Chasing Ronnie

- Meeting Ronnie -

*Freshman Year*

First day of my high school career and everything is already going horribly.

1. My mom forgot to wake me up

My mom and I had this whole routine throughout middle school where she would open my bedroom door to alert me that it's time to wake up. I'm a light sleeper, so if any small movement or sound is heard from around my room, I would wake up guaranteed.

So apparently, this time my dearest mother decided to inconveniently break that routine and make me late for my first day of high school! Out of ALL days.

Ugh. How inconsiderate.

Now, there I was sleeping like a beautiful undisturbed Angel. Truly I was such a majestic sleeper. With my mouth wide open, a mixture of dry and fresh drool on the side of my cheek, and a plethora of hair shoved inside my mouth.

Goals.

As time passed I realized the sun was shining on my face...

Wait a second...

The. SUN. was. shinning. on. MY. face!

I found it so odd because I would usually be welcomed with the beautiful darkness of 6:00 a.m.

So after acknowledging the bizarre early morning light in my room, I reached out for my phone on my night stand with my right hand, and wiped off my drool with my left. As my groggy and lethargic self checks for the time, I realized I didn't hear my door open! Then, I checked my phone to see it's 7:15 a.m! Meaning I only had 15 minutes to get ready and be seated in class.

After that realization I got a surge of adrenaline and jumped off my bed and ran towards the bathroom to brush my teeth in 30 seconds, ran out to put on my hideous school uniform. Like seriously, why would you make someone wear a white polo shirt and khaki pants everyday to school?

It's as if they want us to walk around with visible stains.

It was taking me far too long to remove the tag on my new khaki pants, so I threw it across the room and wore my old middle school khaki skirt instead. Also, instead of wasting my time to find matching socks, I slipped on flats, grabbed my book bag without checking if I had my school supplies or not, and ran out the door.

It usually takes me 35 minutes to walk there, but if I run fast enough I could probably make it on time.

Unsurprisingly, I made it about two blocks far before one of my flats slipped off and I had to stop to catch my breath. I walked back to put my stubborn flat back on, scrunched my toes to get a better grip on them and ran as fast as I could towards school again.

This time I made it four more blocks before stopping to catch my breath.

Then three more.

Then BOOM, I barged into the school's hallway to be welcomed with a frowning secretary and the sound of the bell signifying my lateness to homeroom- that 20 minute class where they take attendance and give announcements. Now here I was, in the middle of the hallway panting like a wild animal after my marathon, with cramped up toes, a dry throat, and wild hair. I could only imagine what that secretary must have thought of me.

I took two defeated steps towards the hallway I thought my homeroom was at, when the intercom announced:

Stop. Please stand for the flag salute and repeat after me. 'I pledge allegiance, to the Flag...'

Great.

When the Pledge of Allegiance finished, I reached out for the sheet that contained the room number of my homeroom.