Trial Of Omega

2

TWO

      "... A reminder of your programming projects due next week — on behalf of the the school closing the day after, the fifteenth if I'm not mistaken, I will not be accepting any late submissions, I hope everyone's clear on that. In conjunction to this is our moving on to the new chapter, Inheritance and Polymorphism, which if you remember I'd withheld from teaching in Term 1 because we were running slightly behind in the syllabus, however, I did instruct you all to read through it so I expect you all to have a basic understanding of the concept. Can I have a confirmation of that?" Mr Naidoo exhaled somewhat sluggishly as he drafted another swig of black coffee, setting it down hard on the front desk as he stared down the class for an answer that never came.

Everyone was either distracted by the mere air filtering in and out of the computer room or just half asleep.

Between Mr Naidoo's lips sifted enervated sigh. "Right. I seem to have forgotten that teenagers suffer temporary hearing loss between my subject and second break — however I have yet to hear of a medical diagnosis, could someone perhaps explain this amazingly peculiar phenomenon to me?"

Executing an almost animal-like grouse, some kid who obviously had long given up on the school day, much like himself, groaned from the back as another snickered.

Mr Naidoo cocked an eyebrow, impatient and yet managing something bored, spiritless in his ever seemingly forlorn features.

As if this damned day could get any longer.

Sure, an unsuspecting idiot had managed to spill coffee on his blouse and he'd accidentally shaved off a quarter of his mustache and half his beard, the apartment still stank of vinegar   — but that was relatively standard for a Monday morning. The train was overcrowded, as usual, and he'd smelt someone else's stank on the bus because that was just public transport in his area — but then the manager had issued a warning for 'uncanny behavior' to the students ( whoever made the report must be living in the 16th century ) and he'd nearly been temporarily suspended for not exercising 'mature integrity' with a hormonal teenage boy who'd placed a dead bird ( or mouse, raccoon, whatever. It was just hairy and dead. ) in his lunch bag. Whilst day had dragged on, each class he'd had the pleasure of teaching had gone from disinterested to downright amused at the sound of his voice and then passing out with the flip of a textbook page... it was not even twelve 'o clock yet.

Another kid snorted from the corner of the class, probably finding the prospect of production aside from his babbling a waste of all their time, he thought. Or the kid choked. He quite couldn't tell with these things. 

Mr Naidoo pressed his fingers against the side of his head.

Love my job, he thought.

And as he'd long predicted curtesy of twelve years of teaching, after a few seconds of a lapsing uncomfortable silence that neither he nor the class could bear, some scrawny boy — with his palm against his chin, and his neck cupped so awkwardly within it, it looked as if it were to snap —  halfheartedly raised his hand.

"Yes, Mr Williams."

"We confirm that we were instructed to read the chapter, sir." He said too incoherently as his words pulled and leaked into each other's syllables.

Mr Naidoo forced a grin so feigned he wondered how many times he'd do this until his face just disintegrated to dust and he'd never have to teach this damned subject again. "Ah, perfect. And the rest of you lot?" 

A few languid utterances of the words 'yes, sir' strung muffled throughout the computer room.

"Good." His voice practically dripped with lackluster enthusiasm as he sank further into the chair and reached for the coffee like a lifeline, gulping another bitter sip in hiding his nose behind the rims and glancing longingly out the nearest window. "Looks like we're off to another great start." He muttered.