Chapter 4: History Lesson
Mr. Vankovic started dictating in my opinion stupid things about god, bible, heaven, church etc. I didn´t even listen. I just wrote word by word on my paper, whispering: "Blah, blah, blah!" His head turned towards me immediately. He´s good in hearing the quietest noises, I thought as he rushed over to me.
"Rachel, would you be so kind and repeat what I just said?", he asked. But I knew exactly how to react: "If you want me to listen then teach me something that doesn´t make me tired!" My teacher´s eyes studied my dark appearance now. "And what would that be?", he asked, probably knowing what I meant. The corners of my mouth went from one ear to the other. "Maybe something that has to do with History and not religious education!", I suggested. Actually I expected that he would jump to the ceiling but instead of that he just pretended not to hear me. Mr. Vankovic turned on his heel and walked back to the board.
So, what to do next? He can´t really expect that I´m interested in things that are against my lovely Count! To keep me awake I took out a piece of paper and started drawing. I often did that when I was bored. Marienne always told me that the things I drew looked so real. My hope was then that this time the picture would look even more real!
I took my pencil and drew Van Helsing and Dracula (of course as giant bat and werewolf), who wer fighting. I made it clear who was winning. But I also wanted that Mr. Vankovic saw this picture. I could either lay it on my desk very presentably or just throw it on my teacher´s desk. But his desk was too far away.
"Please, now write a text about your connection to the church and how you really feel about it", Mr. Vankovic told us and sat down on the chair at his desk. That was my ultimate chance to get him to see the picture. I punched the class witch in the back with my pencil. She didn´t turn towards me but held her hand behind her back and showed me with her fingers to give her the paper. Slowly she was getting used to it that I didn´t listen to things I wasn´t interested in. I put the drawing in her hand and watched it travel foward over the banks and finally to our teacher´s one.
I saw him unfold it and... his jaw dropped. That image was so funny that I had to keep myself in control in order not to laugh. Marienne also saw this and giggled silently to herself.
Quickly I began writing some lies of my opinion about the church on another paper and tried to look as innocent as possible to him. I heard him stand up and walk through the class catching a sight of everyone´s text. At that time I felt my heart sink into my skirt. What was he going to do now? He probably knew that I drew this picture and...
Someone cleared his throat right in front of my desk. I looked up at the voice´ owner, trying to look as calm as ever, almost sheepishly. "I hope you don´t mind that I´m going to keep that cute little drawing of yours. And that you´re getting detention for this afternoon. 5 o´ clock in principal´s office!", Mr. Vankovic hissed in a dangerous tone. Detention in principal´s office was the worst punishment you could get. Everyone knew that our head was the strictest person in this school but only a few got to see him: Those who got detention with him. The thought of a human being that was stricter than Ms. Klump scared me.
But I couldn´t give up fighting Van He... I mean Mr. Vankovic. So I rose from my seat and spat right into his face: "Why so stressed? Is it fullmoon already?... And now excuse me!" I strode past him as the bell rang. Trying to stay calm our teacher commanded: "The rest of this text is your homework for tomorrow. Don´t forget to thank Rachel for it!" I didn´t care. I had protected my Count and that made me proud!
"Rachel! Rachel!", someone called behind my back. But I ignored the call and kept walking to my locker to fetch the books for our next lesson. Marienne was now beside me and tidying up her locker. "Rachel, that was insane!", she told me. I slammed my locker´s door and looked at her. "Do you agree with this jerk now? Do you also think that I just fancy someone who doesn´t exist? Is it that what you think? The I´ll tell you I love Dracula with all my heart and don´t care if he has one or if he can only have dead children. This creature needs understanding and most of all love!" If there had been a comic about me probably the American flag would have appeared behind me. All girls on the corridor stared at me and Marienne. I smiled my most innocent smile and pulled my friend into the girl´s bathroom.
"Rachel, you´re a hopeless case. And I´m sorry if I did upset you with what I said", she said and smacked my forehead playfully. I just smiled back and replied: "I know I am. I know."