Anonymous

R e s p o n s i b i l i t y

"Joseph, it's time to get ready for school," my mom calls, from downstairs. Great another day. I take the covers and pull them over my head, not ready to face the day ahead of me. My eyes drift back to sleep.

"Joseph Thomas, you are going to be late for school!" Mom calls, again with more gusto than the last, and I find myself jumping out of bed. I glance at the alarm clock that doesn't work and see the time is 7:15, only ten minutes to get to class. I search the ground for a pair of pants, and Bingo! Sitting by my hamper, I see a balled up pair. I grab them to give them a quick sniff, Not bad and put them on. I go into my closet and take the first shirt my hand lands on. I throw my books into my backpack, slip my shoes onto my feet, brush my teeth, and move my crazy brown curls to their rightful place, then I sprint downstairs. "Love you, bye," I throw to my mother, who is already waving me off.

"Bye, honey, I love you!"

In my car, I find some deodorant and rub it on, before pulling out of the driveway. I've still got four minutes before I have to be sitting Mr. Derrick's class ready to learn Geography, so I take my time, driving those two minutes to get to the school. When I arrive, I get out of my trusted rusty and sprint up the six stairs leading to the front doors, but then the bell rings! And there stands Principal Davison, holding the key to lock the doors. His dark blue eyes, narrow as I approach.

"Joseph," he states with an irritated sigh. "Again! You live closer than any other student and you are always late. This is unacceptable Joseph."

"Principal Davison, if I was always on time, I wouldn't get the opportunity to have these educational and thought provoking discussions with you."

Uncle Davison scoffed, folding his arms, but smiled slightly. He always did have a soft spot for me because he and my father were old college roommates together. "To my office, we have to talk about the repercussions of your actions," he instructed. I slumped my shoulders slightly but otherwise joined Uncle Davison on his walk back to his office. "Good morning," he called to each person we passed. When we arrived in the administrative office, the secretary saw me and instantly smiled.

"Not again," she sighed and shuck her head before the phone rang. "I'll have a pass ready for you when you get out, Joseph," she added before answering the phone. "Bridget Madison High School this is Margaret Stevens. How may I direct your call?"

Uncle Davison held his door open for me, before closing it, and taking his seat, while I sat in the chair just in front of his desk. "Joseph, you are a bright, young kid with a bright future ahead of you, but you need to learn responsibility. The world outside these walls will eat you alive if you can't. So you will join a club of your choice, and you must stick with that club till the end of the year, or you will not graduate. Is that understood?"

"Can you do that?"

"I am the Principal of the school and have the joy of being your godfather. You'll find there is very little I can't do," he added with a wicked smile. I had to give him props on showmanship.

"Fine," I huffed. "Do you have a list of the clubs that I can choose from?"

He turned to his desk, opened a drawer, and looked through folders until he came across the one he wanted. Uncle Davison smiled, and placed the paper filled with hundreds of club name in front of me, and said, "Choose one."

"Fine." I shrugged, closing my eyes and pointing to the page. "This one." I smiled without even looking at the club I had just signed myself to for the next four months.

Uncle Davison however, did take notice. "Interesting. That's a rather new club. It will do well to have a few more members. They meet every Monday and Friday in room 253 during lunch," he informed me.

"Hold up. At lunch!" I exclaimed coming to terms with the fact that I will be giving up two lunches each week! "This is crazy."

"It was your choice," Uncle Davison smiled, pleased with the turn of events.

"You're right. I accept," I nodded.

"Great, I'll be sure to tell Mrs. Peterson to expect you today." That's right today is Monday.

"May I go to class now, or is there anything else you would like to sign me up for?" I asked.

"Keep speaking to me like that and I might just sign you up for after school duty, and give you a bright orange vest to parade around the school," he added smugly.

"You're a cruel man," I remarked before walking out of the room to the sounds of his easy chuckles. I walked straight over to Ms. Stevens and received my pass to class.

"Have a good day," she waved me off with a genuine grin lighting up her face. I go to class over thirty minutes late for class, so get all eyes on me when I walk into Mr. Derrick's class. I hand him my slip, sit in my seat, and listen to the exciting discussion of the Oceanic floor. Ooh. Awe.

When the bell rings, I pack up my belongings and leave the classroom. Jennifer Shores bumps into my shoulder on accident. Her golden brown eyes glisten with embarrassment. "I am so sorry," she says, looking down at her black boots. Her chipped nailed fingers clutching her books securely to her chest.

"I'm not, I got to see you. Thank you," I smile back at her, and her eyes meet mine with instant shock, a light blush spreads across her cheeks, and she practically runs off. Jennifer Shores is an interesting girl. She transferred to Bridget Madison High School last year. She mostly kept to herself, always quite, but I had witnessed a few rare moments when her guard was down. She smiled her round face would transform into one of pure beauty. It would literally stun me in a way where I felt like I couldn't move. She only laughed and smiled like that around a select few. I've never actually understood the connection of these people, but they had a gift that I wish I could have. They knew Jennifer Shores.

8898 Words To Go