Vial Happiness

Chapter Eight - Concerns

Mother and Father asked the same redundant questions that morning at breakfasts. Their smiles seemed force and their voices were too cheerful. I did not want to go to class today. Professor Elkgreen would give back the test scores and I would fail.

            I decided to take a different route to class today. I walked through the alleys past my house so I could be alone, I needed to stop smiling. The alley was almost endless, I used to not mind it, but today I had a slight fear of walking down it, but I did anyways.

            I let my lips rest and I walked more casual than usual. It felt good to be alone, away from society. I was able to be myself. I continued to wonder how I was going to last another four weeks of sadness and anger. And if what Brianne said was true, it would only get worse. I stopped walking and stared at the bleak wall.

            I clenched my fists, my body shook. I began to punch the wall furiously, until blood dripped down my knuckles. A child’s voice came from behind me.

            “Are you okay mister?”

            I turned around and saw a little boy. He must have been about eight. He had the same forced smile as everyone else. It angered me even more.

            “Mister, can you hear me?” His concerned voice pissed me off even more.

            “No.” I said quietly. “No, I am not okay.”

            “Then what is the matter?”

            “The matter…Is you.” My voice started to get louder. The child became confused, but his smile stayed. 

            “Mister, I have never seen you before. How could I be a problem to you?”

            “Because, you are happy.” My fists clenched again. He must not understand what was so bad about people who did not smile.

            “Well,” he continued. “Everyone is happy, are they not? We all drink it.”

            “Not everyone. Some of us decide not to.”

            “Who would ever do that?” He laughed.

            “Me.” I said bluntly. I walked closer to him. He did not move, he used to be like me, not afraid.

            “Don’t be stupid, like me.” I said as I walked away.

            I was late to class, everyone looked at me when I walked in. I continued to fake my smile and was forced to sit with Brianne.

            “Hey” She said, as she always did.

            “Do not talk to me.” I replied.

            “Looks like someone is experiencing anger.” She laughed. I did not find any of it funny. I decided not to reply to her, and after a few minutes she passed me a note.

            “You should go here if you ever need help.” She told me, seeming somewhat concerned.

            “I do not need your help.” She was right, I was angry.

            Professor Elkgreen stood up and started his lecture. “I graded your tests, the majority of you passed. But some of you, surprisingly, did not. He passed each test back, and sure enough, a big fat ‘F’ was written on my paper. Under it, he wrote “Please come see me after class.” I rolled my eyes.

            I did not care less about anything he said in class, it all went through one ear, and right out the next. After an eternity, the class bell rang and I sat around, waiting for everyone to leave.

            When the class was empty, I walked up to Professor Elkgreen.

            “Hello Prescott.” He said with a sigh.

            “Hello Professor Elkgreen.” I tried my best to sound cheerful.

            “Prescott, I am concerned. You were spot on with answers in class, and I could tell you understood what I was telling you. Yet, you failed the test.”

            “I got nervous.” I said, trying to sound convincing.

            “You do not seem like the time to get nervous.” He saw right through my lie.

            “Well, I do no not know, I just blanked, I suppose.”

            “Normally, I call someone’s parents if they fail.  But I am willing to let you off the hook. I do not know what possessed you to fail my test, but I am giving you a second chance. Pass the next one, or there will be consequences.”

            “Okay.” I was getting annoyed once again. “Thank you.”

            “Have a good day Prescott.”

            “You too, Professor Elkgreen”

            I walked out and checked to see if anyone was near. The hallway was empty. I reached for the note Brianne gave me and opened it. On it, read “55 Delver Street” An address, the street was not too far from my house. I contemplated going there, but I decided it would be best not to get myself stuck in whatever she was trying to do.