Sophomore Red

SENIOR LITERATURE

"I really don't want to take this course". I grumble to myself

I would have straight up avoided it if I could. The horror stories I've been told of junior and sophomore AP students being bullied by seniors who take senioritis to a whole new level is something I would rather not deal with. The entitled athletes boys especially like to take advantage of the AP girls. I just don't have time for that nonsense. Unfortunately this school has a policy about taking more than three college level courses a semester. And I really didn't want to take electives, which I hate more than taking classes with seniors. I looked on the bulletin board for my student number and assigned seating. 6th row desk 3. This class has six rows? Is it because its a normal class? Thats a lot of chairs. Next to the seating chart is a poster of the schools soccer team. The captain is at the center surrounded by his team. They have... open spots... this Friday at 3:30pm.

"Deja-vu" I muttered to myself.

The teacher for Senior Literature is new to the school fresh out of his masters degree in English Literature, and is working on his doctorate. So I guess this class won't be such a bad thing. I walked into the classroom and grabbed the assigned reading packet on the table. Romeo and Juliet, Moby Dick, House of Usher... I sighed I take it back this class is a waste of time.

"Oh! Hi"

I turned and smiled at the teacher. He is wearing a trim black suite with a dark red tie, he is clean shaven with oil slick black hair and hazel colored eyes.

"Hello, good morning"

"Good morning I'm Mr. Novo. You must be Coina, my AP student"

"It's pronounced Key-own-nee. Khione" I chuckled correcting him "But you can call me Kay"

The teacher took the packet I was holding "The greek goddess of snow I thought the name looked familiar. I had a tough time selecting a packet for you but I figured you would be happier with college level reading. I even snuck in a few of my readings when I was going through my masters course."

Mr. Novo handed me a thick packet he pulled out of his desk. I smiled. I take back my thought. I judged the class too quickly.

"I am teaching class one through three seniors and you. Your syllabus is going to be a little different from the others and your tests as well. It's explained in you syllabus."

"Is that why i'm at the back"

"Yes, i'm sorry I didn't want you going bored so I figured this was the best course of action."

"Don't apologize this is the best outcome. I'm already excited."

Mr. Novo blushed. I turn to take my seat at the back and realize that while Mr. Novo and I where in conversation the classroom was half way filled. Warning bell rung as I attempt to dodge the pettiness of the students. The last few stragglers made it through the doors before final bell rung and the teacher closed the door.

A black tied student made his way towards the empty seat next to me. He made a face at me then faced the front of the classroom.

"Good morning! students"

A student at the front rose her hand "There seem to be a lost student in here. Maybe that gold tie of hers clouded the vision of blue in front of her." She giggled along with several other students who cackled behind their hands at the stale joke.

Mr. Novo smiles apologetically at me, ignored the student and started introductions.

He went over the class syllabus notating the areas that are different in mine versus the rest of the class. The seniors have 12 short stories and 3 novels to read over the course of the semester while I have 6 novels and two poems. Much of the work is the same they get book reports while I do literary reviews and annotations. They get study questions while I do journaling for every day of the semester to turn in at the beginning of exam week.