Authors note: From Innocence to Complicated, we now come into the third chapter of the story. How will Edna break the news to Bart? How will Bart tell his joyous news to his teacher? It is anyone's guess, so hope you enjoy.
CH.3: Broken in two
It was the following morning and Bart Simpson awoke with an excited yell. Throwing his covers off he changed into his blue shorts and red short sleeve with glee wrapped around the corners of his mouth. Today was the day he told his teacher how he really felt about her. The hauntingly real dreams and the memorization of his speech caused him to be real hyperactive…and awake. Rushing to his door he noticed his mom standing there holding a basket of laundry. "Oh…hi mom," Bart said nervously.
"Hi yourself mister excitable," Marge said balancing the laundry. "Now why of all days would you get excited about school? It is just a Wednesday and…no it can't-."
"Mom, I hate to interrupt, but I have to go eat lunch…I mean breakfast." Bart tried to scoot by his mom, but she had that knowing twinkle in her eye. This means she is going to give me the love speech.
"I remember when I fell in love with your father," she said getting a far away look. "We were in High School and there was a dance coming up-."
"Nice story mom…got to run-." Bart tried to fake a move to the left but found the basket of laundry blocking his way.
"It was a special time that I thought would never happen," Marge smiled, "on account of my shyness towards guys. But…your father he-."
"Hey look mom Lisa is up," Bart chose that moment to slide on his knees under the basket and off to hop down the stairs. Making it into the kitchen, he noticed Lisa sitting there with a coy smile.
"So…today is the day huh?" Running her spoon through her cereal, she watched her brother inch to the cabinet. "I don't suppose you know what you're going to say huh?"
"I'll come up with something on the bus," he said pouring some cereal shaped letters into his bowl. "I mean, as long as it gets across, I have nothing to lose-."
"Oh Bart," Lisa shook her head, "how do you expect to make it in the world of relationships when you can't take this seriously?" Chewing on her cereal, she picked up the newspaper and scanned for anything at all.
"C'mon Leese, you of all people shouldn't say that," Bart teased with a wiggle of his eyebrows. Catching a sudden nervous laugh from his sister he laughed and poured milk into his bowl.
"So a few of my relationships…haven't ended well," running a hand through her spiky hair she tried to shake the nervousness. "My point is, a relationship is made up of feelings and strong ties to the heart. If something goes wrong, or something bad is said, it could sever all your restraint and you could fall into a depression-."
"Leese…you need a boyfriend," Bart chomped on his cereal and mashed it between his teeth before swallowing with a satisfied smirk. "Why didn't you and that Collins kid work out again?"
"I, well, we got into a heated argument about the war," lowering her head she could still remember their parting words. Collins was a great guy, smart and funny, but he just did not share the same views as she did.
"Leese…you don't always have to be right," Bart set his bowl down and slid into a chair across from her. Scooping up more cereal, he slurped on the milk and crunched loudly. "Life…is about keeping those you care about close…not pushing them away-."
"You need to like girls more often for who they are," Lisa pointed a spoon at him. "You always find a flaw in them, hence why they never work. You need to put all of yourself into this, assuming you can come up with the right words."
"It'll come," Bart slurped up the rest of his milk and fetched his backpack from the side of the door. "By the way…why aren't you hurrying to catch the bus?"
"Today is the big test," Lisa said twirling her spoon between her fingers. Letting it sink in she smiled at the fear on Bart's face. "It is history first, then math, then English, all topics I know you love."
"No way…that is today?" Bart dropped his pack and felt like his stomach had just dropped out from under him.
"Yep…oh and the grades you get decide if you move onto the sixth grade or not." Pushing her bowl to the side, she placed her head in her hands and leaned so she could stare right across at Bart. "This will decide if you move on with your friends…or stay behind to make new ones."
"I…I so did not need to hear this," Bart scooped his pack up lazily and stumbled out the front door. Hearing Otto honk the horn of the bus he climbed on and gave a weak smile to his favorite bus driver.
"Hey Bart…you study for the test?" Millhouse clutched his pack to his chest and stared at his friend.
"I…forgot," Bart laughed nervously and could hear a wisp of air fly out the window as everyone took a breath. Taking a gulp, he saw Martin sit up and grin right at him. Did this guy have anything better to do?
"So Bart…fail to study huh? Such a shame, then again, without you progressing to the sixth grade I shall be safe from your jokes." Laughing he suddenly squealed and fell into the aisle of the bus.
Nelson flexed his arm and shrugged his shoulder. "I didn't study either braniac;" looking at Bart he smiled, "don't let him bother you. If we do not pass, well, there will leagues of dorks in sixth grade. So…no pressure."
"Did Nelson just stick up for you?" Millhouse was dumbfounded by this; just as he was dumbfounded, his father was on a date with his mom.
"Y-Yeah…so that means I'm not seeing things," Bart sank in his seat and was glad it was Martin on the floor instead of him. The bus trip continued uninterrupted and as it pulled up in front of the school, the students tasted their last air of safety.
"Alright dudes and dudettes time to unload," Otto opened the door and the kids all shivered. "Man…talk about chilly weather for a test huh?"
"It was sunny when I woke up," Bart moaned. Jumping down the steps, he dragged his feet into the building. Principal Skinner stood in the hallway holding a megaphone, his blue business suit on as usual.
"Good morning test takers," Skinner said, "welcome to exam day. It is this day that you shall determine your fate and see if you pass onto the sixth grade or stay behind to see another year. As your Principal I shall be rooting for you, so, take each answer carefully and remember to always recheck your answers if you finish early. That is all."
"Nice speech Skinner," Bart yawned, "any longer and I thought I'd stuff myself in a locker to use as a bed." The students laughed and he chuckled himself.
"How I am going to miss that," Skinner feigned sadness and lowered his megaphone after realizing he was still holding it. "You studied I assume right?"
"Well, you'd assume wrong," Bart grinned as he saw the irritation pulse in a vein on Seymour's head. "Truth is, I don't need to study to pass. I got this thing aced."
"Bart…I hope your right. Repeating a grade is never a bonus for failing, it is only a joke for the kids younger then you to make. If you pass the test…I'll give you all your stuff back."
"You mean…everything right?" Bart wore a smirk as he approached his enemy. Skinner swallowed that down hard and Bart thought he was going to puke or have his eyeballs explode from the stress of all this time.
"Uh…yes," Skinner cleared his throat and held out his hand. There had been times when the two had worked together, even formed a bond, now to give back his stuff…it was the ultimate send off.
Bart hesitated for a second before shaking his hand. "Watch me ace this Skinner, then you'll regret that hand shake." Bart left Skinner behind as he waltzed into the room he had spent so long in. Edna Krabappel sat behind her desk with number two pencils neatly laid out in front of her. "Hello Ms. Krabappel," he said.
"Morning Bart," she nodded her head at her student. To break such spirit, she thought, am I human enough to do that? As a teacher we are told to shut off all emotional contact, never let the kids inside. I let one in…now I have to pay the ultimate consequence.
"I'm so looking forward to detention," Bart winked over at her before heading to his lucky seat. Sliding in he placed his backpack on the floor and soon the rest of the students followed suit.
"Morning class," Edna began, "as you all know this is the big three that will decide if you pass or not. History, English, Math, three curricular subjects that deal with topics we have talked of all through the year. For those of you who did not study I hope you have lady luck on your side, not that I am counting her in favor of your tactics. Number 2 pencils will be passed out along with scantrons. You shall receive scratch paper for the math portion near the end of the day. A break will commence after each test, so try and not leave the campus until the final bell. Any questions?" Edna placed her back to the desk and looked at each student.
"How long will the break be?" Nelson drummed his fingers on his desk and was looking over at Martin with a smile. A wedgie does not take much time, he thought, so technically I am good even if it is a minute.
"You'll get 10 minutes," Edna rolled her eyes that was not even enough time to get a smoke. "Do not cheat; do not get up to go to the bathroom. I want each of you planted in your seat until I say other wise. Now…any last minute questions?"
"Will there be detention today?" Bart leaned forward in his seat and stared over at his teacher. He had not bothered to ask how long the flowers would stay fresh so time was of the essence.
"Well…about that…" Edna averted her eyes from Bart and instead paid attention to the clock. If I put this off until tomorrow, she thought, I would be holding out for a different outcome. I must be the adult now…say it as it is…and hope for the best. "Yes…it'll be after school. Now if there is nothing else…when you get the test you shall begin."
"Good luck Bart," Millhouse smiled weakly at his friend and was handed his test. Today was it, he thought, to pass the fifth grade or stay behind a kid to be picked on by the new kids.
"I got this," Bart popped his knuckles and stared at the test sheet. Popping it open, he spun his pencil and began to read down the paper. English was not that bad, just writing and proper grammar. Fighting the urge to look at Edna, he fought a memory that was low on batteries to answer the test.
"Look at him," Martin mused to himself, "he doesn't have a chance," turning the page he kept up a steady pace. Each question should be dealt with accordingly; if any was spent more then a minute on, he must save that for after he finished the others.
"I hate tests," Nelson murmured, "nothing but a waste of time. Why do I need to know about sentences and commas? I'm not going to be writing a nerd book anytime soon." Scratching his head, he wished he could give each test creator a wedgie.
"Tick tick," Millhouse fretted with a shaky hand, "all I hear is that tick and not any of these bubbles filled in." Adjusting his glasses, he swung his legs about beneath his desk. Patience was not a virtue now, so, think Millhouse think!
"Hmmm…why is this all familiar?" Bart pondered aloud. Closing his eyes, he remembered a day when he could not sleep in class. His teacher was talking about sentence structure and essay format. Opening his eyes, he recognized the questions before him. With a sense of inspiration, he began running through the test.
"What is he up to?" Martin narrowed his eyes as he noticed Bart filling up his scantron. Not once since he began taking the test did he look over at Millhouse's paper, nor any of the other kids.
"Well would you look at that," Edna studied Bart from a distance and smiled secretly to herself. Apparently, she had not wasted her efforts on him at all. Heaving a sigh she returned her attention to her paper in which she was writing a speech for Bart.
"If Bart can randomly fill in answers…why can't I?" Nelson began to fill in bubbles randomly and laughed to himself. This was easy, why didn't he think of this instead of stare at his paper blankly until class ended?
"I'm not going to lose to you Bart!" Martin took up his pencil and spun it in his fingers before pressing it on the paper. However, as soon as he did his pencil broke. Aghast at this he raised his hand. "Ms. Krabapple I-."
"Martin…learn to lower your voice," getting the pencil she handed it to him with a shake of her head. The class chuckled softly and Martin felt a flush of red crunch on his face.
"What a loser," Nelson grinned and turned the page. Time passed incredulously; and before any of the students had looked at the clock, the bell rung.
"That about does it for English," Edna sighed, "now you have a 10 minute break. I suggest you spend it outside instead of in here." She of course was speaking mainly to Bart.
"Say Bart," Martin caught up to his current rival and ran a hand through his hair nervously. "You know, I was, well, wondering how you did on the test."
"I aced it," Bart grinned as he saw Martin's resolve falter. "I actually remembered what our teacher talked about. Falling asleep on a rainy day would be easy, but I actually stayed awake to avoid falling asleep. Weird huh?"
"Yes, uh, very weird." Martin grinded his teeth and walked out the front door and made his way to the bars.
"How did you do Millhouse?" Bart joined his friend who was absently looking out of the schoolyard. This is a new weird, he noted, even for someone who had walked into traffic with no glasses.
"I…I don't know," he lifted his head and closed his eyes. "I tried to study, but, I couldn't concentrate. I couldn't even get to sleep because my parents were in the next room-."
"Yeah…don't need to know that," Bart laughed, "we're a little too young for that yet. Still, do not let it get to you man. Try and focus on the other two tests we have to take."
"That or you can just think you failed and live with it," Nelson leaned against the rail and chewed on some gum. Bart glared at Nelson and he shrugged his shoulders. "I saw you racing through your test Simpson, don't tell me all that was know how-."
"Nelson, we are all smart," Bart smiled, "it is just an untampered part of our brain that we don't access regularly. Do not ask me where I got that…even I do not know. I think in the long run…if we don't try, we simply fail and wait for another opportunity at hand."
"That's what you get for having a smart sibling," Nelson laughed and heard the bell ring. "Let's see how well you do in History."
"Yes, let's see then," Bart laughed nervously. Following his classmates, he did not bother getting a drink or snack. The test was on his desk and he folded his hands neatly on it until the teacher told them to begin.
"Alright, you have the same time limit as before," Edna spoke from her desk, "no cheating and fill in each bubble accordingly. Now…begin!"
This test was History, a long and complicated one at that. Still, Bart was anxious to have time fly until after class. Each question spoke of a different time and date in their history, and many boring names. Still, he worked his brain hard.
"Who the heck is Napoleon?" Nelson scratched his head and stared around the room. Every art project they did was taken down; including the one, he had drawn of that short guy with his arm in his jacket.
"Alright, no need to panic," Millhouse kept his pencil steady and scanned the page for any he could do. Finding a few, he did know he quickly filled in the bubble with urgency.
"Bart won't pass," Martin giggled, "I am the smart one here…not him. No, he won't pass will he precious, no he won't," Martin chewed on his pencil and clicked his shoes together.
"Dear Bart," Edna wrote, "I'm sorry for the abruptness of this letter, but I find it most important to end what we have now. My career and your future as a student must come first rather then, our consolidating each other's loneliness through hiding. I will always remember what we have…and hope you will forgive me for this…that was lousy," she said crumbling the letter up.
"Hmmm…time periods matched with historic figures," Bart mused, "this all seems to be what was discussed last class session." Bart had a glint in his eye and began to fill in the bubbles. The room was hot and he tried to ignore the openness outside that just yearned for his attention.
"Bart won't pass…I shall…la la la," Martin began to pull at his hair and his eyes began to roll increasingly. Bart was losing it, he thought, he is beginning to fold into pressure and will not even see the daylight of sixth grade.
"Ok…question 2…" Nelson chewed on his pencil and stared down the line of questions like they were a string of endless opportunity. "I wonder when snack time is?"
"Ooh I know this one," Millhouse filled it in and felt his face scrunch. "No…it was the other one…stupid." Using his eraser, he tore at the scantron intent on choosing answer choice B.
"Aced," Bart placed his hands behind his back as he still had half an hour to go. Perhaps I am passing because my lucky card is in the deck; he winked over at his teacher knowing only one test stood in his way now.
"One more test," Edna refolded the stack of papers and could hear her heart, no wait, that was the sound of the clock. Nervousness flooded her eyes as she constantly averted them or else she would stare into the hope of a 10-year-old boy.
"Screw this," Nelson glowered at the test and began to fill in bubbles randomly…again. "I won't stay behind another year. To pass this test is my goal."
"Oh no…1 minute left," Millhouse answered the questions and could feel his pencil burn in his hand. Every student around him who had not finished was racing through the questions as if their life depended on it.
"Alright…put down your pencils wherever you are," Krabapple said from her desk. You shall recess for 5 minutes and report here for your final test. When you are done with this test you are free to go home for the day."
"I'm free!" Martin raced out of the room and all the students laughed. Bart trailed behind his friends and leaned against the school wall. Martin ran around and was holding his arms in the air as if he was a crazed island survivor.
"Bart what's wrong?" Millhouse joined his friend and stared at the school scene. It seemed like it would all be gone soon, their whole playground gone and likely replaced by snack bars and seats.
"One more test," Bart sighed, "then it'll be over. I didn't want this day to come so…fast." Bart looked over at his friend as he sought understanding.
"We can't stay young forever Bart," he told him, "nor can we test ourselves and that mortality we call a brain. I want to move on, meet new people…and see if the rumors are true about the girls in middle school."
"Yeah…I…I just have some unfinished business here," Bart pushed off from the wall and headed down the hall. Going to his locker, he opened it up and pulled out the flowers he hid there, as they were in his backpack…but he moved them.
"Seymour…what are you doing here?" Bart heard Edna's voice and inched towards the door. Peeking inside he noticed Skinner near his love. What was he up to?
"Edna…I moved out of my mom's house," Skinner smiled and laughed nervously. "She was actually…relieved to see I had grown some, which only you have heard just now. I found an apartment…big enough for two…"
"Seymour…this is all so sudden," Edna still had to break the news to Bart, and now she had this on her plate.
"Edna…I'd walk the ends of the earth till you took me back. You were always the one for me, and I messed that up. Will you have me…again?" Seymour held out his arms and waited. Outside Bart was glued to the scene, his heart racing a mile per second.
Edna closed her eyes and listened to her heart. The letter was crumbled on her desk and her heart was unfolding like a blossom. Seymour was the guy for her, she knew that. Opening her eyes she threw herself into Seymour's arms and locked lips with him. Held in the safety of his arms she knew now who she was to be with. How she told Bart this was something that was still on the drawing board.
Bart felt his heart crumble as he saw the two embrace. The flowers loosened in his grip and he felt tears well in his eyes. Retreating to his locker, he closed the door and sank down to his knees. Crying his heart out he felt like the floor had been torn asunder and the walls were spikes stealing into his body.
Authors note: Hope you enjoyed chapter 3. How many saw this chapter ending this way? Well, sorry it took so long, just wanted to put more material in it.