Braces. Those six letters seemed to glare at me with menacing eyes for
the past two hours. I was in school. It was a typical Monday in a sense
that it was not someone's birthday or a public holiday, or the last day of
school or something like that. I t was not a typical Monday, in a sense
that this afternoon at four, I was to become . . . a metal mouth!
Not that I'm happy, it's that I've been worrying about things like if it hurt so much 'til I passed out or something, that I actually wanted it to come- as soon as possible and get it over with.
"Mallory?" my teacher asked, without me hearing " MALLORY PIKE!"
I jumped "Yes, Miss Smith?"
"Ahem. The answer to question 12 please."
I looked at my worksheet. "Uh . . . 13?" I asked, sounding more confident than I felt.
" Mallory, that was the answer to question 11, not 12. Never mind. Jessica, please give us the answer." Said Ms. Smith, giving me the evil eye. " Mallory, see me during lunch."
Jessi stood up and gave the answer, and after that, I stopped daydreaming.
"Mallory, what has gotten in to you today? You used to be so attentive, so, contributing. Is there anything wrong?" asked Ms. Smith during lunch.
"No, it's jus that I'm worrying about my getting braces this afternoon. I'm so sorry." I replied, rather shamefully.
"Alright, excused, but I don't want to hear any more about this from your other subject teachers. Is that understood, Mallory? You may go now, if you wish."
" Yes, Ms. Smith, I understand. Thank you."
As soon as I got out of the class, I dashed towards the cafeteria. I saw Jessi at a table and hurried over to her. I took out my pack lunch and began to eat.
"So, Mal. . ." asked Jessi, trying to start a conversation. " What happened today?"
" Jessi, you know don't you, about this afternoon?" I asked, " I'm plain worried about it. That's all."
"Oh."
Nothing more was said after that.
During the rest of the school day, I paid close attention to all that my teacher's said. At the end of the day, I packed my bag and walked out to catch the bus back home.
Not that I'm happy, it's that I've been worrying about things like if it hurt so much 'til I passed out or something, that I actually wanted it to come- as soon as possible and get it over with.
"Mallory?" my teacher asked, without me hearing " MALLORY PIKE!"
I jumped "Yes, Miss Smith?"
"Ahem. The answer to question 12 please."
I looked at my worksheet. "Uh . . . 13?" I asked, sounding more confident than I felt.
" Mallory, that was the answer to question 11, not 12. Never mind. Jessica, please give us the answer." Said Ms. Smith, giving me the evil eye. " Mallory, see me during lunch."
Jessi stood up and gave the answer, and after that, I stopped daydreaming.
"Mallory, what has gotten in to you today? You used to be so attentive, so, contributing. Is there anything wrong?" asked Ms. Smith during lunch.
"No, it's jus that I'm worrying about my getting braces this afternoon. I'm so sorry." I replied, rather shamefully.
"Alright, excused, but I don't want to hear any more about this from your other subject teachers. Is that understood, Mallory? You may go now, if you wish."
" Yes, Ms. Smith, I understand. Thank you."
As soon as I got out of the class, I dashed towards the cafeteria. I saw Jessi at a table and hurried over to her. I took out my pack lunch and began to eat.
"So, Mal. . ." asked Jessi, trying to start a conversation. " What happened today?"
" Jessi, you know don't you, about this afternoon?" I asked, " I'm plain worried about it. That's all."
"Oh."
Nothing more was said after that.
During the rest of the school day, I paid close attention to all that my teacher's said. At the end of the day, I packed my bag and walked out to catch the bus back home.
