing her homeroom teacher) and asked to go to the bathroom.

"Why didn't you go before the assembly?" the teacher squawked, readjusting himself in his chair and retracting his greyish-brown-winged 'arms' from their crossed position.

"The bathroom was locked, Sir," the humanoid teen said.

"You should have gone to another one," as if that changed the situation now.

"They were all locked," the girl explained, her voice straining through her canines. Every word sounded painful to say, and with every pause now and again through her breathy words, I knew that was the case. "They were closed after the year elevens' were caught smoking in them."

"I recall the incident Enu-"

"Please, I really need to go-"

"Let her go," I cut in. The man spun to look at me. He went to interject but I continued, "As long as she can enter quietly if the assembly has started, there is no issue."

The girl smiled, canines showing. "Thank you, Ms, but I still need a key-"

"Go to the ward's one. It's the closest." It by far wasn't but I didn't feel the need to interrupt any more than I already had. The girl scampered off. When she was far enough away, the supersized owl continued, "That isn't going to make the students like you."

"That wasn't what that was," I stated. "I simply don't see the need to control someone for something they can't."

"She could have gone earlier-"

"Yes, she could have, but she didn't. It is our job to teach students, not to control every aspect of their lives until they are mindless puppets. If you had to go, wouldn't you excuse yourself before going?"