The Brown Slime

Habits

Mrs. Wilkins was at the front of the class, already taking attendance by the time I made my way to my seat near the middle. 

Greg took the seat right behind me, and Steve showed up a minute or so later. He sat to my right in an empty spot near the wall where he normally sat, and I think I caught him looking at me once or twice during roll call.

When the teacher finally finished her task and turned toward us, she clapped her hands together with enthusiasm.

"Good morning, everyone! How is everyone feeling today?" She asked cheerily.

The class mumbled back some non-committal response in unison, making Mrs. Wilkins sigh heavily as she rolled her eyes. "I know it's been hard for those of you who got brown slimed... and that's okay. It's just something we need to adjust to having in the classroom from time to time. You should know that the smell does wear off in a few days, and until then I recommend using some perfume or cologne to mask it."

Her eyes flickered across the room for a second, scanning for reactions as she continued. "In particular, I'd like to welcome back Mandy, Kirstin and Galena—who all unfortunately had to miss class yesterday."

She looked pointedly at the three of us. Mandy blushed deeply from her seat in the back row next to the windows while I cringed inwardly in embarrassment. Kirstin, on the other hand, didn't seem bothered at all. She just sort of smirked to herself as everyone looked in her direction.

"I suppose I do owe you an apology, Mandy, for tricking you into saying the three forbidden words in class. You had no way of knowing that the punishment was waiting to strike. It really wasn't fair." She paused as she adjusted her skirt around her hips and tugged at the hem.

"As for the rest of you," she continued, "I would like you all to please thank your classmate for showing us all that we can endure such things with grace, and that the punishment is only as bad as you allow it to be."

There were a few claps in the back and some scattered laughter in the room. Mandy buried her face in her hands as Mrs. Wilkins clasped her hands together.

"Anyways... Mandy, I'm awarding you with a number of extra credit points equal to Monday's homework assignment. I'm also going to give you a twenty dollar gift card, out of my own pocket, to your favorite place to buy clothes from."

"Thank you, Mrs. Wilkins," Mandy lowered her hands, her face still red but with eyes brightening at such an unexpected reward. "I really do love your class..."

Mrs. Wilkins gave a small chuckle and waved her hand dismissively.

"Don't mention it, dear. I feel so bad about getting you all covered in that nasty brown stuff! I won't trick anyone like that again, I promise." She turned to smile warmly at the rest of us.

"Now everyone please take out your textbooks and turn to chapter thirty-five..."

Kirstin's hand shot up into the air with a quick motion. "Mrs. Wilkins, what do I get?"

"Well, uh..." our teacher hesitated, looking surprised that she would ask such a thing. "Let me see..."

Mrs. Wilkins rifled through her purse underneath her desk, pulling out a handful of business cards and looking over them carefully. 

Then she snapped her fingers and exclaimed, "Aha! Here we are..." before holding one up between two fingers triumphantly.

"What kind of gift card is that?"

"This is good for one free ice cream cone from the Burger Barn," Mrs. Wilkins announced proudly.

A few laughs and titters echoed through the room as Kirstin scowled. She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest with a huff.