984 (Complex Series, #2)

Chapter Twenty-Two

I wish I could talk to Charlotte, but I don't want to be screamed at by Heather. I keep my mouth shut and try to listen to what Heather is teaching the kids, something about possessive and indefinite pronouns.  I lose interest right away. 

I stare off into space and check my Notice's clock repeatedly. 

Half an hour passes. Heather finishes talking about wonders of irregular and regular possessives. She addresses her students, "Silently, line up at the door so we can go to lunch. If I hear one comment from anybody, that person will be at the end of the lunch line. Understand?"

All the kids nod quickly up and down. Heather claps her hands twice and the kids scurry to line up. One girl trips over another, and whispers, "Sorry."

The girl is met by Heather's glare. Without a word, the girl moves to the end of the line, in trouble for apologizing.

The kids file out of the room, Heather in front. Charlotte and I trail at the end of the line, far away from Heather. Near the end of the line are two little boys, pushing each other. They seem to be having a contest of who can make the other laugh first. They trip over each other and push each other. Both of them burst out laughing at the same time. 

Heather whirls around, "Josh, Benson, stop messing around. Back of the line."

I stiffen when I hear the name Josh. It's not uncommon that there is another kid that shares Josh's name. There was at least another girl in the Complex in my year that had the name Piper. Just hearing his name brings tears into my eyes. I quickly wipe them out of my eyes and try to get my mind off the topic. 

The two boys head to the back of the line, where they continue pushing each other and making faces. Heather watches as they wrestle, the line still moving. The boys break apart their fight to catch up to the line, and then they begin again. Heather shouts, "Boys, stop."

The boys quickly break apart and begin walking in perfect single file. Once Heather turns back around, the boys simultaneously stick their tongues out at Heather's back. Although they don't break out into a full out battle, the boys continue shoving and pushing the whole way to the Eating Hall.

There aren't many people inside the Eating Hall. It must be before the rush of Mid-Day Meal. Maybe, other people don't want to be in there while the kids are in the room.

The kids get in line, completely still and silent. It reminds me of being the Complex.  The only thing that differs is Josh and Benson pushing each other in the back of the line.

The line moves slowly as the kids get their food. Finally we get our food and sit down. The kids sit all at the same two tables. They whisper back and forth, stealing worried glances at Heather. Heather doesn't come out and tell the kids to stop talking, but she sends quite a few glares. I just focus on eating my crackers. There is a red, chunky sauce today with them, something Charlotte calls salsa. She says it's from a fruit called tomatoes and other seasonings. I just nod and continue savoring it.

Mid-Day meal is going relatively well, until one of the boys, either Josh or Benson, starts to fling salsa and the other boy. Heather stands up and stalks over. "Josh. Stop it. That is a waste of food!"

Josh responds by taking a cracker and tossing it at Heather's face. I'm beginning to understand how these boys ended up in the Unknown. Benson breaks into laughter and scoops up some salsa in his hands. He launches it at Heather. I duck out of the way to avoid being hit. Heather screams in outrage. Other people in the Eating Hall are beginning to take notice. Most of them have amused expressions. One older boy actually cheers out loud when Heather gets salsa to the eye.