Notes: When I was a sophomore in high school we read Lord of the Flies. My whole class hated that book. Now the Ducks get to read it.
Back to Normal?
I took my seat in English class. Mrs. Henderson was sitting at her desk reading over something. I hadn't paid attention in first period. Hope we didn't have something major due Monday. I really didn't have school on my mind. Today was the JV/Varsity game. It was also the first day back since 'The Ignored' was suspended. None of them look too happy.
Mrs. Henderson started handing out copies of Lord of the Flies. There were a few groans. I'd seen the movie before. I didn't think it was that bad. There were a few sighs when she said we wouldn't start discussing it for a month.
"I have thought of a project for you to do. I am breaking you into pairs. It was a random drawing." What was up with this school and random drawings? I wondered. I barely paid attention. Then she said "Tina Johanson and Guy Germaine." I looked at my roommate sympathetically. "Josh Walker and Adam Banks."
What? She had to be kidding me. Now Guy was looking at me sympathetically. I wonder if we can get her to change this. Surely, she had heard about what happened. I thought the whole state knew by now.
She must have realized what she did. "I'm changing those two. Guy Germaine and Adam Banks. And then Tina Johanson and Josh Walker."
She explained the project and then let us get in our pairs.
I think Guy was having the same problem as I was of concentrating today. Instead of talking about the project, we were talking about the hockey game. The game seemed to get people at school to stop talking about what happened since school started.
A runner from the office came in and gave the teacher two notes. She handed them both to Guy and I. We were excused from afternoon classes for a last minute practice. Wilson seemed to like to do that when he was concerned about the game coming up. Guy was happy about it but I had missed so much school it's a wonder I'm passing all of my classes.
I looked around the class. Connie was partnered with Luis Mendoza. That didn't seem to bother them. They were deep in conversation. Charlie was flirting with his girlfriend, Linda Chavez, but he was partnered with Russ. My gaze stopped at Josh and Tina. They were looking in my direction and talking. They saw me looking at them and they looked away.
It's funny. After all that the group did, I still really missed Tina. We dated for about six months. I don't know when this group started but I really thought that she liked me. Why had I never heard of her twin brother before? I had met Janice several times and she seemed nice for a nine-year-old. I was happy when Mrs. Henderson changed the groups. I couldn't work with Josh and I don't know how well Guy and Tina would have worked together.
After letting us talk for ten minutes, Mrs. Henderson started her lecture on Taming of the Shrew, which we just read. I was glad when the bell rang ending class. As I headed to Spanish, I realized why I should be glad that I was missing afternoon classes. I didn't have to go to Drama. Boy would that be drama Monday.
***
Guy and I were the first two in the locker room. Guy had Joey's old locker. I opened my locker and was met by a surprise. No red liquid this time. Jesse's journal sat on top of his team USA jersey. What was this a joke? Were they still at it?
Keith walked in and saw me staring at my locker. "What's the matter?" He asked. I pointed at my locker. He raised an eyebrow.
I found a note in the journal.
Dear Adam,
We thought you might want this back. Terry didn't want Jesse's jersey so I thought that maybe you'd like it. I'm sorry for what happened to you this year. Maybe it's best that Terry goes back to New York.
Quint Hall
I breathed a sigh of relief. Now I could concentrate on the game. I made sure to lock my locker before I went onto the ice. Can never be too careful.
***
The game sure felt different then last year and the exhibition game. Last year I was playing on the JV side as starting center. This year I started the game at right wing. Keith took the face-off and Mikah was on left wing.
It went about the same as the previous games. It was held scoreless until the third period. However, unlike the previous games it had ended in a tie. I at least I survived the game without being injured. I think both teams felt good about the ending of the game. We all went to the locker rooms. I took a shower and quickly changed. I put the journal and jersey into my hockey bag.
I headed back to my dorm. I spotted McGill and Steven Dreyer standing outside of the JV locker room. I walked past them without giving them a second thought. I don't think they had seen me anyway.
When I got to my dorm, I showed the security guard my ID. Eden Hall really stepped up security. You couldn't step foot in the dorm building unless you belonged there and the dorm doors had electric locks.
When I stepped into my dorm room, I found it empty. Guy had actually left the locker room before I did. My new laptop was still in one piece on my desk.
I sat on my bed and started reading Lord of the Flies.
Maybe things were now back to normal.
Back to Normal?
I took my seat in English class. Mrs. Henderson was sitting at her desk reading over something. I hadn't paid attention in first period. Hope we didn't have something major due Monday. I really didn't have school on my mind. Today was the JV/Varsity game. It was also the first day back since 'The Ignored' was suspended. None of them look too happy.
Mrs. Henderson started handing out copies of Lord of the Flies. There were a few groans. I'd seen the movie before. I didn't think it was that bad. There were a few sighs when she said we wouldn't start discussing it for a month.
"I have thought of a project for you to do. I am breaking you into pairs. It was a random drawing." What was up with this school and random drawings? I wondered. I barely paid attention. Then she said "Tina Johanson and Guy Germaine." I looked at my roommate sympathetically. "Josh Walker and Adam Banks."
What? She had to be kidding me. Now Guy was looking at me sympathetically. I wonder if we can get her to change this. Surely, she had heard about what happened. I thought the whole state knew by now.
She must have realized what she did. "I'm changing those two. Guy Germaine and Adam Banks. And then Tina Johanson and Josh Walker."
She explained the project and then let us get in our pairs.
I think Guy was having the same problem as I was of concentrating today. Instead of talking about the project, we were talking about the hockey game. The game seemed to get people at school to stop talking about what happened since school started.
A runner from the office came in and gave the teacher two notes. She handed them both to Guy and I. We were excused from afternoon classes for a last minute practice. Wilson seemed to like to do that when he was concerned about the game coming up. Guy was happy about it but I had missed so much school it's a wonder I'm passing all of my classes.
I looked around the class. Connie was partnered with Luis Mendoza. That didn't seem to bother them. They were deep in conversation. Charlie was flirting with his girlfriend, Linda Chavez, but he was partnered with Russ. My gaze stopped at Josh and Tina. They were looking in my direction and talking. They saw me looking at them and they looked away.
It's funny. After all that the group did, I still really missed Tina. We dated for about six months. I don't know when this group started but I really thought that she liked me. Why had I never heard of her twin brother before? I had met Janice several times and she seemed nice for a nine-year-old. I was happy when Mrs. Henderson changed the groups. I couldn't work with Josh and I don't know how well Guy and Tina would have worked together.
After letting us talk for ten minutes, Mrs. Henderson started her lecture on Taming of the Shrew, which we just read. I was glad when the bell rang ending class. As I headed to Spanish, I realized why I should be glad that I was missing afternoon classes. I didn't have to go to Drama. Boy would that be drama Monday.
***
Guy and I were the first two in the locker room. Guy had Joey's old locker. I opened my locker and was met by a surprise. No red liquid this time. Jesse's journal sat on top of his team USA jersey. What was this a joke? Were they still at it?
Keith walked in and saw me staring at my locker. "What's the matter?" He asked. I pointed at my locker. He raised an eyebrow.
I found a note in the journal.
Dear Adam,
We thought you might want this back. Terry didn't want Jesse's jersey so I thought that maybe you'd like it. I'm sorry for what happened to you this year. Maybe it's best that Terry goes back to New York.
Quint Hall
I breathed a sigh of relief. Now I could concentrate on the game. I made sure to lock my locker before I went onto the ice. Can never be too careful.
***
The game sure felt different then last year and the exhibition game. Last year I was playing on the JV side as starting center. This year I started the game at right wing. Keith took the face-off and Mikah was on left wing.
It went about the same as the previous games. It was held scoreless until the third period. However, unlike the previous games it had ended in a tie. I at least I survived the game without being injured. I think both teams felt good about the ending of the game. We all went to the locker rooms. I took a shower and quickly changed. I put the journal and jersey into my hockey bag.
I headed back to my dorm. I spotted McGill and Steven Dreyer standing outside of the JV locker room. I walked past them without giving them a second thought. I don't think they had seen me anyway.
When I got to my dorm, I showed the security guard my ID. Eden Hall really stepped up security. You couldn't step foot in the dorm building unless you belonged there and the dorm doors had electric locks.
When I stepped into my dorm room, I found it empty. Guy had actually left the locker room before I did. My new laptop was still in one piece on my desk.
I sat on my bed and started reading Lord of the Flies.
Maybe things were now back to normal.