...We Could...

Fumi Thirty-Eight!

I sighed and sat in my seat, looking out the window. I had Yuna in my class, so I was able to spy a bit more on her, but for the most part I was bored out of my mind. Why did they feel that I needed to take this class when I already knew the material? I could do the test in my sleep and still pass...

"Sazuki," came the teacher's sharp voice.

I looked over at him. "Yes, Sensei?"

"I would appreciate you following along with the rest of the class," he warned.

I let out a small sigh. "Yes, Sensei..."

"Since you were not paying attention," he said bitterly,"I suppose you wouldn't know about the Basques, now, would you?"

I rested my chin on my hand. "What would you like to know about them?"

He eyed me, not liking my response. The rest of the students were interested as well, not having heard this kind of talk from the quiet kid from last year.

"Who are they?" he asked me.

I took in a deep breath. "The Basques are a nationality of Eurpoeans located in the Pyrenees Mountains in both Spain and France along the Atlantic Coast. They were at one point in time an independent country called Euskadi. Their flag was much like the Union Jack, though it was a white plus over a green X on a field of red. In 1620, it was formally incorporated with France, and has been stripped of its status of 'Country' ever since.

"The Basques were farmers, Shepherds, and generally nomads. They were simple people. They would name everything--for instance, if I were Basque, I would name my chair and desk that I am sitting on and at 'Phillip' and 'Geneva,' respectively.

"The nation settled many areas outside of Europe. Vale, Oregon, United States of America, was settled by the Basques seeking refuge from persecution. Phoenix, Arizona and Boise, Idaho were also settled by the Basque. In the Rockies, you can find huts built by the Basques. Hunters sometimes use these huts for shelter and set up camp there."

I looked at my teacher, who was dumbfounded. "Is there anything else you would like to know, Sensei?"

He pursed his lips. "No, that will suffice."

I thought it might... I thought, catching Yuna's pleased look as I went back to gazing out the window. The period droned on, and finally the bell rang. I gathered my books and tucked them away in my bag before heading out the door, though my teacher stopped me.

"Sazuki, please come here," he ordered.

I altered my course to stand in front of his desk. "Yes, Sensei?"

"I am not appreciating your attitude in class," he told me.

I looked down. "I'm sorry, Sensei."

"You need to pay attention," he ordered.

"Yes, Sensei."

"You need to be a good student. I do not feel that you are doing a very good job of that. What will your test scores be like?"

"I know more than what the material, Sensei," I explained, hushed.

"How?" he challenged. "You have to learn something new in this. It's a college-level course, after all."

I looked up to meet his grey eyes. "I don't know why. I just do. Ask me about any ancient country, about any war, about anything at all in history... I'll tell you everything about it."

He shook his head, and grabbed an old-looking book. "We shall test this..."

"Sasuki?" Yuna asked me.