"Okay, turn to your Tests/Quizzes section in your binders." John Esman Flipped through his color-coded binder to the blue divider as the math teacher, with a blank face and gray eyes, passed through the aisles handing out last week's test. "I want this signed by tomorrow." She announced while laying the marked test before John and continuing down the aisle. He looked quizzingly at it, not sure wether to put it in his homework section, or in the Q/T part of his binder. He considered shoving it into a folder, but thought back to a couple months prior, when school had just started. His first quarter grades were sickly and his school bag was the storage for the largest supply of crumpled paper airplanes, made from recycled assignments with bad grades stamped across the front in red pen. Yet as admired the 93% writed in forest green before him, John refused to allow himself to spiral back into a world of disorganization and confusion. He places his test neatly next to the Q/T divider and flipped triumphantly to the notes section of his binder.
To keep from falling asleep John highlighted select part of his notes in different colors. The distracting neon pinks and greens popped on the page, and kept him awake. John highlighted as though he would look over his notes later, and though he probably wouldn't, the sheer fun of labeling things with tiny post-it's that hung off the page kept him going.
The math teachers monotonous voice was in sync with the relentless ticking of the clock, for her pitch never rose or fell. If John actually attempted to listen to what she was saying, he probably would have fallen asleep, but refusing to let his eyelids sag he focused on the hum of the heater and mindlessly copied the string of words from the board. Suddenly a ring erupted on the wall across from John's seat. The teacher made her way to the phone on the wall and everyone relaxed.
"Sure, I'll do that. Thank You" She scanned the classroom. "John Esman, D wing office." She said, not bothering to find his face in the crowd of students. As she went back to her lesson, John hoisted himself out of his chair with a puzzled look on his face. The door creaked as he opened it, and he cringed as the sound tore through the quiet of the empty halls. His footsteps echoed as he nervously made his way to the stairs. He rubbed his hands together and clicked his jaw. He must've done something wrong for they had called the classroom, which meant there was something too embarrassing to be announced on the loudspeakers. He couldn't recall breaking any rules though, and he wasn't the type to get in trouble. John wasn't a goody-goody as some people were, just uninvolved in the crazy doings of the well known troublemakers. Is there is another John Esman. He wondered to himself. His fears grew more intense and he quickened his pace. What could I have done? How will they treat me, like some kind of slacker? His each step boomed as he hopped down the staircase. Now, he found himself with his hand on the door handle of the D wing office. He turned it and stepped inside. As he glanced around, he noticed his sister seated behind the desk.
"Cassy? Why are you here. I thought you work in the E wing office."
"Yeah, but Mrs. Lightman is sick, and there are two people working in E wing so they sent me here." She said sweetly.
"So, where should I go?" John asked, glancing around the small office. His eyes darted about but he didn't spot the dean, nor did he hear his boisterous, commanding voice in the Dean's office next door.
"You left your lunchbox in the cafeteria and someone put it in the lost and found bin." Cassy bent down and her head disappeared from view. She came back up and slid John's bag across the desk. Here ya go little bro." She smiled. John looked at it, noticing his name written in sharpie, and hesitated.
"So I'm not in trouble, like I didn't do anything wrong?"
"Uh, no." She said quietly. "Why?"
"No it's just- you- why did you call. You are supposed to announce things like that on the loudspeakers." He remembered the rush of terror and confusion when his name was called in the classroom.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I guess I forgot. But you're my brother so..."
"So..." John pressed, slightly irritated.
"I didn't think it mattered that much." She looked down at her laptop and the keys clicked as she typed.
"Well it's just- I thought I had done something wrong... That's why you call. If you just needed me to come pick something up you should have announced that. I was really embarrassed."
"I thought it would be more embarrassing if they found out you forgot your wittle wed munchy box." She said, mockingly.
"No- but- what!" He exclaimed. "I just- you confused me. Just stop doing that kind of stuff and follow the rules. You are freaking people out by dragging them out of their classes and they don't even know why." He stuffed his lunchbox under his arm and marched out of the office.
