The Displacement of Insanity

Chapter 1

"Sonja! You're late, again; where were you? It's already 4th period," Mr. Davison croaked as I interrupted the Historic-Literature class. 

I gave him a tired glare, which must've persuaded him to realize it had been a long night. He stopped questioning why I was late to my TA internship for the 7th time this month and continued to review the history of our literature class. 

The plain dirty green classroom had 15 or 20 desks in the front of the room and computers in the back. The dinosaurs, at least 20 years old, were donated from the local library to satisfy our need to access the outer world. Since I had a Minor in information technology, I was in charge of doing all the updates. Being a teacher's aide had proven difficult, but, with only 3 days remaining, it was finally almost over. 

"Who knows who made the first printing press?" he quizzed the students, "Anyone? No? Well, I'll ask again tomorrow, and if no one can tell me, we'll have to re-read that chapter. Your final is in two days, you should know this stuff already."

All the students collectively sighed.

Having arrived late anyway, my day was half over; it flew by. When I got home, I boiled some water and made some of my favorite recipe spaghetti. My roommate, Saundra, smelled the scent of spaghetti sauce in her room down the hall and made her way into the kitchen to eat with me before heading out to night school. Saundra and I discussed the meaning of today, May 15th. We'd only lived together for 8 months, so she hadn't heard my sob story bout my dead family yet. 

"Yeah, at 7 I was too young to really comprehend it. I just ran into a bar in the nearest town and begged for someone to help me. I ended up being put in foster care, and, eventually, a family adopted me when I was 15," I told her while we twisted the noodles around our forks at the kitchen table. "I try not to bring it up much because it tends to make people uncomfortable, but I've been having nightmares and needed someone to understand, you know?"

"Yeah! Of course, honey. Don't worry about it. You have been my best friend since I moved in your spare room. I'll talk to you about anything." Saundra looked at her smart watch and saw she was running a little behind. "I have to go now, but you better bet we're finishing this conversation as soon as I see you tomorrow, girl."

She waved at me as she left. I grabbed our plates and washed the dishes while the food was still easy to wipe off, then I headed for bed. My pastel green room was dark and, to be honest, I was afraid of being alone at that moment. I heard a rustling in my closet and quickly flipped on the lights. I tip-toed over to the slightly opened sliding panel doors, stopping in front of them to listen for another noise. As I slowly stepped closer, another jarring noise came from the open door and out popped...

a long haired, doll face kitten.

Oh Saundra, maybe one day you'll tell me when you buy something for the apartment. I picked up the tiny gray beast and looked at her collar. "Lucy," her name plate read on the front. "Return to Saundra Simmons."

***

"BEEP BEEP BEEP," the alarm clock squealed. I woke up at 6:45 am. Hurriedly dressing myself and speeding to school, I shoved open the door to Mr. Davison's classroom and received a startled look.

"You know, it's only like 7:30," Mr. Davison said, staring at me.

"Um, I, uh, was just dropping off my things and going to the coffee shop. Yeah." I was surprised with myself, it was 7:00 when I left my house with a 30-minute bike ride through traffic. "I'll be back around, uh, 8-- yeah, 8 sounds about right." I stuttered as I dropped my things beside the desk behind his, quickly continuing on my way out of the classroom. A small café on the school lane had just opened, so I went for a brisk walk to get some coffee. The creamy cappuccino kept me company while I sat watching many of my students buy their early morning pick-me-up. When the clock read 7:55 A. M., I headed back.