Not Everyone Deserves a Second Chance

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

I sit in a waiting chair and listen for the principal's footsteps. After a ten minute wait, he comes out with a six grade student.

"Yes. I hope i won't see you in here often, Jennifer." Mr. Peterson opens the door for her and she rushed to her class. I looked up at him, and one of the ladies at the desk says,

"This is Jessica Norberts. You called her down, concerned about her home life."

My home life? What?!

"Ah, yes. Hi, Jessica! I am Mr. Peterson, the principal. How are you doing this fine day?"

Yup, I know. It's too bad I'm not in second grade, cause then that wouldn't have sounded so creepy. "Hey."

"Does it feel weird, being in my office?" I realize that i had gotten up and walked into a room that looks like a small closet with a desk. I nod.

"Well, it's okay. I just called you down to ask a couple of questions."

"Okay." Principal's are just another thing added to my "Bugs Me" list.

"Okay. Well, the biggie is, are you having any problems at home, with your parents, siblings, or anything else?"

Uh, why is it your buisness? "No, Sir. Nothing is going on with my family. Why?"

"Haha, Jessica, your too anxious to get ahead. Now, has anything, drastic, happened at all this year?"

Besides a bad breakup, no. "Well, if you count me and my boyfriend splitting, then yea. Otherwise not really."

He takes out a pad and pen and writes something down. Why would it matter if i broke up with James? is that why i'm here?

"Interesting. Can you, tell me more?" He taps the pen to his chin and looks me in the eyes.

"Um, I'd rather not. I don't see why it matters here. Now, can you tell me why i'm here?"

Mr. Peterson chuckles. "Yes. Jessica, I called you down here because of your grades. Over the years you have been here, you have never even gotten higher than a C-. Can you explain this?'

"Um, not really, Sir." He waits. I try to find someway to waste some time. I remember the paper Ms. Lorenette gave me. I unfold it; a report card. "I'm kinda proud of my straight D's, actually. It takes work." Principals tick me off. Now it's my turn.

His kindergarten act dissapeared. "Ms. Norberts, this school tolerates a lot. there are a lot of loop holes, but if studets don't even try to keep their grades up, the school gets docked money, so then we can't get new supplies. I would really appreciate it if you tried to get a higher grade point average that you are recieving right now."

"No prob, Mr. P. Can i uh, go now?" I get up and point towards the door. He nods.

I escape the room, but then wish i could stay. just outside the office, I figured out why James had missed first period. He was leaning against the stairwell, frenching the school "Date Girl." She's called that, because every guy in the school wants her, some way or another. She doesn't date, so she's always available when someone needs a quick, "pick up." I clear my throat, but she doesn't seem to notice. James obviously does, though. His eyes open and shoot to where i am. He gasps, but the girl, I think her name is Anna, doesn't care. James' eyes have so much sorrow in them, i almost forgive him fo last night, but i don't. Even if i did, him frenching Anna is just another reason to be bitter. I whip out my cell and dial my mom's number.

"Jessica, what are you doing? isn't it like, second period?"

I sigh. "Mom, can you please come get me? A really don't feel like being here, hint hint!"

My mom pauses, probably deciding, then says, "I'll be there in five minutes. sign yourself out."

I walk back into the office and explain why i am leaving. I feel "sick." I sign out, and wait at the sidewalk for my mom. When she arrives, I settle in, and am silent the entire way. I'm tired of uncovering "secrets."