Disclaimer: I own nothing. I am in no way profiting from this or any other stories. Everything is owned by Disney, Saban and Spelling Entertainment (Maybe Fox and CBS too, not sure).
Ch. 5- Higher Education
As the Vice Principal had said, Angel Grove High was shaping up to be a difficult school with some very difficult teachers. Jason just happened to have one of them. Mr. Danzel was an older man, a history teacher, he had taught at AGH his entire career and seemed to have his own teaching and grading habits, good for some, bad for others.
November 20th 1993
The Youth Center
8:00 P.M.
Jason was trying to balance, waiting tables, clearing plates and studying history for an upcoming exam. He had his history book laying open on the counter, every chance he got he took a peek. He was reading the next passage when Ernie interrupted him.
"Hey Einstein, you've got an order up"
"Thanks Ernie" Jason said, he grabbed the plate and set it on the bar in front of the correct customer. He was turning to go back to his history book when he spotted Mr. Danzel sitting at the far side of the bar. He walked over to the man.
"Mr. Danzel, hi" Jason said, the man looked up at him like he had grown a third head, so he continued. "I'm in your American History class, Jason Scott." The man said nothing just nodded his head.
"You know this is ironic, I was just over there studying for the test tomorrow." Jason said.
"Good Luck" Mr. Danzel said, then looked back down at the paper he was reading. "Can you bring me some more horseradish?"
"Sure, no problem" Jason said, he walked to the back were Ernie was slicing one of his pies. "You want to hear the strangest thing?"
"What's that?" Ernie asked
"That guy over there in the corner is one of my teachers" Jason said, Ernie looked over to see who he was talking about.
"Danzel?" he asked
"Yeah, you know him."
"Sure, he's a regular. Don't let him get to you kid."
"He doesn't bother me" Jason said, Ernie just laughed.
November 21st 1993
AGH- 5th Period
In history class, the graded tests were passed back out. Jason had always enjoyed history, it was his best subject and he always made A's so it was a huge shock when he saw the grade on this test "C".
"I grade on a curve." Mr. Danzel explained, as most of the class looked puzzled about their grades. "10 percent A's, 10 percent F's, the remaining 80 percent get C's, C for average, C for mediocrity, C for just getting by.
This class just happened to contain three of his friends Kat, Rocky, and Trini. Mr. Danzel was dressed in a bright blue suit with an Orange shirt and brown stripped tie. "God who dresses him" Kat whispered to Rocky who was sitting behind her, he laughed at the comment.
Mr. Danzel continued "There'll be another quiz next Friday and every Friday." He handed Kat and Rocky their tests.
"Thanks Mr. Danzel" Kat said sweetly, after he walked by she turned to Rocky "Yeah, love the tie" she said sarcastically, Rocky was having a hard time controlling his laughter.
"Is something funny Mr. DeSantos?" Danzel asked.
"No, nothing at all" Rocky replied
Jason was still confused so he raised his hand. "Yes what is it?" Danzel asked
"Some of the people who made C's only missed three or four questions." He said
"Those who get A's only miss one or two, that's the difference between the pursuit of excellence and the morass of mediocrity." Finally the bell rang.
"History used to be my favorite subject" Jason said as he and Rocky were walking out the door.
"Tell me about it. That guy gives new meaning to the word hemorrhoid." Rocky said
"What did you get Rocky" Kat asked as she came out of the room.
"What do you think" Rocky said
"Oh I hate you" she said smacking his arm.
"You got an A" Jason said in shock
"Yep" Rocky said, then walked off
"Rocky is so smart when it comes to history, and a total idiot when it comes to everything else. Bye" Kat said, then she walked off, leaving Jason to think.
Trini was next out of the room. "Hey don't forget I need your story on the swim team by Wednesday." She said
"Hey the swim team's fine, I'm the one who's drowning." Jason said
"Well strap on a life jacket and get it to me before the meet with Stone Canyon."
"Come on Trini, I've got three tests next week."
"Yeah well, welcome to Angel Grove High"
"Easy for you to say, you don't have a job."
"What do you call running the paper?"
"You've got Billy to help with that."
"Fine I will give the Swim team story to someone else, you don't have get all cranky just because you got a C."
"Look what are grades anyway" Jason said "I mean they're just some weird arbitrary reference points that can't really measure what a person knows. I've never gotten a C before in my life, especially not in history."
Trini shook her head in understanding. "Why don't you come over and study with Billy and I tonight."
"Yeah alright, I get off at 10, is that cool."
"That's perfect"
Kat had caught up to Kim, they were walking through the hall when they spotted Tommy. Kim had seen him at her party, though he hadn't said anything to her, she still thought he was pretty cute.
"What I would do to go out with Tommy Oliver" Kat said
"I don't know, everyone says he's trouble" Kim said
"Well he can trouble me all he wants" Kat said. They walked over to his locker.
"Hey Tommy" Kat said
"Hey, Katherine" Tommy said
"We were just talking, which do you think guys like best on girls; long or short hair?" she asked
Tommy thought for a minute, he was still a little shy around Kim and didn't want to let on too much. "Personally I prefer blondes"
"Really" Kat asked excited
"Really, truly" he said looking at Kat then turned to Kim with a smile "So you're Jason's sister?"
"Yeah, I'm Jason's sister" she said
"Well, Jason's sister may I say you are a very talented gymnast."
"Thanks and you can call me Kim." She said, in that moment she knew she liked him despite the rumors. Katherine noticed the looks the two were giving each other and glanced at Kim with some jealousy.
"Well Kim, it was nice to meet you. I guess I'll see at the Youth Center sometime. Bye Katherine" He said then shut his locker and walked away. Kat just gave him a dirty look as he walked away. "He's so weird" she said rolling her eyes and walking away. Kim just continued to smile at him.
11:00 P.M.
The Scott House
When Jason got home from studying he walked into the bathroom to find Kim trying on blonde wigs. "Sis what are you doing, are those old costume wigs from the plays you did in middle school?"
"Yes"
"So why exactly are you putting them on."
"I hate my hair, I need a change."
"So you're going to wear a wig?"
"No, I'm going to talk mom into taking me to get my hair done."
"Riiiight, good luck with that." He said sarcastically, she glared at him and rolled her eyes.
"Look why do you want to look like every other girl out here. You're different, but your still beautiful, in fact I think that makes you better than them, you stand out. What's wrong with that."
"That's exactly the point Jason, I don't want to stand out. I want to fit in with all the rich, beautiful girls from southern California."
"And changing your hair colors makes you fit in how exactly" he asked amused at this point.
"It just does okay, so go away" she said then walked over and pushed him back, shutting the door to his room.
She looked back in the mirror with the blonde wig in place and pictured Tommy behind her. "I've always had a thing for blonds" he said she looked down and could literally feel his hand on her shoulder. When she looked back in the mirror she saw Carol standing behind her with a hand on her shoulder. She quickly turned and pulled the wig off running her fingers through her hair.
"Mom, you scared me" she said
"I'm sorry. What are you doing sweetie, your hair is beautiful." Carol said
"Not by California standards" Kim said
"Kimberly, you are going to have to get past this California standard thing" Carol said
"Honey I'm home" Mike yelled, he had worked late and was just walking in the door.
"We're upstairs honey" she yelled back. Mike put down his briefcase and made his way up the stairs he found Carol and Kim in the hall. He kissed his wife and greeted his daughter. "Hey sweetie, what's going on?"
"Dad, I've got to do something with my hair" she said seriously
"What's wrong with your hair" he asked
"Everything" she said returning to her room and shutting the door.
"What was that all about" Mike asked
"You know Kim, she'll do what ever she deems necessary to fit in." Carol said as the two walked to their room.
Jason who had been listening from his room just laughed and climbed into bed.
November 28th
5th Period
When the tests were handed out, Jason found he had another C. He looked over at Trini and then Rocky, both were smiling. "Great, just great" he said under his breath, obviously even studying with the two smartest people in the school wasn't helping him this time. He was quick to leave the class when the bell rang.
"Hey where you going" Rocky asked catching up to him
"Down the tubes" he answered
"Another victim of the Danzel curve?" Rocky asked
"My dad's going to kill me man" Jason said
"I swear that man gets his kicks out of ruining people's GPA's" Rocky said
"You don't understand; My dad expects a lot out of us, he graduated Phi Beta Kappa, Summa cum something and he never lets anyone forget it."
"Well maybe I can help you."
"How"
"Come by my house right after school, we'll study before we head over to the Youth Center."
Later that day at Rocky's, Jason was sitting by the pool in swim trunks and a tank top with his book open, while Rocky lounged on a chair float in the pool with sunglasses on and his eyes shut. The radio was on the high school station.
"Somehow this doesn't seem like studying to me" Jason said
"It's all the same to me" Rocky said
"Nice house" Jason said looking around.
"This is nothing, you should have seen where I used to live before my parents got divorced."
"And when was that"
"Which time?"
"They've divorced each other twice?" Jason asked
"Amongst other things, there have been other marriages mixed in, other kids, other houses, so and so on. You know how it is."
"Not really" Jason said
"Wait, you mean your parents are still together."
"Yeah" Jason said
"Well look, it's not your fault, you've got to stop blaming yourself" Rocky said seriously, they both laughed.
"Alright, anyway back to the studying; what method did the government use to undermine the tribal structure of the Cherokee Indians?" Jason asked
"He's not going to ask that" Rocky said nonchalantly.
"Land allotment" Jason answered himself, then checked the answer. "The government detribalized everything by giving every Indian a little piece of land."
Rocky was paying no attention to the history. "Hey, do you want to go to the Lakers/Piston's game next week?" he asked
"You can get tickets?" Jason asked
"Yeah my dad gave me season passes for my birthday."
"Damn all I got was a steak dinner and a few shirts." Jason said
"Oh I get great presents every since my dad moved out. You know if I can keep my average where it is now, I'll be a Trojan, my father's on the board at SC."
"Well with your grades, you shouldn't have any problem getting in."
"We'll see, okay; name the five tribes that made up the confederacy whose primary aim was universal perpetual peace." Rocky said
Jason flipped through his book. "The Confederacy….Rocky, I don't think we covered that."
"Memorize it Jason, trust me. It's exactly the kind of question Danzel likes to ask."
December 5th
5th Period
The quizzes had been handed out, Jason read the first question: Name the five tribes that made up the confederacy whose primary aim was universal perpetual peace. Jason reread the question recalling what Rocky had said. 'There is no way he guessed that' Jason thought. He wrote the answer anyway. He went to the next question, it was also word for word one of the questions Rocky asked. Jason looked over and Rocky was smiling and writing.
"You know it's pretty amazing how we studied for every question on that test. You stole a copy didn't you." Jason asked after class.
"Hey I happen to be smart okay. Just relax Jason it's supposed to feel good to ace a test." Rocky said as he walked away.
Trini came up behind Jason, upset "Can you believe that quiz? Like he ever mentioned which tribes belonged to the Iroquois Confederacy."
"The Mohawks, Senecas, Oneidas, Cayugas, and The Onondagas" Jason said with a smile.
"How did you know that"
"Just have to know what to study" Jason said as he walked away leaving a stunned Trini.
After School
Rocky's House
"Rocky I need you to be honest with me, you stole a copy of the test didn't you?" Jason asked as they walked around the pool area.
"You knew what I was doing." Rocky said
"Yeah but in the hall you said-"
"Come on Jason what was I going to do, make a Public Service Announcement on KWBH. Man you should be thanking me, I could get expelled for having this" Rocky said as he picked up a piece of paper and handed it to Jason.
"This is next weeks quiz"
"Actually it's a copy of next weeks quiz, the original is still tucked away in Danzel's desk."
"How did you get this?"
"Well you know, bribery, larceny, grand theft; your basic tools of the trade. But don't worry we're not going to get caught."
"Yeah that's what every criminal says. This doesn't bother you at all does it?"
"Use it or don't, it's your decision, but I'm not going to let some fossil in a leisure suit ruin my GPA."
Jason looked back down at the paper in his hand. "Well it's just a quiz right?"
"Right, and just another A on the Danzel curve." Rocky said
Jason felt bad about cheating, but he also felt he didn't have a choice if he wanted to keep his 4.0 GPA.
December 12th
Angel Grove High
Kim had decided to curl her hair, but it still wasn't what she wanted, so there she stood in the bathroom with Aisha and Kat, testing out different styles. Finally she pilled all her hair up in a bun and fastened it.
"Kim, I'm sorry but that is not a hairdo, it's a hair don't" Aisha said taking out the clip and letting Kim's hair back down.
"Stop it Ish, you're making her hair phobic" Kat said
"No she's right" Kim said turning to face Katherine "I hate it, the color the cut, the everything" she said
"So change it" Aisha said "It's not like there's some law that says you have to keep the things you don't like."
"She's right Kim, my mom goes to this great guy, barely speaks any English, has this little ponytail, and he does Madonna's hair." Kat said
"Get real Kat, you'll never get her in there." Aisha said "Go to Troy Russo on Rodeo Drive, he's the best."
"Well how much does he cost?" Kim asked
"Color and cut, 300 bucks I'd say" Aisha said
"I can't afford that." Kim said
"So get your parents to pay" Kat said
"Yeah right" Kim said
Later that day she saw Kat and Tommy walking down the hall laughing. Tommy whispered something in Kat's ear. Kim decided that she had to do something about her hair and fast.
As soon as Kim got home from Gymnastics she ran into the kitchen where Carol was cooking dinner.
"Mom I really need to get my hair re-done."
"Okay well, we'll call around tomorrow and see if we can't find some place." Carol said
"Actually Aisha told me about this really good place on Rodeo Drive."
"Rodeo Drive, sweetie, how much"
"300 dollars" Kim said meekly "But think about it mom, if you change your hair you can change you're life."
"Spending 300 dollars to change something which is already beautiful and healthy is just insane."
"Well then I guess every girl in Southern California is insane."
"If they're spending hundreds of dollars on haircuts, they are."
"Who said anything about cutting my hair, I was thinking more along the lines of a perm, or extensions, or maybe even a great weave."
"Don't you dare" Carol said looking up from her cooking.
"Why not"
"Honey the people who do those things to themselves just want to look the way you already do."
"So basically, I have to stay boring"
"For 300 dollars, I'm sorry, but yes you do" Carol said as Jason walked in the door.
"So how did it go today genius?" Kim asked
"Pretty Good, I got an A on my history test"
"This is no ordinary A mother, this is a monumental achievement." Kim said
"Kim, don't exaggerate" Jason said
"Jason don't be so modest, Danzel's a total Nazi."
"Nice work sweetie" Carol said
"It was just a quiz, its no big deal" Jason said
"What's no big deal" Mike asked walking into the kitchen.
"Jason got an A on his history quiz" Carol said
"That's great, not that I'm surprised." Mike said
"Thanks dad, I've got to go study" he said and walked out of the kitchen, before he was out of ear shot he heard Mike bragging about him.
"I told you that C was just a fluke, it's just taking him a little extra time to get adjusted. He's always been a great student and he's going to make the honor roll, even if I have to take his tests for him." Mike said. Jason just shook his head and went up stairs.
Kim followed him and knocked on his door. "Come in" he yelled
She walked into to see him reading his history book "Another Danzel quiz?" she asked
"I hate that guy" he said
"Does everyone hate him as much as you?"
"Pretty much, it's unanimous."
"So who else is in his class anyway" she asked
"I don't know, Trini, Katherine, Rocky DeSantos…"
"Tommy Oliver?"
"No he's too smart to take this class." He said
"Or too busy chasing blondes." Kim said
"What are you talking about" Jason asked knowing full well that Tommy liked Kim and was just too shy to do anything about it.
"I just don't understand why every guy's dream girl has to have perfect hair and a model's body."
"Not every guy is like that" he defended
"Yeah well all the ones around here are." She said walking away. He just rolled his eyes and headed downstairs. 'If only she knew' he thought.
Youth Center
8:00 P.M.
Jason walked into the Youth Center to pick up his check. As he was walking out the door he ran into Mr. Danzel.
"Mr. Scott, I was hoping you would be waiting on me tonight."
"Uh no, I'm off, sorry" he said and started to walk out the door.
"You have no idea how it makes me feel when one of my students turns his grades around, you obviously worked very hard to improve." The man said
Jason turned back around to face him. "Mr. Danzel, can I be honest with you?"
"Sure, what's on your mind"
"When I was making C's in your class you didn't have the time of day for me. But now that I'm making A's you're very friendly and interested. Why is that?"
"I didn't know you when you were making C's"
"Exactly, you never made the effort"
"I have five classes a day-"
"And no one's learning anything in any of them, anyone can memorize a bunch of facts, but that doesn't mean they're learning anything."
"Memorization lays the foundation for a college education where the ideas can be more fully examined."
"By who, a bunch of students who have never been challenged to think, who have been told they're average because some unfair curve screws them around"
"No you listen to me young man-"
"No I can't stand here and listen to you pat yourself on the back, the way you teach and give grades is unfair. It alienates everybody and it just doesn't work." He said and finally walked out the door.
December 17th
Wednesday
The Scott House
Aisha came over after dinner to help Kim dye her hair. The two had went after school and bought the dye. Kim was still pretty unsure about all of this, she watched in horror as Aisha mixed the two colors together.
"Ish what exactly are you doing?"
"Relax Kim, mixing the colors together is what brings out the highlights."
"My mom is going to kill me"
"Why, she's the one who needs to do something with her hair"
"Ish" Kim said with a laugh
"Kim, she does" Aisha said seriously "Now it's good that we got the Ash tent, because that keeps out the red highlights…or it puts them in…oh well doesn't matter." She said as she started putting the die in Kim's hair.
"What do you mean it doesn't matter."
"Kim relax, meditate or something, I know what I'm doing. Now this process takes all night but when you wake up in the morning you are going to be a brand new woman."
Aisha left and Kim went to bed. She didn't have gymnastics practice all this week, so there was no need to get up early.
December 18th
Thursday
7:00 A.M.
Kim got out of bed, happy that she had been able to sleep late, and walked into the bathroom. She wiped the sleep out of her eyes and took the towel off of her head to see how her hair turned out, "Oh my god….Oh my god" she said, loud enough to wake Jason. He jumped out of bed and opened the bathroom door. His eyes widened when he saw her hair "Oh my god" he said "What happened?" Her hair was highlighted alright, but it wasn't blended in at all. Part of it looked bleached, the other part looked like a brownish/orange color and it was all frizzy.
"I colored my hair, what am I going to do. I can't go to school like this."
"Move" he said with a laugh "Move to some other city where nobody knows you. I'll go with you, we'll dye my hair too and we can join the circus."
"You know, I thought it looked weird last night, but Aisha swore the color would turn out-"
"Hey, hey come on, it's not that bad, just pretend its cool or something."
"It is something, it's hideous and I hate it."
"Then why did you dye it?"
"Because I thought it would make things different"
"Oh it has Kim, believe me it has"
"No it hasn't, I'm still the exact same person inside, only now I look worse."
Jason was trying not to laugh, she smacked his chest and went back into her room.
Carol and Mike were in the kitchen reading the paper when Jason came down carrying four books. "Good Morning" Mike said "Got enough books there to start a library. How's the studying going?"
"Chill dad" Jason said
"I'm supposed to chill" Mike said looking at Carol.
"I second that" Carol said looking up from her paper, her eyes widened when she saw Kim walk in. Mike looked over and his eyes went wide too "Kimberly" he said.
"Sweetie what did you do to your hair" Carol asked
"Kind of cool, huh guys" Jason said trying to help his sister out "Give it time it will grow on you."
They just continued to stare, Kim turned around and ran back upstairs to get a hat. Then came back down and walked straight out the door.
"Did you see the way she looked at me" Kim said as she and Jason walked across the quad.
"So she was a little shocked at first, she'll get over it, and to tell you the truth it's not that bad" he said
"Really, should I wear the hat?"
"I would" he said shaking his head "Bye"
"Bye" she said, she walked off to go find Aisha and show her what she had done. As Jason was walking up the stairs he spotted Danzel. He never even saw Tommy come up behind him.
"Jason" Tommy said, Jason continued to stare "Earth to Jason"
"Sorry man" Jason said
"What is wrong with you" he asked
"Jacob Danzel, American History" Jason answered
"Ah yes, had him last year" Tommy said
"You did?"
"Yeah, some wardrobe huh"
"Some teacher, all he cares about is his damn curve"
"Yeah well, he's retiring this year"
"He is"
"Yeah, he's supposed to keep it quiet though, doesn't want everyone making a big deal."
"Tell you what, if Danzel announced his retirement it wouldn't be a big deal, it would be a national holiday."
"Personally, I learned a lot from him" Tommy said
"All I'm learning is how to cheat"
"Hey be careful man, you're flirting with bad karma"
"Hey what kind of grades did you get?"
"Does it matter?"
"Yeah it does"
"Be careful" Tommy said, never answering the question.
On the other end of the quad Kim found Aisha and Kat. "There you are" Aisha said "Cute hat"
"I was in a hat mood" Kim said.
"Let us see your hair" Kat said pulling off the hat. Both girls looked shocked but quickly replace it with smiles.
"Kim it's uh….it's…" Aisha said
"It's…uh…." Kat said
"Kim I love it, it's great" Aisha said trying to recover from the shock.
"You don't think it's too wild?"
"No" both girls said at once.
"You should probably wear the hat anyway though. Um see ya" Aisha said
"Bye" Kat said
"Bye" Kim said then put her hat back on and walked to class.
Before history Rocky caught up to Jason who had been avoiding him all day. "Jason, I saw you dodging me earlier. What's the deal?" Rocky asked
"Look I just feel really weird about this whole Danzel thing" he said
"Will you relax"
"Doesn't it make you feel guilty?"
"Guilty as charged" Rocky said pulling a folded piece of paper from his back pocket.
"What's that" Jason asked
"Call it an early Christmas present" Rocky said handing him the paper "It's the final for this Friday."
"Rocky I don't want to touch this."
"Are you crazy, look at the questions; you could study for two weeks and still not come up with half of them."
"Look I've got to go" Jason said handing the paper back to Rocky.
"Hey you cheated on the last quiz"
"That was a quiz man, this is the final."
"It's your future, think about it." Rocky said putting the paper in Jason's notebook before the two walked into the classroom.
"In 1850 there were around 120,000 Indians in California. How many were still alive by 1880?" Danzel asked, he looked around the room but no one had their hand up so he chose. "Mr. Scott"
"Uh, only 20,000" Jason answered
"That's correct. Now tell me Mr. Scott, what contributed to this rapid decline?"
"Well, the white people killed them off"
"Everybody knows that Mr. Scott. I'm asking what was the principal cause"
Jason just looked clueless.
"Come on Mr. Scott, surly you dug deeper in order to understand the broad historical context of this question." Danzel said walking closer to Jason's desk "You don't think it's important to know, that the white man confiscated the Indian's land, took their homes, caused them to seek refuge in remote, barren locales where health could not possibly be sustained."
"Sure it's important to know that" Jason said
"Then why don't you? Tell us what happened to the others."
"The other Indians" Jason asked
"No, no the other space aliens. Yes the Indians, that is what we've been studying is it not." Danzel said, everyone laughed.
Trini raised her hand. "Yes?" he said
"The other Indians were imprisoned on the so-called reservations and forced to live by the white man's rules." Trini said proudly
"Yes, thank you Ms. Kwan" Danzel said returning to the front of the classroom. "Mr. Scott told me the other day that he resented the memorization required in this class, that he wanted to be challenged to think. Well Mr. Scott, I have just challenged you and where did it get us? Is it my fault you chose to just memorize the facts and didn't take the time to think." He said as the bell rang. "Final is on Friday class, I suggest you start studying, and thinking."
After school Kim walked into the house. Carol came into the kitchen "You can take the hat off in the house" she said
"Is that supposed to make me feel bad or good" Kim said
"I begged you not to touch your hair didn't I"
"Look mother you just don't understand" Kim said trying to walk away but Carol grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her back.
"Honey, don't you think I know what your going through" Kim said nothing "The summer I turned 17 all I heard on the radio was how they wished we all could be California girls. So do you know what Paula and I did?" Kim just looked up "We ironed our hair, right on the ironing board. I mean Paula's hair caught fire and singed off all of her split ends then she poured an entire bottle of peroxide over her head."
"Is the moral of this story that it will grow back?" Kim asked
"Oh Kimberly, don't you know how beautiful you are." Carol said, Kim turned and walked away.
At the Youth Center Jason was filling ketchup bottles when Rocky came up to the bar from teaching a Karate class with Tommy who had just left. "Jason, man I can't believe the way that jerk Danzel treated you in class today. Everybody was talking about it"
"Yeah it was real special" Jason said
"Hey listen the way you were talking in the hall today….you're not going to try and bust me are you?"
"No, I wouldn't do that, besides, I still have the copy of the final you gave me so what good would it be to tell on you."
"Yeah I know we're friends, it's just that I want you to be in on this with me."
"It's just not right Rocky"
"Compared to what, failing the class because of some stupid curve, everybody cheats it's not a big deal. You either take advantage of it or you get left behind. I'll see you later man" Rocky said leaving, he turned back to say one more thing. "Hey Jason, what's your father going to say if you come home with a C or an F? Someday when you're sitting in a big office, behind a big desk, with a big view; you'll thank me." Just as he was leaving Danzel walked in and took a seat at his regular place.
Kim had decided to go for a run since she wasn't practicing this week. She put on a baseball cap and pulled her hair back.
"Kim, you don't need the hat" Carol yelled grabbing it from her hand as Kim walked past her and began to jog down the road. She decided not to turn back for the hat just to avoid a conversation with her mother. She had gone about a mile when a guy on a motorcycle passed her then turned around and rode up beside her. She stopped jogging and turned to see who this guy was. The man pulled of his helmet. Kim's jaw nearly dropped.
"Hi" Tommy Oliver said climbing off the motorcycle
"Hi" Kim said
"I thought that was you but didn't your hair used to be a little different?"
"Yes. No. Well maybe just a little bit, I hate this color if that's what you can call it."
"It's not that bad" he said
"If one more person says that…"
"It's not that bad" Tommy said with a laugh
"Don't all you guys out here have a thing for blondes, I mean that's what you told Katherine."
"Blondes, Brunettes, Redheads, Girls in tank tops and shorts" he said checking out her outfit, or more, thinking about what was under the outfit. Kim just smiled and looked down so he wouldn't see her blush.
"If you really hate that color, I have a friend who does hair and he owes me a favor"
"Well I don't really hate the color" Kim said trying to sound nonchalant "But maybe we should still go see him…..for a second opinion or something, don't you think."
"No problem" he said handing her his helmet and climbing back onto his bike.
"I like your butt……I mean you bike" she said trying to cover.
"Well, thank you, and thank you, hop on, my bike that is." He said, she was trying to hide it but it was hard to miss the rosy color her cheeks had just become.
After clocking out Jason walked out to his car. He noticed Mr. Danzel standing next to a vehicle with a flat tire and reading a book with a flashlight. He walked over to the man.
"Got a flat tire huh" Jason asked
"How very observant of you" Danzel said "I wish the auto club was as attentive."
"Did someone let the air out of it?" Jason asked
"I've been inside all evening how should I know"
"Don't know how to change a flat huh?"
"There are some things I would much rather pay someone else to do."
"If you can find someone" Jason said looking around to see the parking lot pretty well deserted.
"And you know how to do it?" Danzel asked. Jason just shook his head and got some things out of the trunk and set to work on changing the tire.
"So I heard you're retiring this year" Jason said trying to make conversation while he worked.
"Well there comes a time when one must move on. I know you don't consider me to be a particularly effective teacher, but there are those who do a good job." Danzel said
"Well, I didn't mean…"
"Don't insult my intelligence Mr. Scott, I know the kids don't like me, I hear the comments. I hear the constant complaining, the jokes about my clothes. I am not deaf…yet." He said Jason laughed, Danzel continued "But those same students, they may not like me, but they will remember my class and they will remember what they learned. The truth is, I'm not terribly impressed with a lot of my clothes myself." He paused before continuing "My wife picked them all out for me, she was ill, she knew I didn't have the patience to shop for myself. She was bound and determined that I would have enough clothes to wear after……they're the one thing I've got to help me remember…..As much as I hate to admit it, I could probably change a tire if I had to."
"Well" Jason said standing up "There'll be a quiz on Friday" he put the tools back in the truck and shut it.
"How much do I owe you" Danzel asked
"Oh it was no trouble, really, I was glad to help."
"Well see you in class tomorrow, good luck with the final."
Jason walked into the bathroom when he got home, Kim was in front of the mirror brushing her hair, which had been turned back to its original state. "Well look at you" he said
"Yep, it's back to the basics" she said
"Well at least we don't have to join the circus anymore. It looks different than before."
"Tommy says it looks incandescent."
"My friend Tommy" Jason asked
"My friend Tommy" Kim said with a smile before going in to her room.
'Wow he finally talked to her' Jason thought 'It's about damn time, now if he would just ask her out'
December 19th
Friday-Last day before Christmas Break
5th Period-Final
"So are you prepared" Rocky asked Jason as he walked into the room.
"Yeah I am, I tore up my copy of the test" Jason said
"That's smart, burn the evidence, it's safer that way." Rocky said
"Rocky, I couldn't bring myself to look at it."
"Man you are hopeless, what if you flunk the test."
"I won't." Jason said, Rocky rolled his eyes and sat down.
Mr. Danzel walked in and passed out the final exam. Just like the quizzes, it was exactly the same as what Rocky had, he smiled knowing he would ace this.
"Now before we start the test, I would like you to listen to my instructions very carefully" he said "Turn the test over, look at it very closely." He paused "Now tear it up."
Everyone looked around at each other unsure of what exactly was going on.
"That's right, you heard me, tear it up." He said Rocky gave Jason a questioning look, Jason just shrugged his shoulders.
"Go on, tear it up" Danzel said as he picked one up and tore it half. Everyone followed suit.
"As far as your midterm goes, instead of the test which you have just destroyed. I would like to know what you think. Your midterm consists of one essay question; Using examples from history to contrast with your answer, what do you think our government should have done in the 19th Century to save the American Indian? You may begin" he said then sat down at his desk. Jason just smiled to himself, got out his notebook and began writing.
When the bell rang, he was the last to leave. "That was a hard question, but a good hard question" Jason said laying his essay on the desk.
"I guess that depends on what you studied for" Danzel said "I've been giving that same test for 15 years, some students might have even gotten a hold copy of it by now, you think?"
"Yeah, but some students who may have had a copy of it, might have chosen not to study from it after they thought about it." Jason said
"That's what I was thinking" Danzel said "Have a nice break Mr. Scott."
"You know it's too bad you're retiring this year" Jason said
"Well the year isn't over yet, if you think the American Indian was hard, wait until we get to the Civil War."
Jason laughed "Nice suit by the way" he said
"It is quite hideous, isn't it" Mr. Danzel said
"Yeah" Jason said "But you wear it well."
Well another Chapter down. Tommy finally spoke to Kim, I think there's a definite spark, don't you? Please Review and Thanks!!!