Scrambled Up
Part 1/4
It was Drake's turn to read in History.
"Um...Mr Donovan, I don't feel that well- can I just go to the nurse or something?"
Josh rolled his eyes as the teacher sighed. "Drake, if you're well enough to not pay attention and goof off in my class, I think you're well enough to read one lousy paragraph. Now let's hear it.
"In for-ten- I mean, in fourteen ninety-two...Christopher Co-loam-bose-"
"Columbus," Josh hissed to his brother. The other kids in their class were snickering, and Drakes face was flushing to a deep crimsom.
"Oh, right...Columbus dee-discover-ed- discovered North Ah-mee-America- I'm sorry, but can I please just stop?"
"Just a few more sentences, Drake," Mr Donovan said, nodding his head. "Take your time."
Drake exhaled furiously, his breath ruffling his bangs. He stared down at the paper, never glancing up. Josh was kind of surprised. He tried to remember the last time that he had heard his brother read a whole paragraph out loud, but he realized that Drake had only read sentences before, and sometimes even struggled with them.
After a few moments that felt like several Eternities to Josh, he began to read again. "He was l-looking for a row-rote-route to Aw-see-uh- um...Aw-see-ah-"
That did it. The snickering became a roar of laughter from the class. Josh looked around at his laughing classmates, absolutely horrified when he caught a glimpse of Drake's face, his skin bright red and his eyes glazed with tears.
"Drake, please continue."
The teen took a deep breath, the book in his hands shaking. "Co-Columbus led he-his three sh-ships, the Nee-nuh, the Pee-ta, a-and the Say-tah May-ry-uh-"
The class exploded in laughter again, and Josh just watched as Drake slammed his book closed, grabbed his backpack, and all but ran from the room.