The Swap

Allison 1.2

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to stand in someone else's shoes. The rowdy boys in the back always make it difficult for the teachers to keep the class concentrated. I've heard of teachers breaking down mid-class occasionally if it gets too out of hand. Luckily I haven't experienced such a thing, but it still serves as a warning for me not to get a teaching job.

Eventually the bell releases him of his torture. Mr. Birkens quickly flashes the homework on the board. By the time it loads in, the whole class has already exited the classroom, save for me and Megan.

"At least I can always rely on you two ladies to participate." he sighs.

Megan responds kindly, but I don't. I imagine she perceived that remark differently than I did.

We walk to our usual lunch spot outside under the largest tree in the school yard. When it comes into view however, a group of boys claim it as their own. Why are they sitting there all of a sudden? Everybody has their unofficial seating places, so what gives? Of course, I don't say these things out loud.

"Let's go talk to them. Maybe we can get them to move," Megan suggests and to my horror she starts approaching the three boys. I begrudgingly trot along, trying to look away as much as possible.

"Excuse me, I know you are already situated, but could you sit somewhere else so we can sit here?" Megan smiles.

The boy she spoke to, a tall redhead, turns around and relays the request to his friends. Their facial expressions expose their genuine answer, but after a short amount of bickering, a brown-haired boy sitting furthest away from us interrupts.

"We're not going to stand up just because you two want to sit here," he says. His voice sounds condescending. Megan's smile collapses into an observational glare.

"Why not?"

"Why should we? Just because you're a girl? Just because you always sit here? Our regular spot was also taken by some people, so we just acted like any normal person and sat somewhere else."

The two other boys are now shushing the rude one. I'd also like this to be over fast, so I tug on Megan's sleeve. She jolts her arm away and gives me an it's-going-to-be-alright look. There she goes again, with her uprightness. She's like a double-edged sword of a role model for me.

"I'm just stating my opinion," the boy continues, "We took this place before you two did, tough luck for you. You're going to have to find another place to sit down, but due to the silence of your friend, I don't think she really minds."

When he referenced me, the boys and Megan turned my way. I flinch and feel my head getting hotter until their gazes go back to Megan. I'm not being much of a helpful friend for Megan, am I?

"Well, sorry to be so rude and interrupt your lunch, I guess. We just hoped that you'd be willing to sit somewhere else, seeing as it doesn't appear to be such an inconvenience." Megan leaves them with that, before turning back to me, "Come on, let's just sit in the hallway or something."

The redhead apologises for his friend as we walk inside.