A Strange Bubble

4

One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.

-Bob Marley

___________

"Hey you little fag."-"I thought you are considering me being a freak?"-"Well, you know things change. Fag suites you more in those days."-"Why?"-"Haven't seen your looker lately?"-"Shut up."-"We will meet again, faggot."  Sadly he made me move quicker to my looker than I usually did. In fact I ran to my looker. Somebody gave it a makeover; it is now painted in a bright pink with a lot of glitter, f**k it. This can only happen to me. It took half an hour and almost the whole school laughing at me to get rid of most of the colouring. It was demeaning.

I am use to a lot from those people. They gave me various nicknames, hid my clothes after P.E. or wrote something on the black board before class but this never had happened before. They are becoming creative as Harry would name it.

When I realised, opening my look might not be the best idea, it was too late. Some pink colouring spurt on my clothing and then dripping to the floor. Great, bullies start to pay attention in physics and chemistry. I sighed and gripped my, now pink, books and closed my look. I did not care anymore, should somebody else clean this mess.

I was wrong, I cannot take everything.

My math class had started ten minutes ago but my teacher is always running late so nothing to worry about. But right I forgot, I am never lucky, today he was on time. I knocked: "Come in." I opened the door and stepped in: "Aha, it is you again being late. Put your stuff over at your place and solve the equation on the board." I did as I was told. It was not difficult at all. Just an odd why to note down an equation, a trick off him, I assume. "Thank you. It is correct, please sit down and next time when you are already running late wear at least clean clothes."-"Yes, Sir." The class laughed, except Luke. Kanii gave me his hope-you-like-the-surprised-look. "Class, quite."

The class went on. I neither like Math nor the teacher but when I already had to be in school I also can play the game. He didn't trouble at all to make his course interesting or fair.

He made us taking another quiz like always, so no surprise. But still, some students didn't lost the illusion of not having to write one. Usually, before he gave us the new one, he handed us the old one back.

It was the same today. I didn't check those papers I got back. It wouldn't change anything for me. I started right away with the new one
I don't care what he is thinking about me.

"Class is dismissed for today, thank you. Don't forget to hand in your paper and to do your homework for next lesson." I collected my stuff as slowly as possible. So I could be the last person handing in my homework and nobody else could take it away. Kinda paranoid I know. "Thank you. I am looking forward to see you at eleven."-"I am sorry."-"Weren't you told?"-"I am afraid not, Sir."-"The principal and I have to talk with you and your parents. Elven O'clock, in his office."-"Yes, Sir." He started correcting the papers and I went off.

Well another great day in my Life. Maybe it is just predestination. First the colour and then the headmaster wants to see me.

For once the hallway was full of people gathering around. I am invisible for them, I thought. That was kinda disappointing. I mean, I am coloured pink and nobody were giving a f***.
Beside this nothing out of the ordinary had happened. I made my way to one of the music classrooms. It is actually one of the classes I could enjoy if I would've other teacher. She is unable to explain anything related to music but at least we don't have to sing.
Only once we had to, some kind of folk song. Her résumé was that we sound like dying animals.

The two boys I usually work with, were already there, seated their self on chairs in the last row. There are nice. I mean they don't insult me or anything. During class we work quiet good together but beside we don't socialize or ever had we talked.
Their are named Michael and Calum. I learned they are quiet go musician but they never heard about discipline before.
As soon as I walked towards them I noticed Luke. He never mentioned that he had chosen music but I never asked about it as well. "Hey guys, I did not know that we have music together, Luke." He turned around with a happy face. "Hi, me either." I set down and we started to chat. Mrs. Meyer is always up to ten minutes too late. Who could blame her? I wouldn't like to teaches this class, too.
In the middle of our conversation Michael turned his head towards me and asked: "By the way, you know being a punk is my resort so why are you so.... Pinkish today?" He grinned. I guess he just wants to be funny when saying so things and this time his face showed me he didn't knew what had happen: "Just being in a pink mood today. You know, you are looking a bit green today." I pointed to his head and we stated to laugh. Every time I saw him his hair looks different.
Our principle stepped in and a young handsome teacher behind him: "Boys behave, Girls as well." He shouted angry . I guess he would like to have an all-boys school. "Class, sit down please. Your teacher Mrs. Meyer won't come back at least for the rest of this term." We started to celebrated. "Quiet! That's nothing to be happy about," he started to simile as well. Probably, the categorical denial of her by us is the same among the other teachers: "She broke her ankle and her left arm while falling down on of the stairs yesterday. If anybody of you saw something please tell me so.
Nevertheless you don't have to miss your music class, this is your new teacher. It would be the best if you introduce yourself. For everybody of you I don't wanna hear any bad news about this class as I use to before."-"My name is Kimberly Scott. I grew up in Germany and studied in the U.S.: music and science at an east coast college. Afterwards I decided to became a teacher and moved here. You will be one of my first classes."-"Thank you, Mister Scott. I hope you enjoy this group kids. Have a nice day." They shocked hands and the principle vanished. "So your old teacher must have been a wonderful woman." He gave us a smile. He is the sort of person you would recognize everywhere: "So first of all I want you to know that I will teach different from what you might use to. I would like to have a class where everybody works and discuss every little detail. As I know everybody here can play an instrument. Thus whenever I made a mistake, of course just to proof you, tell me so. I allowed you to talk back to me. I never experienced it different when I was a student, okay?" We all nodded. "Great, so do you have any questions?"-"Any?" Michael asked. "Any."-"How old are you, Mr. Scott?"-"Twenty three."-How can you..."-"Be a teacher and have study all read? I am a fast learner: finishing school earlier is quite useful. Further questions?"-"Do you have a girlfriend?" One of the girls in the first row: "No."-"A boyfriend, Mr. Scott?" Some of the pupil started to giggle. A small shadow crossed his face then he smiled: "Also no. Further questions?" Nobody had another question. He seems to be a nice guy. "Great. Let's start. I talked a bit with my colleagues about what we are supposed to do, but as I don't like what is planned for your year, I had to mad something up on my own.
You are going to form groups you will be working with for the rest of this semester. I do not care how many of you form a group but there is no way back. So: be careful about it.
As soon as you found your partners you get on of this folders." He pointed onto his desk and fall silent. Our heads just snapped around facing each other. Forming groups can be so easy.
Calum stood up and walked to Mr. Scott to get one of the folders. Their exchanged some words. When he walked back you peeked inside and shocked his head.
"I don't know how we should do it." He said: "What?" all of us asked. He showed as a picture of a boy on a swing at night time. "We are supposed... Mr. Scott what are we supposed to do again? I didn't get it." Mr. Scott laughed: "Listen, to all of you: look at the photos. What can you see? What do you feel? What is the story? Think about it. Then do something with it."-"What?" I asked, He glanced at me for some seconds. "What are you?"-"I am I" his simile grew. "And what is I?"-"I isn't sure yet. I would say a student, for now" He turned around to face the whole class again:  "I can tell you one thing as soon as you cross this line," he pointed to the door. Yes, there was a yellow line I never saw before. "You are Artist and it won't change as long as you in this room. If you want to, you can change back to I as soon as you leave but you don't have to. Start. Do what an artist does best." We all starred on the picture.
"So, what about punk?" Michael asked with hope in his voice and despair at the same time.
"Shouldn't we first think about the picture itself?"-"I guess that's clear. What instrument should we use?"-"Is it?"-"Who is dong the lyrics?"-" I neither sing nor write." We were talking all at the same time for some minutes until we started to laugh and Mr. Scott came. "As I see you guys have a good time." He sat down beside me. "Listen, It isn't important in which order you do it as long as it feels right for you. Maybe you just note down some ideas you get spontaneously. Or even better you could first introduce yourself to me."-"How should this help us?" Luke asked: "Not you, me. I need to know your names and maybe you also learn something."
He was right. We know each other's name (even though I think Luke had forgot the names for Calum and Michael by this point) but beside we don't know much about each other. We talked ith Mr. Scott about us and music. Afterwards we were finally able to do some sort of plan: "Okay so we agree that we all have different answers to the same question?"-"YES."-"Okay, then we just try this: first the picture, then the instruments and lyrics and afterwards a pizza at Michael's place?"-"Great, idea Calum."-"Sure." Calum started to smile. "Hey, What? My place why always my place? The last time you invited friends to MY house I had to explain my mother why her China collection had a makeover." We laughed, he tried to be serous. He wasn't successful.

"Listen class, all of you have first results that great and you had a good time that is even better. As I have an appointment with an estate agent, the class is dismissed early today. Just keep on. Have a nice Thursday and please work a bit further. See you on Monday, have a nice weekend, bye." He was faster out of the room than a vegetarian is out of a butchers shop.

"So, let's me at Michael's house after school. Is two O'clock okay, guys? Great"-"Thank you for the invitation to MY house Calum."-"You know bro it is just because I love you." Calum said with a devilish grin on his face. "Sorry but before you kill each other. Where do you live Michael?" I asked. "You never have been to my house before, right? It is in Chester Street, house number 27."-"Thank you, I might be a little late."-"Why?" asked Luke. "I have to see the principle at one thirty, was told after Math class."-"What did you do?" They all asked a little bit more interested than they wanted to show. "I don't know, but I do my best to be on time. See you guys." I grappled my bag waved and went out of the room.

"Hey, wait a second." shouted Luke. "Those two are nice, aren't they?"-"Errr, yes I think so but I never told as much as I did today."-"Oh, I remember what you told me about friends. We should make them our friends. We can have a great time together, don't you think so?"-"Yes, probably. Would you like to go to the library with me?"-"I am sorry man, I have class now, economics."-"With Mr. Ireland? That's bad Luck. Try not to die during class because of boredom. We need you for the project." We both burst out into laughers. "But you classroom should be on my way to the library."
We started our way to the classroom and library while chatting about everything that remains In the past. He told me about the place he used to live before he moved here. It was a small village with people you don't want to meet even at day light. Not because they we're dangers or something just people you cannot trust. Gossiping a lot and as his family weren't living there for centuries like all the others. He travelled a lot so he didn't care about it. He liked this odd little place in middle of nowhere. Even though he didn't like his old school, it was small and they only taught the most necessaries classes.
"Our place where great. I loved it, but the school was horrible. I hated it. You know, all those people you know almost your whole life but turning out to be ass**** in middle school. The loved to play jokes, bad ones, and made life more difficult than is has to be. Therefore most places are better; this one is close to being perfect."-"Do you really think so?"-"Yes, I made some friends here more than I had back in this village and your bullies haven't discovered me yet. I guess after what happened with Kanii, they won't ever. And Yes I know it could have been a bad idea." He looking unsure about himself. "If I would have known early that this would helped me, I had hit him years ago." I smiled and asked: "What kind of jokes did they play on you?"-"Jokes are an elastic term."-"Oh, I see. Listen I don't want to be rude or anything but I got an Idea for a song. I am so sorry. I see you later at Michael's."-"No problem, should I pick you up somewhere? I have to stay here a bit longer, anyhow."-"Only if you don't have to wait. You got my number, right? Just write me."  I rushed to the library. For the next hour or so I wrote some lines for the lyrics, crossed them out, rewrite them over and over until I was happy and had to leave for the 'date' with our principle.