I thought i would play around with this idea and see if it was any good. And as it turns out, my rough copy magically turned into this!
"Did you read Act One of A Doll's House?" Bridgette, my locker partner asked, placing some of her books into our shared locker.
"Yup, I even skipped ahead to Act Two." I replied leaning against the locker next to ours waiting for Bridgette to be finished. Bridgette closed the locker and we began walking to our ninth period class, english, the last period of the day.
"Silly of me to ask. Of course Courtney Carmichael would read the required assignment, what was I thinking? She even skips ahead!" Bridgette laughed. I rolled my eyes and giggled.
"I'm an overachiever, I know, but I like it that way. Besides, english is my favorite class and I really like our teacher." We stopped in front of the class room and opened the door. We were relatively early and took our assigned seats. By polite request, I was seated directly in front. My own personally bought copy of A Doll's House was now sitting neatly on my desk.
More and more of my classmates were now filing into the class in an orderly fashion and taking their seats when the bell rang, signaling for class to start. Our teacher, Ms. Standish, cleared her throat and began to speak. "Good afternoon class, I hope you all did your assigned reading last night." she said holding up her copy of the play. I heard a groan from my friend Geoff next to me. Obviously, he failed to read.
"As you can see it-" Ms. Standish was interrupted when the door swung open loudly and a black haired, delinquent with a green mohawk and poor fashion sense walked in. Duncan Pratt. More like Duncan Prick if you asked me. I rolled my eyes as he waltzed right in as if there was nothing wrong with arriving tardy. How could he wear a straight face while committing such?
I'd never been tardy once in my life to anything. "Mr. Pratt, how nice of you to join us. I'm afraid this time it's going to cost you a detention, you've been late everyday this week. I would like to see you after class please." Ms. Standish scolded.
Duncan took his seat in the far back and didn't say anything, but I could have sworn I heard him mumble "bite me" as he walked by me earlier. I was about to raise my hand to report his insulting words, but I decided not to.
"As I was saying," Ms. Standish continued, "A Doll's House explores the many different parts of marriage and it's difficulties. So," Ms. Standish grabbed a pile of assignment papers from her desk and began passing them out, "we are going to do a little simulation. It's going to last one week starting on Monday, and it's going to be worth 200 points. You will be partnered up in groups of two, boy girl. The male in the group will be the husband obviously and the female the wife, and your job is to try your best to be a happily married couple for a whole week."
Several groans were heard throughout the classroom from those who were already against the project. It sounded quite interesting to me, as long as we could pick our partners. I raised my hand. "Yes, Courtney?" Ms. Standish said.
"Ms. Standish, will we be able to chose our own partners?" I asked innocently, I was hoping my question would persuade her to say yes if she had already chosen a no.
"I'm sorry, no, your pairings have already been chosen." she replied placing a hand on my shoulder. I sighed, knowing that her parings couldn't be good. I looked down at the project rubric in front of me, there was a long list of objectives for the project. Nothing I couldn't handle, that is, if I could get the proper partner.
"So is that all we have to do?" a girl named Gwen shouted out from the back of the class, "Just pretend to be married for a whole week, that's it?"
"No, there are certain objectives on the rubric that you will have to complete as a couple. Stage one is the wedding. You are to establish the date, place, time, as well as other wedding arrangements. Your price range is unlimited, so just have fun with it. Stage two is the honeymoon, where you will pick a destination, airfare, hotel, etcetera. Next, you will decide whether or not you will have children. Lastly, each spouse, husband and wife, will cause an event that would build up conflict in the relationship, and you are to tell me how both of you as a couple overcame said obstacle. Any questions?" Ms Standish said, looking around the classroom. Bridgett raised her hand behind me.
"So do we have to write a paper about this? And, when is the assignment due?" Bridgette asked.
"Each couple has to write a paper, yes, describing all of the details about your objectives. It goes into more detail in the rubric. And next Monday, we will have all of the couples present all of their information." Ms. Standish replied. "Any more questions?" This project didn't seem too bad, in fact I figured that I would probably enjoy it.
Ever since I was little I always dreamed of my wedding with the perfect husband, the man of my dreams. Of course, nobody in this class filled those standards but I could just consider this whole thing as a practice round. I practically knew all of the decisions for my future anyway, this would be a piece of cake.
Ms. Standish walked behind her desk and took a seat. "Oh," she started, "I almost forgot, when I'm done assigning pairs, I want each of you to come here and sign up for a career of your choice. And the couple that seems to have had the best marriage after they present next Monday, will receive a special prize." I smiled brightly. She might as well give me the prize.
I had this competition in the bag. There was no way anyone would beat me. I was prepared for anything. "Okay," Ms. Standish said, interrupting my thoughts, "the pairings. Gwen Jacobs, and Trent Parker. Bridgette Jones and Geoff Westing..." her voice trailed off.
I would be a senator, the senator of the state of Maine. I would have a fabulous, gigantic, white wedding in the place I've always dreamed of, Walt Disney World (long story). A large engagement ring from Tiffany and Co.. The honeymoon would be somewhere warm, somewhere expensive. Perhaps Italy or the Bahamas. And kids, maybe three or four...
"Courtney Carmichael and Duncan Pratt." My daydream ended. Did I hear her properly? My mouth hung open and I raised my hand. "Yes, Miss Carmichael?" the teacher asked.
"Um, could you repeat that please?" I asked, still in shock. I heard a laugh from the back of the class. Most likely the Pig himself.
"You're paired with Duncan." Ms. Standish replied, smiling. She found this a big joke didn't she? All this time I thought she liked me when she actually hated me. I should take back that apple I gave her on the first day of school, and the huge dictionary I gave her for Christmas.
I turned my head to look at Duncan in the back of the class. He was smiling brightly. He caught my stare and gave me a wink. I groaned loudly and shook my head.
"With all due respect, Ms. Standish, this certainly has to be a mistake." I tried my best to smile but I knew my anger and confusion was showing through. Ms. Standish frowned. It had to be a mistake it just had to be. Did she seriously think that I, Courtney Carmichael would ever marry someone like him? Let alone hang out with someone like him?
"Well, with all do respect, Miss Carmichael, it certainly is not. Duncan is your partner whether you like it or not." I glanced back at him again and he was looking right at me, his teal eyes burning into my brown ones. I looked around quickly to see everyone staring at me.
Embarrassed, I turned back around to face the front. I looked at Ms. Standish and nodded softly. Defeat, something I was NOT used to. But I wouldn't give up here, I would talk to her after class. I would get partnered with someone else if it killed me.
"Well, that's it. Now everyone gather up front to sign up for your career." Everyone rushed to the front. Normally I would push ahead of everyone else, but today I just didn't care. I stood up slowly and moved the the back of the line, frowning. My life was over. "So, when's the honeymoon, Babe?" someone said from behind me. I was positive it was Duncan. I turned around and gave him the nastiest look I could conjure up at the moment. He continued to smile.
"Don't even speak to me. There won't even be a honeymoon. I'm getting a new partner, I can promise you that. And don't call me Babe." I scolded pointing my index finger at him. His expression remained the same, and worst of all he laughed. I was supposed to make him feel threatened, but I had no such luck. I guess it's hard trying to scare a criminal.
"Good luck with that." Duncan replied.
"With what?" I replied, annoyed.
"With all of the above." He smiled again and leaned in closer. I held out my hand in defense. This guy was really pushing for a broken nose, or maybe even a new set of testes.
"Back off." I said as I turned away.
"So we're already having our first argument. You know what they say, the first year of marriage is always the most difficult." What did it take for this guy to understand that we would NEVER be married not even for a school assignment? I was going to get my way. I was going to talk to Ms. Standish after class and get my way.
"We're not married, and we're not going to be. I'm going to get my way, and you'll be able to torture someone else." I was really getting angry now. Couldn't he see that I wanted him to leave me alone?
"But I don't want to bother anyone else." He replied, his grin was wider now, showing his white teeth. I leaned away from him a little. I realized by doing so I was showing weakness so I stood up straight and groaned, turning away from him. I was just going to ignore him, it was that simple.
"So, Honey, what's your career? As long as it pays well. I want a Ferrari." He was really pushing it.
"Listen, I plan on being a successful senator. If you want a Ferrari you'll have to pay for it yourself. And I don't think a janitor's salary would get you there." I sighed. I thought I was going to ignore him? I scolded myself.
"A janitor? Who said anything about a janitor? Do seriously think I would be a janitor?" He was serious.
"Well, it's not like with your criminal record you would be allowed to do much anyway. And besides your brain isn't smart enough for anything else. I would say you're cut out for cleaning toilets and puke." I turned around to look at his expression, but he was still amused. Was everything I did only a big joke to him?
"Oh, and who do you think is gonna vote for you? Miss Uptight, Snobby, Psycho?" Psycho? Snobby? Uptight? How DARE he? As far as I was concerned I was none of those things. How could he even say stuff like that, he barely knows me. I was positive that most people who knew me definitely liked me.
"I'm just going to pretend that I didn't hear that." I said turning away from him, but my body unconsciously turned itself back around not able to ignore the fight, "However, for the sake of argument, a whole lot of people would vote for me, definitely more people than the amount that would vote for you."
"If you say so," he said sarcastically rolling his eyes.
"I do say so, and you know-" I was cut off by Ms. Standish telling me I was up. I walked up to the desk and wrote down my name and next to it in my fine print I wrote: United States Senator of Maine. I gave one last glare to Duncan and then took my seat.
Class passed slowly. I was itching to talk to Ms. Standish about this whole mishap and get it fixed, and when the bell finally rang, I rushed to her desk. "Ms. Standish, I was hoping that possibly I could switch partners?" I asked politely, reminding myself to smile and not get carried away.
"May I ask why?" she replied, I had a feeling this was going to go well.
"You see, Duncan and I well, we don't get along very well. To be honest, Miss, I'm not very fond of him."
"I'm not so fond of you, either." Duncan said from behind me. I turned around and looked at him. His amused look was still plastered on his face, how revolting.
"What are you still doing here?" I snapped.
"Retrieving my detention slip, and to make sure that my wife isn't planning on leaving me."
"I am NOT your wife!" I screamed. I covered my mouth quickly. That was going over the top. Oh, how embarrassing in front of the teacher. She was definitely not going to favor on my side now, oh what to do...
"Yes you are." Ms. Standish said. I whirled around and removed my hand. Duncan laughed.
"What?" I asked horrified.
"You are going to be his partner or else you will receive a zero on this assignment." She was serious, this was not good. I never lost an argument, how was this possible? I was captain on the debate team!
"The best couple wins a prize, remember that, Courtney. You're a determined winner, you'll get through this no matter how difficult it is. Maybe this assignment will help you two to get along. So, whether you like it or not, Miss Carmichael, you're his partner." I sighed and nodded in defeat, but knew I was going to win that prize. Somehow, someway, I would get it. Even if this was going to be the longest week of my life ever.
so, how did it go? did you guys like it? i'm actually pretty proud of this, and i'm willing to continue if people like it. please, let me know!! REVIEW!! XD
