Noah
Mr. Nobbs assigned English homework in 4th hour yesterday. Its due in 4th hour today. Right now, I'm having lunch. 4th hour is right after lunch. I still haven't done the homework.
I pull out my English folder, open it, and remove the sheet of paper with my homework on it.
In Mr. Nobbs's almost ineligible scribbles, directions are written on the top of the page:
List the dynamic characters in your life. List the static characters in your life. Define what it means to be a dynamic character. Define what it means to be a static character.
This was semi-difficult. I hadn't really been paying much attention during class...Wasn't everyone a dynamic character? How was there such a thing as a static character? How could someone not change at all in real life?
Stop it, Noah, I scolded myself, Stop being a fucking philosopher and do your homework.
So, I made a list:
Dynamic Characters:
• Noelle (girlfriend)
• Nate (best friend)
• Mom
• Dad
I like to think that my parents aren't flat characters in my life. I know their motives, right? I know what they're thinking....right?
I erase 'Mom' and 'Dad' on second thought.
Static Characters:
• Mom
• Dad
• Angie (sister)
• Ashley
• Parker
I was running out of time. The bell was going to ring in ten minutes. Static characters. Static characters. Who else was a static character? And then it occurred to me; a static character was anyone, and everyone, that I know who was not on my list of dynamic characters. I started jotting down names.
• The barista at Starbucks who I bought my coffee from this morning. I think her name was Jan.
• Nick
• Other Nick
• Axel
• Dakota
• Maddy
• Julia
• Ivy
• Other Noah
My paper was nearly over flowing so, I stopped. I'm positive that I have enough people on the static character list.
+++
I got a B-. I forgot to define the terms. Well, shit. Also, Mr. Nobbs said that the only dynamic character in your life is you. 5 points off for that. Looking on the bright side, a B- is better than a zero. Good luck trying to tell your mother that, Noah, I thought.
