I first met Carrot when I was in pre-school. We grew up together, and I
grew to love him. It's wasn't because I thought that he was physically
attractive or intelligent, because I didn't. In fact, he was quite the
opposite in the eyes of most. But he used to look out for me, and still did
from time to time even though now we're in high school. I still loved him
even though he had changed so much since then. He always chases girls even
though he knows that he can never have them. Sometimes I wonder how he
could be the same person that I used to know. I know that deep down that
Carrot is a good person who has more than the birds and the bees on his
mind. And maybe this whole girl chasing thing is (hopefully) just an act,
but then I remember a saying that goes, "You are what you pretend to be."
And it makes me glum thinking that Carrot might stay a pervert forever. I
know I could make him very happy.
I have not yet introduced myself. My name is Tira Misu, like the dessert. School is pretty much the center of my life, even though I don't really like it, because it's where I see all my friends, and of course Carrot. Sometimes I wish-no, I always wish that I could tell Carrot how I feel but there are two problems. One is that I couldn't stand the thought of being rejected after all this time, but the biggest reason of all is my sister Chocolat. Chocolat loves Carrot as well, but is so much more forward with him. She always hits on him and calls him 'Darling'. Sometimes it makes me sick. She's so beautiful, but then so am I, or so I've been told by numerous guys though never by Carrot who's opinion mattered to me the most. Even though he always firmly refused her advances I couldn't help thinking that she would finally win him over one of these days. People say that if you wear down someone for long enough then that person will eventually give in. And yet, if I had a nickel for every time she hit on him to no avail, I would be filthy rich by now.
It was the last period of the day, English. As usual I was the first one in the classroom. I sat at my assigned desk and arranged my things. Not long after, another classmate arrived. It was Gateau, the star wrestler on the school team. [and our team is VERY good.] He was soon followed by Marron. Marron nodded at me as a way of saying hello and smiled. Gateau smiled too only he winked as well. I smiled back but I didn't blush at this. We both know he likes to joke around a lot. We're just friends. And then Carrot was the next into the room. He seemed to look over at me for a moment but he didn't say anything. Gateau and Marron were sitting at their desks behind me and we chatted pleasantly when we were cut off as Carrot surreptitiously slid into the desk next to Gateau. The two then engaged in a "deep and meaningful" conversation that went something like this.
"Psst! Gateau! I have the package!" [wink wink]
"What?!"
"The eagle has landed!" [wink wink]
"What are you talking about?!"
"The rooster is in the hen house!" [wink wink]
"Carrot, I don't know what the fuck you're talking about!"
I lost the rest of their conversation after that with the rest of my classmates coming in. I watched glumly as Carrot tried to glomp the assorted girls that walked passed him to take their seats, apparently giving up on Gateau. Normally I would have slapped him for every girl he hit on, but today just was not the day. I was very glad that Chocolat wasn't there that day. Our teacher finally walked into the room. Her name was - come to think of it I don't know what her real name was. Geez now I'm gonna wonder about that all night. Anyway we all just got used to calling her Big Mama.
"Alright class, yesterday we were unable to finish our discussion on stereotyping or judging people unfairly. Is there anyone who can think of a time when they or someone they know has been judged or stereotyped for some unfair reason?"
We rarely learned about books or writing in English class. We mostly talked about social issues and other random things. Despite that fact everyone seemed to be improving. There was something very magical about Big Mama.
Carrot raised his hand. Big Mama seemed rather reluctant to call on him since he generally didn't have anything meaningful to say that was actually related to the topic at hand.
"Yes Carrot?"
"Well, I can remember this time when we were little when I dared Marron to go into a store and buy some-eh-'womanly' products and condoms just to see how the clerk would react."
'Oh no.' I thought. Marron seemed to know what was coming and did not bother protesting but simply closed his eyes tightly and then put his head on his desk. Even though I felt sorry for him I kinda wanted to hear the rest of the story. I wondered whether Marron had even know what the things he was buying were used for. There was a sweat drop forming on Big Mama's forehead.
"Um, okay Carrot. And how was the clerks reaction to this an example of wrongfully judging someone?"
"Oh, the clerk didn't say anything, but when he was standing in line one of the other people who worked at the store came up to him and asked him if he was really gonna buy the stuff. And Marron here chickened out and said that he wasn't. And then the guy says 'Good, cause I'm gonna use them tonight ON YOUR MOTHER.' "
The class (minus Marron who still had his head down on the desk) laughed at this. Even I couldn't help giggling, but I stopped along with everyone else when we saw the look on Big Mama's face. The sweat drop on her forehead had increased quite a bit in size
"Carrot that was not a very appropriate story for school. Not to mention you seemed to have caused your brother to feel uncomfortable."
Marron still hadn't taken his head off his desk and Gateau gently reached over and lifted his head of the desk just to make sure he hadn't passed out or anything serious.
"Carrot, I seem to recall seeing you knock over a trash can out in the field for no apparent reason this morning before school. I think that you should go outside and clean up the mess."
"What?"
"I believe you heard me."
"You mean RIGHT NOW?!"
"As a punishment."
"Are you shitting me?!"
"Actually I was just kidding but since you just swore I think I'll actually make you do it."
As Carrot trudged out of the room he mumbled "What a slave driver."
I got out of my seat along with Gateau to go look out the window which gave a view of the field to see if he actually went outside and didn't cut class, and sure enough after a few minutes we could see him cleaning up the trash. Other classmates soon followed. Carrot finished picking up the trash he spilled and then moved on to pick up the rest of the junk on the field. Gateau and I exchanged looks, he started to smile.
"Does he think that he has to clean up the WHOLE field and not just the mess he made?"
"I think so." I said and then laughed. The other people looking out at the window started laughing too. Carrot did not look like he was having an easy time. I could tell that he was swearing under his breath since I happened to be watching his lips closely. It occurred to me that no one had bothered to go outside and tell him that he didn't have to do the whole field, and I was staring to feel sorry for him. I mean it's only natural since the guy is the love of my life and everything.
"Maybe I should go and tell him that he's done." I said after a while to Gateau."
"Don't worry." Said Marron who had gotten out of his desk and materialized behind me and was looking over my shoulder. "Let him figure it out for himself." I nodded along with Gateau who was starting to laugh. Marron, even though he loved his brother to death was a great believer in 'tough love'. It was either that or he was still annoyed at him.
Carrot apparently had become aware that we were all watching because he stopped what he was doing and looked up at us. We locked eyes for what seemed like forever. I could feel that I was starting to blush. It was like I could hear beautiful romantic classical music in my head and it was getting louder and louder. And then he broke eye contact and gradually the music in my head started to fade away along with my blush. Just then Carrot became fed up with cleaning, threw down the trash he was holding, and started to march back into the building. A few minutes later he walked through the entrance to our classroom. We all turned and looked at him. Even Big Mama was smiling.
"Big Mama you can give me detention or whatever you want but I'm not gonna clean up the rest of the field."
We all just laughed. Carrot gave us a confused look. Even though I eventually ended up feeling sorry for him, I couldn't help thinking that he had been somewhat of a jerk today. He had been rather inconsiderate of his brother Marron. Everyone knew that he hadn't meant any harm. He would probably have a talk with Marron after class to apologize and the whole thing would blow over. It always did. Carrot could be a nice guy, even sweet when he felt like. And that was just one of the many reasons why I loved him.
I have not yet introduced myself. My name is Tira Misu, like the dessert. School is pretty much the center of my life, even though I don't really like it, because it's where I see all my friends, and of course Carrot. Sometimes I wish-no, I always wish that I could tell Carrot how I feel but there are two problems. One is that I couldn't stand the thought of being rejected after all this time, but the biggest reason of all is my sister Chocolat. Chocolat loves Carrot as well, but is so much more forward with him. She always hits on him and calls him 'Darling'. Sometimes it makes me sick. She's so beautiful, but then so am I, or so I've been told by numerous guys though never by Carrot who's opinion mattered to me the most. Even though he always firmly refused her advances I couldn't help thinking that she would finally win him over one of these days. People say that if you wear down someone for long enough then that person will eventually give in. And yet, if I had a nickel for every time she hit on him to no avail, I would be filthy rich by now.
It was the last period of the day, English. As usual I was the first one in the classroom. I sat at my assigned desk and arranged my things. Not long after, another classmate arrived. It was Gateau, the star wrestler on the school team. [and our team is VERY good.] He was soon followed by Marron. Marron nodded at me as a way of saying hello and smiled. Gateau smiled too only he winked as well. I smiled back but I didn't blush at this. We both know he likes to joke around a lot. We're just friends. And then Carrot was the next into the room. He seemed to look over at me for a moment but he didn't say anything. Gateau and Marron were sitting at their desks behind me and we chatted pleasantly when we were cut off as Carrot surreptitiously slid into the desk next to Gateau. The two then engaged in a "deep and meaningful" conversation that went something like this.
"Psst! Gateau! I have the package!" [wink wink]
"What?!"
"The eagle has landed!" [wink wink]
"What are you talking about?!"
"The rooster is in the hen house!" [wink wink]
"Carrot, I don't know what the fuck you're talking about!"
I lost the rest of their conversation after that with the rest of my classmates coming in. I watched glumly as Carrot tried to glomp the assorted girls that walked passed him to take their seats, apparently giving up on Gateau. Normally I would have slapped him for every girl he hit on, but today just was not the day. I was very glad that Chocolat wasn't there that day. Our teacher finally walked into the room. Her name was - come to think of it I don't know what her real name was. Geez now I'm gonna wonder about that all night. Anyway we all just got used to calling her Big Mama.
"Alright class, yesterday we were unable to finish our discussion on stereotyping or judging people unfairly. Is there anyone who can think of a time when they or someone they know has been judged or stereotyped for some unfair reason?"
We rarely learned about books or writing in English class. We mostly talked about social issues and other random things. Despite that fact everyone seemed to be improving. There was something very magical about Big Mama.
Carrot raised his hand. Big Mama seemed rather reluctant to call on him since he generally didn't have anything meaningful to say that was actually related to the topic at hand.
"Yes Carrot?"
"Well, I can remember this time when we were little when I dared Marron to go into a store and buy some-eh-'womanly' products and condoms just to see how the clerk would react."
'Oh no.' I thought. Marron seemed to know what was coming and did not bother protesting but simply closed his eyes tightly and then put his head on his desk. Even though I felt sorry for him I kinda wanted to hear the rest of the story. I wondered whether Marron had even know what the things he was buying were used for. There was a sweat drop forming on Big Mama's forehead.
"Um, okay Carrot. And how was the clerks reaction to this an example of wrongfully judging someone?"
"Oh, the clerk didn't say anything, but when he was standing in line one of the other people who worked at the store came up to him and asked him if he was really gonna buy the stuff. And Marron here chickened out and said that he wasn't. And then the guy says 'Good, cause I'm gonna use them tonight ON YOUR MOTHER.' "
The class (minus Marron who still had his head down on the desk) laughed at this. Even I couldn't help giggling, but I stopped along with everyone else when we saw the look on Big Mama's face. The sweat drop on her forehead had increased quite a bit in size
"Carrot that was not a very appropriate story for school. Not to mention you seemed to have caused your brother to feel uncomfortable."
Marron still hadn't taken his head off his desk and Gateau gently reached over and lifted his head of the desk just to make sure he hadn't passed out or anything serious.
"Carrot, I seem to recall seeing you knock over a trash can out in the field for no apparent reason this morning before school. I think that you should go outside and clean up the mess."
"What?"
"I believe you heard me."
"You mean RIGHT NOW?!"
"As a punishment."
"Are you shitting me?!"
"Actually I was just kidding but since you just swore I think I'll actually make you do it."
As Carrot trudged out of the room he mumbled "What a slave driver."
I got out of my seat along with Gateau to go look out the window which gave a view of the field to see if he actually went outside and didn't cut class, and sure enough after a few minutes we could see him cleaning up the trash. Other classmates soon followed. Carrot finished picking up the trash he spilled and then moved on to pick up the rest of the junk on the field. Gateau and I exchanged looks, he started to smile.
"Does he think that he has to clean up the WHOLE field and not just the mess he made?"
"I think so." I said and then laughed. The other people looking out at the window started laughing too. Carrot did not look like he was having an easy time. I could tell that he was swearing under his breath since I happened to be watching his lips closely. It occurred to me that no one had bothered to go outside and tell him that he didn't have to do the whole field, and I was staring to feel sorry for him. I mean it's only natural since the guy is the love of my life and everything.
"Maybe I should go and tell him that he's done." I said after a while to Gateau."
"Don't worry." Said Marron who had gotten out of his desk and materialized behind me and was looking over my shoulder. "Let him figure it out for himself." I nodded along with Gateau who was starting to laugh. Marron, even though he loved his brother to death was a great believer in 'tough love'. It was either that or he was still annoyed at him.
Carrot apparently had become aware that we were all watching because he stopped what he was doing and looked up at us. We locked eyes for what seemed like forever. I could feel that I was starting to blush. It was like I could hear beautiful romantic classical music in my head and it was getting louder and louder. And then he broke eye contact and gradually the music in my head started to fade away along with my blush. Just then Carrot became fed up with cleaning, threw down the trash he was holding, and started to march back into the building. A few minutes later he walked through the entrance to our classroom. We all turned and looked at him. Even Big Mama was smiling.
"Big Mama you can give me detention or whatever you want but I'm not gonna clean up the rest of the field."
We all just laughed. Carrot gave us a confused look. Even though I eventually ended up feeling sorry for him, I couldn't help thinking that he had been somewhat of a jerk today. He had been rather inconsiderate of his brother Marron. Everyone knew that he hadn't meant any harm. He would probably have a talk with Marron after class to apologize and the whole thing would blow over. It always did. Carrot could be a nice guy, even sweet when he felt like. And that was just one of the many reasons why I loved him.