"... Something untrue that is said to others... does anybody know what this vocab word is?... Something untrue and it will hurt a person's feelings... Anybody..."
Russell's look of drowsiness was mimicked by everyone since it was morning. He was the only one who truly looked sick though. That morning he was the last to enter the room when he usually was the first. Kevin hit him against his locker when he went by and the announcement announced that the nurse would not be in today. He felt a little worse from when he woke up this morning but he tried not to think about it.
"... rumor everyone, the word is rumor people... come on wake up class... what is a flood? Jenny?"
Russell couldn't focus. He had a headache and he couldn't keep his eyes open His stomach made queasy churns, feeling worse every minute. Maybe If I don't move, I'll feel better, Russell said to himself in his mind. Carl was having a good time probably. Why would he want to interrupt Carl's day with a call to say he was sick?
"... Correct... cheered, the kids cheered for their friend..."
Russell wiped sweat off from his warm forehead, not paying attention. If he wasn't feeling this way he'd be taking full participation, talking away about each answer.
"... what is larvae, Russell?"
"Huh?"
"Have you been paying attention Russell? What is larvae?"
What was larvae? He knew this? He buried for the answer inside his pounding head.
"... The-The immature point of a bug..."
"That is correct." Mrs. Carmody said as she walked over to the cubbord. Mrs. Carmody pulled out a jar of, what looked like disgusting worms in something died in blue. "This ladies and gentleman is larvae. We'll be looking at this more tomorrow." she said placing it on the desk. Just looking at the jar made Russell feel queasy. It was disgusting.
Kevin raised his hand. "Mrs. Carmody can we take the larvae out of the jar?"
The class eewed.
"No Kevin, I think the larvae will stay in the jar where it belongs. We'll be looking at these more tomorrow. Now I think we all need to wake ourselves up. Kevin, you've been wide awake how about your row start us off with the book reports."
Kevin sighed. "Okay."
Kevin walked up to the front of the room.
"My story was about Big Foot and his bad day. He accidentally squashes a princess making blood spurt out from her lungs... I didn't feel sorry for the princess... Big Foot was angry... He spit out her guts and bones... Big Foot was roasted that night and he was cut into pieces enjoyed by all the warriors. So read Big Foot and his Bad Day. The end."
Russell's stomach hurt. His head beat in pain and he was sweating. His eyes were blurry and he felt weak barely able to keep his head up from his desk. Every word that Kevin said made him feel sick.
"Thank you Kevin you may sit," Mrs. Carmody said also disgusted with the story. "Try to read a less gory book next time. Next in Kevin's row may go."
"Are you alright Russell?"
Russell turned to Brandon. He looked worriedly at Russell. Brandon was his best friend, almost like a brother to him. He was also a wilderness explorer.
"Yeah."
"You look sick."
"I'm fine." Russell turned away from Brandon knowing that he was suspicious. He just kept listening to the stories.
"... And she scooped the wet dog into her arms..."
"... They danced, they ran, they jumped..."
"... The sewage smelled of dead rats and insects..."
"... And over and down the bumpy hills they went. He enjoyed the bumps on the road. Going up each hill felt like a roller coaster that fell slowly to its destination..."
The story was making Russell queasy by the minute. His stomach made a queasy twist.
He raised his hand. "Mrs. Carmody?"
"Yes Russell?" Mrs. Carmody asked. He was about to ask to go to the nurse but he'd be sent home making Carl come pick him up and miss his day of fun. "I... was wondering... if there was any such thing as Embarrassment City?"
Some students laughed as Mrs. Carmody was not amused at all. "This is no time for jokes Russell. Carry on Emily." Mrs. Carmody said as Russell's head fell to the desk. His eyelids were heavy. He kept trying to pay attention. He picked his head up and stood up straight once Brandon looked at him.
"... And the mouse..."
"... The girl was finally asleep when..."
"... And his wish came true..."
"... The roller coaster went up, straight up to the highest point. Then it went down and back up and down again..."
Russell imagined the roller coaster. It rose to the top until it suddenly dropped a long way to the bottom. He should have imagined that.
"Mrs. Carmody I need..."
Russell couldn't finish his sentence as he quickly leaned over the side of his desk.