One would believe that a classroom filled with Brigham high school's best and brightest students would be studious. One would also think that they were quiet and serious young adults. And one would assume that the same students in question would never become a problem to a first time teacher.
Unfortunately for Miss. Sarah Williams, none of these assumptions held true.
Tina, Alex, and cross-dressing Erin were dancing on their desktops to some 80's music while ignoring Miss. Williams. Grudgingly walked past the trio and continued her way toward her desk. Allen and Brian sat in the corner going head-to-head on their video games, apparently Allen was winning because Brian was starting to cry...again. But Miss. Williams was still walked to the front of the class. Macy and Lacy conversed with each other by the window while Derek painted their nails with dreamy diva pink. But none of this really bothered Sarah. She could handle their crazy antics. No, the one person within the twenty-three that really pushed Sarah off the edge was the student that was occupying her desk. This little girl sitting sideways in her chair, snacking on her chips, while reading her planner, and acting as if it was completely normal for her to do. The child didn't seem to care that Sarah was glowering over her and continued to flip through her personal planner.
"So I take it that you no longer write the times for your blind dates Sarah? You know that only means I'll stake the place out right?" Sarah could only bite out, Kristen, GET OUT OF MY CHAIR.
Kristen started to give Sarah a challenging glare but after viewing Miss. William's flaring green eyes decided against it.
"What? It's not like I read your answer book or anything." Then without further prompting, Kristen hopped off her teacher's chair and skipped her way back towards her own seat. And to think that I have only six more months of this before I am rid of these monsters, Sarah thought meekly as she started to rearrange her belongs upon the desk. Sarah was new to the teaching circuit and never dreamed that she could get a teaching the Brigham's smartest children. It was a miracle in itself that the school even looked at her application considering that it was the most prestigious school in the country. Brigham only hired the most intelligent teachers with the highest degree to become a member of their staff and Sarah could honestly say that she was under qualified. But low and behold, Sarah was here and earning twelve times more a year than an average teacher. Sarah could afford her apartment, her car, and her lifestyle. All Sarah really had to do is learn to deal with these cheeky private school brats.
Just take deep breaths, just take long deep breaths and maybe I can teach this lesson.
Gathering up all her strength Sarah boomed, "Alright guys, that's enough horseplay! Get back to your seats so we can continue today's lesson."
With some resistance her students began filing back into their seats, everyone except Allen who was presently handcuffed to the bookcase.
"Now before I was interrupted, we were discussing Plato's views on the world as he knew it…girls is there something you wish to share with the class?" said Sarah as she casually walked toward the jabbering Lacy, Macy, and Erin. The sinister glare in her green eyes, her clenched teeth, the dark glow surrounding Miss. Williams would have been enough to scare the living daylights out of anyone with common sense. Sadly, no one in her class had any common sense or tact for that matter. Tina lowered her head, Erin toyed with his curly wig, but Lacy raised a questing eyebrow and asked, "Why didn't you tell the prick to bugger off?"Sarah mentally groaned, not this conversation again. True, it was odd enough that Mr. Smith was constantly bugging Sarah for a date but, no matter how many times Sarah rejected him, he ALWAYS came back. At school, during lunch, basically EVERYWHERE and anywhere Sarah could hide. Spending time with that forty-year old pervert was enough to make Sarah throw up. Why Mr. Smith even had interest in her was a complete mystery to Sarah but it didn't stop her students from trying to help. Trying to get her class back on track Sarah began to talk again, ";Guys, we are not going to have this discussion again."
"No, I get what you're saying Miss. Williams. Its just strange that he can't take a hint" exclaimed Macy as she began braiding Erin's fake hair.
"Yeah, because any normal guy would learn that no means no," commented Allen who was still trying to free himself from the book case.
"Now guys. I'm serious!" warned Sarah as the conversation started to spiral out of her control but it was evident that nothing would get done before lunch. As the class's debate on Mr. Smith's mental state on rejection ensued, Sarah finally admitted defeat, walked back to her desk, and took another aspirin. Then Sarah laid her head upon the desk and waited for the lunch bell to sound. The bell rang and the rampage of students running towards today's meal leaving their medicated teacher slumped upon her desk. When the resounding footsteps stopped Sarah raised her weary head to find a student standing before her with a peculiar smile spread upon face. Putting on her best face, Sarah inquired,
"What is it Kristen?" "You know that we were only trying to help you Sarah. We know that he bothers you and we hate learning stuff that we already know."Sitting up Sarah eyed her student critically. It wasn't anything against her really, but Kristen acted way too much like him. Sarah really couldn't remember why or how she came into her life, but Kristen started to show up two days before the acceptance letter for the job. Popping into her house unannounced, dressing in weird glittery outfits or strange hairdos, constantly digging into her interests, it was enough to drive Sarah crazy! Sighing Sarah said," I know you mean well, but you guys really need to know your boundaries." Giving an innocent smile Kristen as she popped open a bag of chips, quipped, "But isn't this class supposed to challenge those boundaries?" Sarah gave her a stern look, "You know what I mean. I have to teach this stuff or I'll lose my job. Its not like there's a mountain of teaching jobs lying around." Leaning against her teacher's desk, Kristen continued, "If you just gave us a little play time, a fun story for once, with magic and fantasy. Just to mix it up a bit." Looking up towards the clock, Sarah counted and noticed that her current problem child stuffing her face with junk food. Only two minutes before the herd comes running in.
"Look, I'll make you a deal, find a book that the entire class can read with metaphors or illusions and we'll read it for the rest of the week. Okay?" Suddenly the classroom door swung open sending twenty-two students pouring back into their desks. "I'll hold that to you Sarah. So don't forget." "I know you will."Then mustering up the strength to teach, Sarah began today's lesson again unaware that a note was being sent around the classroom.
At the end of the day, Sarah Williams had successful instructed her students on the inner workings of the ancient sentence structure while only using one bottle of aspirin. This must be a new record, Sarah mused as she gathered up her belongings and started out the door.
But the moment Sarah stepped outside her classroom Mr. Smith was waiting with a fist full of roses and a cheesy smile plastered on his face.
"Hey Sarah! Got a minute?" Approaching Sarah at break neck speeds for a forty-year old was Mr. Smith waving her down with a dozen roses and a cheesy pink panda bear. Placing her hand in front of her face Sarah countered, "John I don't have time for this." Still tailing Sarah towards her car, John persisted, "But you never have time! Come on Sarah, I'll show you a good time! It's not everyday that a good-looking guy asks you out!" Sarah gave him a withering look as she started the car up, "I said NO John. Now please leave me alone!" In a fury Sarah sped off leaving a stubborn John Smith in her wake screaming " You can't deny me forever!"
"So we all know why we're here right?" Mandie, Lacy, and Macy were sitting on top of Miss. William's purple bed while shifting through some of their teacher's stuffed animals."What a strange looking doll," pointed Lacy as Mandie threw a red button animal at Macy thus starting a mythical stuffed animal fight. Allen and Alex sat Indian style next to her computer while Erin completely decked out in his preppy punk skirt went through Miss. William's files hoping to find some indication of the teacher's whereabouts for this evening. And Derek kneeled in front of Kristen as she began violently attacking her teacher's bookshelf.
"Sarah said that if we can find a book that's appropriate to our so-called learning process and we get to read it." Lacy picked up a worn teddy bear off her teacher's pink pillow, "Then why are we here instead of the library?" Furiously searching the bookcase for something that her emerald eyes could not find, "Because, all the good books are at her place! And she always keeps the best ones hidden away! " Mandie fixed her glasses at the peak of bookcase blocked by an odd figurine of what seemed to be male elaborately embellished in glitter, "Like that one up there?" At that moment everyone turned to the top of the bookcase and sure enough the book encased in a plastic box. "Allen, Derek, bring down," commanded Kristen as Erin phoned Tina and Brian of their teacher's present location. Obediently the boys did as they were told (even though they were muttering under their breath) and all the kids gathered closer to inspect the book. Covered in a coat of dust the little red leather book, it may have become worn but it was still in good shape. The pages were intact and the words were still led gable . The only thing wrong with it was the small scribbles on every other page. "What's the name?" inquired Allen as he tired to get a better look. "UThe Labyrinth, answered Mandie while she adjusted her glasses, "Strange name for a book isn't it?" "Hey this isn't a book, it's a play!" Erin gloomy announced while flipping through its pages. Lacy snatched the book from his hands, and started reading, "But it sounds pretty good, handsome deviant king, pretty girl, monsters, goblins, certain death, drugged fruit, and magic...why don't we give it a go?" Putting a thoughtful look upon her face Macy took the book from Lacy and eyed it, "We could make it into a story, you know, add to it. Turn it into a real story we could read." The smiles on their faces started to widen. "Yeah, agreed Derek, we could add more danger and romance!" "YEAH!" "More action!" "YEAH!!" "More debauchery!" The room went silent for a moment staring at Erin, "What? It makes every story better." Standing up on Sarah's bed Kristen clapped her hands, "Then its settled! We shall take this book and turn it into the best book we'll ever read!" Kristen's classmates roared in agreement as she began to open the window next to her, "Now let's go before Sarah gets back from her blind date! Everyone, meet me at the library at eight to begin our mission!" Quickly the kids escaped through the window and climbed down the flowered gate to safety. Running into the darkness of the night they each carried their small glimmer of hope. The hope of actually having a lesson that was forced down their throats by over bearing adults.
It was almost eleven thirty and MrmagicMan090 turned out to be a total dud, all Sarah could look forward to was a tall glass of wine and a strong night aid to get her through the night. Wearily Sarah climbed the stairs with her wine, Is it too much to ask for a real man? Sure, MrMagicMan090 was a man, but he happened to be the most cynical, pessimistic man she had ever met. Everything that Sarah suggested or attempted to do with him was shrugged off as childish or too stupid for a adult to even consider doing. Solemnly, Sarah slumped on her bed and ignored the scattered stuff animals on the floor, at this rate I'll end up as John's wife. The thought of that made Sarah shudder with fear, being the wife of that forty-something, control freak would become a one way ticket to an early grave. I'd rather be with anyone else...even with…Sarah's mind momentarily went back to her teenaged years, back to a time when she met him. Her eyes went wide as Sarah lingered on the memories and the adventure. she had to admit, he was a hard man to forget. And its not like there weren't any other men lusting after her, but after the near death experience with Steve, Sarah had to be on her toes. Suddenly Sarah began giggling, can't believe I'm still obsessing over this, he's only fictional, nothing else. Nothing? Who are you kidding? Argued her inner voice. In her desperate attempts to capture his unique beauty that haunted her, Sarah had created a mini statue in all his glory. Sarah had to admit that she was the greatest artist but she had done a pretty good job capturing his charms. I can't believe that I made that statue. How sad am I? However, Sarah's eyes crept closer to the bookcase where her handmade figurine of Jareth sat, Hey wait a minute, the case is empty. Getting up from her bed Sarah pulled her stool over and examined the corner. Then she checked the area around it, behind it, but it was no use. Panic replaced the giddy feeling from the wine as she frantically searched her room for the missing book. No! That's impossible! It was right here! But the empty space on the bookcase confirmed Sarah's worst nightmare, The Labyrinthwas gone.