oh dove | Daniel Applebaum

chapter 8: pas de deux

"Kafka's renown was deeply engrained in a period of intense physical and societal anguish," my partner announced.

"So whether he's becoming a cockroach one day or exploring the atrocities of humanity the next," I continued. "Franz Kafka's impact on existentialism shows that being human never was and never will be inherent."

As I muttered the conclusion of our presentation, we both held our breaths while glancing nervously around the class. For the past week or so, me and Applebaum had been relentlessly studying our philosopher and when that was done, we spent hours attempting to memorize as much of the speech as possible. We had been relatively confident that we would be able to make it through the presentation yesterday, but my shaky hands were probably audible in the second of silence that ensued after the speech. Before I could manage to discern any expression on the faces of my classmates, Mr. Marcelin interrupted.

"It seems as though I should pair boys off with girls more often seeing as though both groups have received top marks," the professor applauded.

I looked to Applebaum with a proud expression just to catch him already staring at me with a grin on his face.

"Thank you Mr. Applebaum and Miss Gautier for enlightening us on a rather modern philosopher," Marcelin said. "You two may now go back to your seats."

As we began back to our desks, Applebaum slightly leaned into my ear. "You mispronounced 'necessary,'" he snarked.

I scoffed, picking my black coat up from my seat and settling down in the hard, wooden chair.

"Maybe if you didn't write 'nessecary' I would've been able to read it the first time through," I joked, referring to the small, paper notecards that we had prepared the day prior.

He lifted his hands to shrug innocently while straightening his lips, causing me to playfully roll my eyes. By now, the next group, consisting of Laminière and Felbec, was up to present. If I had to be honest though, with the burden of my presentation out of the way, I used the rest of the period to relax. Which was good for me on a personal level, but if I was quizzed on any of the philosophers following my presentation, I can't say I would have passed.

~

"You know how embarrassing it is to be the only girl-pair and have such a bad presentation?" Michèle ranted, one of her arms gripping her bag while the other flew in the air as she recalled the events of philosophy, which had to be almost an hour ago.

"I can hardly say yours was any worse than any of the boy pairs," I answered, gripping my satchel as we made our way across the courtyard.

"I think that makes it worse," Simone giggled. "Imagine the standard for good presentations being what two boys manage to concoct."

Me and Simone laughed at her jabs toward the boys but Michèle remained stone-faced, contemplating what another bad grade would mean for her. The three of us slowed down as we approached the school ground's exit.

"Hey, you shouldn't worry about the presentation. I think you did great," I said to comfort Michèle (and Simone too, considering she was also present). "I learned a great deal about... Era Smith and-"

"Erasmus," Michèle interrupted, a hint of laughter underneath her correction.

"Well-" I managed to squeeze out before an abrupt laugh interrupted my line of dialogue.

I almost threw my hands upon my face in an attempt to physically silence my humorous outburst, but it was too late when Simone let out a hardy laugh as well. I anxiously shifted my gaze toward Michèle, who I had thought was silent throughout the entire ordeal, just to catch her face red and puffy as she attempted to hold in her own laughter. It was futile though. The moment my eyes met hers, she let out an uncharacteristic laugh that only served to amplify how hysteric we looked. I used a trembling finger to wipe a tear from under my eye as we passed under the gate toward our homes, laughing all the way to the fork in the road that divided our paths.