Perfect Melody

Chapter 2

I slid into my seat just as the bell rang and the teacher, Mrs. Childs, walked into the room. The choir room was much like an auditorium with 80 seats give or take a few. 11 of these seats were taken by summer school students which seemed like a pretty big number considering the class had 32 students meaning about 1/3 of the class had failed. (I can figure that out yet I still fail Geometry. Sheesh) Mrs. Childs wasn' t anything close to an easy teacher and she didn't hesitate to fail anyone. I like singing, I really do. I always hoped to start a band when I got out of high school but that was a slim chance. As Mrs. Childs blabbered on about how we were all delinquents and how summer school was an "amazing opportunity" I managed to tune out most of what she was saying as I quietly sang Camisado.

Just sit back, just sit back
Just sit back and relax
Just sit back, just sit back
Just sit back and relapse again

Can't take the kid from the fight
take the fight from the kid
Sit back, relax
Sit back, relapse again
Can't take the kid from the fight
take the fight from the kid
Just sit back, just sit back

I didn't pay attention as Mrs. Childs stopped talking and looked up to the corner of the auditorium where I sat. Directing the eyes of 10 other students towards me. "Oh," Mrs. Childs said as she smiled in that evil way she does, "Miss Davis!" She continued. "Since your so eager to sing why don't you come down to the stage and share your voice with all of us. "

DUN DUN DUN

I had never been happier to hear the fire alarm in my entire life. I jumped out of my chair and rushed to the door but before I could get there Mrs. Child's was already in front of me. For a fifty-something woman, she sure was fast. "You're not getting out of singing in front of the class that easily," she said, "when you come back on Wednesday my nephew will be here to help teach you to sing and is available for tutoring." Mrs. Childs had only been talking to me for a few minutes but all the students had already lined up behind me trying to get out the only door in the room. The door the teacher was standing in the front of. If this was an actual fire, we'd all be burnt to a crisp by now. "That goes for all you guys too." She said looking behind me at all of the other students. "He's 20 and a fairly good singer so maybe you guys will learn better from him."

Mrs. Childs opened the door and we all rushed out. My best friend Lucas was waiting outside for me. "I hardly doubt that" I mumbled under my breath. "What was that?" Lucas asked. "Oh, nothing." I replied, "just Mrs. Childs is having her nephew come into the class and apparently he's gonna do some miracle and teach us how to sing." I told him. "Well, I know you can already sing" Lucas smiled "and I hear her nephew is pretty attractive" he laughed. "Your such a dork" I laughed and pushed him.  We filed outside and didn't bother to line up as the principal gave a quick headcount and shrugged, he didn't want to be here any more than we did. 

Later that day as we sat in Geometry Lucas looked over at me from his desk beside mine. "What are you doing?" He asked. Watching me count on my fingers. "Calculating how much longer we have to be here," I replied. "Summer school is 6 weeks and since it's only Monday, Wednesday, and Friday that makes 18 days. 18 times 3, which is how many hours we have to be here, is 54 hours. And yet I still failed geometry!"

"You know there's more to geometry than basic multiplication.. right?" Lucas chuckled as I rolled my eyes. "You failed it too smartass," I said in retaliation, pretending to be angry as we both erupted into a fit of giggles over my scrunched face. I was so thankful my best friend was here with me too. He was like a brother to me and one might think I even made him fail the class too just so I wouldn't have to be alone, but the jokes on me, I was dumb enough to copy his homework.