Chapter 2 - Trippin'
"I said I had good news for you, and here it is."
The sun shines in the sky, something of a contrast to the stiff September wind that invited itself in through the open window.
The primary sound heard in history class was the teacher droning on about some person or event that was meant to be of great significance. Acting as counterpoint were the snoring and weary sighs of the students she was charged with educating.
Today, however, the classroom is abuzz with excited chatter.
"Yes, class. We will be going on a field trip." The middle-aged woman at the blackboard speaks with authority.
The chatter picks up with greater frequency.
"A field trip to the natural history museum."
Where there was once a chorus of elated chatter, there now existed a Black Mass of loud groaning. Surely, they didn't expect anything else from history class.
"There, we will gather knowledge on various exhibits and artifacts, and I expect each of you to turn in a four-page report on what you saw and it's place in the past…"
One of the mouths doing the groaning belonged to Timmy, who rolls his eyes at the new assignment. A brand new groan emerges from his lips.
Looking at him from the next row is Tootie. Having taken notes on the assignment (as is her wont), she gazes at the brown-haired boy.
Timmy takes a glance behind him. He knows that the bespectacled brunette who covets his heart is in this class, and while she has kept her distance, he can't help but get annoyed at her staring.
A hand belonging to a student in front of Timmy shoots through the air.
"Mrs. Grace, what if we are unable to find an exhibit to write about?" This individual looks every bit the image of a high school slacker; hoping to get through the next four years with as little effort as possible.
The woman rubs her temples. Did every class have to have one of these? "There are plenty of items at the museum. You'll be able to find something." She turns to the blackboard and starts to erase it. "Now, we'll be leaving at two o'clock. Some of you may miss your last classes, but it's still early in the year yet."
Timmy breathes a sigh of relief. Chemistry was his last class and one where missing it may do some good.
XxXxXxXxX
As expected, the day passed with little notice. For the young man, if there was something of interest happening in a later part of the day, it was worth wading through the not-so-good stuff to get to it. Even if it was just fodder for an assignment, it was a chance to get out of school early.
The students reconvened in Mrs. Grace's room, bags and coats in hand. It was obvious that they would not be returning to the school.
"Does everyone have their things?"
A collective, annoyed 'Yes' reverberates through the room. It's not like they were in elementary school anymore.
"Good. Let's go."
The students file out of the room.
XxXxXxXxX
The group moves past a few students at their lockers. Timmy gazes back at one of them - Trixie. He can't help but sigh. Why couldn't they have history together?
Tootie takes a gander at the situation and lets out a low growl. Would it have to be like this for the rest of their lives: her seething while the man of her dreams lusts after another? She can no longer keep her feelings bottled up. She yells loudly. This action does not go unnoticed.
"Is there a problem, Miss Flanagan?"
Tootie sighs deeply. "No, Mrs. Grace."
"Well, fine." The group continues walking, led by the educator. Tootie grasps the strap of her backpack. Granted, the matters of her heart were giving her problems, but almost as bothersome (in her estimation) was the onset of…womanhood. Her mother warned her that there would be mood swings…and pain. One of the stronger disadvantages of possessing an x-chromosome.
XxXxXxXxX
"And this is the Sforza." Mrs. Grace gestures toward a bronze horse that looks to be in mid-stride. "Sculpted by Leonardo Da Vinci, it was the last commission to the Duke of Milan…"
Some of the students listen with rapt attention, but to most, the educator's words fade into nothingness.
"And over here, we have a priceless vase. One of several owned by members of what Asian dynasty? Anyone?"
The hands of the attentive ones, Tootie included, shoot into the air. The woman ignores them. Her fickle finger of fate wiggles amongst the dazed and confused.
"Mr. Turner?"
"What? I mean, yes?"
"What dynasty did this vase come from?"
Timmy bites down on his lip. Why did she have to choose him? It's not like he's the only kid in class. He glances around nervously. His eyes pass by Tootie, who seems to be mouthing the word 'ming'.
"Um…Ming?"
"Very good. It's nice to see you paying attention." Mrs. Grace leads her charges further along.
"Um, you're welcome, Timmy."
"For what? I'd have gotten it, sooner or later."
The dark-haired girl sighs deeply. It was times like this that the girl would wonder if it was even worth the trouble.
XxXxXxXxX
The trip continued for another hour with little variation: spotting an item, a bit of history and a pop quiz, which, more often than not spelled humiliation for those who wouldn't be caught dead here even if it was for school.
Mrs. Grace had assigned the students into teams of two, sending them to find items about which to write.
"So, what are you going to write about, Timmy?"
Given the boy's recent run of luck, he wasn't terribly surprised by his chosen partner.
"I don't know, yet? Maybe if people won't ask me, I can concentrate on finding something."
A hurt look on her face, Tootie turns toward a wall of antiquities. Vases, bowls and other items lay before her.
Timmy walks past an artifact protected by a glass case, then quickly goes back to it. It is a carving with the face of a jackal. He moves to the other side and finds the exact same carving.
Going back to his original place of discovery, he finds a plaque. It reads, "Perspectus Inversi".
"This is weird."
"What's weird, Timmy?" The boy gags. He hadn't meant to say it as loud as he did.
"Just some dusty old artifact that's really nobody's business."
Tootie puts her hands on her hips. "Well, if it's in this museum, somebody must think it to be important."
"Is there an expiration date on this conversation, like ten seconds ago?"
"Timmy, I just want to help you. Why won't you open up to me?"
"Because it's you, for one thing. For another, I don't feel like opening up."
She reaches her hand to his shoulder. "Whatever's wrong, I can help you. Why don't you see that?"
He smacks it away. "Just leave me alone!"
Tootie's arm stretches out as she falls backward. The appendage knocks the glass case over, causing it to shatter into pieces.
"What in the world was that?"
"Oh, man. Look what you did!"
Tootie sits up against the wall and rubs the back of her head. "I wasn't the one who pushed me away."
The artifact wobbles on its stand. "Never mind that. The statue!" It falls to the ground. Tootie rushes toward it at the same time Timmy turns around.
They grab it at the same time just before it lands. "Well, that was close." Timmy tries to put the carving on its stand, but it seems to be stuck.
"Let go!" He gives it a tug, pulling Tootie's arm with it.
"You let go!"
"If I could let it go, I would. It's stuck or something."
"You know, if you hadn't pushed me…"
"Will you let that freakin' drop? Why are you so clingy?"
"Why are you so cold!"
"Why is it your business! Understand that I could do so much better in terms of girls than you."
"Well, maybe I could find a better guy than you if I wanted."
"Fine with me!" With that statement, the carving begins to glow and shake. A bright light envelops it.
The two teens look at it worriedly. The light swallows them up and blazes through the whole room.
After what feels like an eternity, the light recedes. The artifact is safely under its glass case and the bodies of two students - a boy and a girl - lie in front of it on the floor.