Sveiki!

So we had short class periods today because of our "7th Grade Olympiad". While it was better than suffering through math and English, it was still kind of cheesy. Basically what happened is that we were split up into groups within our "team" and we had to complete four challenges. One was a few sheets of brain teasers, another was trying to build a really tall tower out of note cards and paper clips, the third was academic challenge (eg. Sudoku, state capitals, weird science facts) and the last one was free throws like in basketball.

But hey! We got soda and chips afterwards, so it was worth it!

This word actually comes from that. On some of our sheets, we didn't capitalize our writing so we got points off. Lame. This is my way of expressing annoyance at that.

Enjoy!

…

Capitals

heath had never been one for Capitalization. at least, not where they are Supposed to be like the beginning of sentences and People and Places' names. he was a Poet for god's sake, he didn't have to do what people expected him to. most of his english Teachers before this had just let him do as he wanted; he Suspected they were a bit scared of him.

not that he blamed them for being Afraid. his hostile gaze and brooding aura were not the most Welcoming of attitudes. but that wasn't his fault. his old high school, black fang, had made him like this. there, if you weren't tense and ready, you wouldn't Survive. (Metaphorically. he didn't think they had any actual Murderers, although some of them looked enough like one.)

while this school had a much friendlier atmosphere, he still couldn't let go of his old habits. therefore, he had really yet to make any Friends here. Meh. he'd never really needed them anyway.

but he digressed (It was a Habit). he hated Capitalization. he hated people who made him Capitalize. So now, glaring at his newly marked Essay, he Really hated his english teacher. sonia reed taught both Freshman and Junior english, and he had just drawn the conclusion that she was the devil's advocate in her free time. (he didn't really know that that Might actually have been a good way to put her job in a Nutshell.)

because his paper was marked over with a Big, Fat, Red d. And under it, (in all Capitals, just to add to the whole "Humor" of the situation) was the word:

CAPITALIZE

did he mention that he hated his english teacher? his creative talent was being Oppressed under her Crushing Fist here! not that anyone particularly cared. NO ONE got on mrs. reed's bad side. they were just Quiet and Submissive and made sure they did as they were Told. Wimps. not one of them could handle being a Poet like him. (not that he went out his way to make her Mad either. But that's beside the Point.)

he realized that he must have been glaring at nothing, because the girl sitting beside him (he thinks her name was fiora) was Shrinking away slightly. He shook his head to clear it and tucked the Essay away in his folder, keeping his gaze on the desk in case he started to Burn with Anger again.

"Now that that's done!" mrs. reed cackled (and he was not being Dramatic; she really did cackle). "Let's all have a lesson on capitalization!"

she was looking Straight at him as she said this too, and he felt his hands clench into Fists. She had some sort of Grudge against him apparently. she was a Well-Known black fang hs supporter (her Husband taught and her Daughter went there) so maybe she just hated him for leaving there. that was probably it actually. honestly, something that simple… How un-Poetic.

it wasn't like there had been anything wrong with his Essay besides the whole Capitals issue, and that wasn't justifiable to drop three Whole letter grades. And now this Stupid lesson…

"You put capitals at the beginning of sentences," she instructed, looking like she was getting entirely too much Pleasure out of doing this. "And also at the beginnings of names like "Homer", "Odysseus", "Troy", and "Greece".

His Essay had been about the odyssey. (if you hadn't Figured It Out already.)

"Some events also have their names capitalized, such as "the Olympics"," she continued, still looking Right at Him. other kids were beginning to Follow her eyes to stare at him too. e just glared back at them all angrily, and ALMOST everyone (excluding mrs. reed) looked Quickly away again. that was one good thing about his attitude: it Warded Off stares.

"You also capitalize some titles, such as "Mrs.", "Dr.", and "Officer," but that's only when it is in front of a name. Things such as "NASA," and "MADD," should also be all caps."

he really wanted to stand up and yell at her to Shut Up. however, with Massive self control and a few Deep Breaths, he managed to stay in his seat and keep his trap Shut.

"And that's all I have to say on that topic for the moment!" she announced, finally Breaking her glare away from his Hidden eyes (his Bangs could really be troublesome). "Any questions?"

she was greeted with Dead Silence. no one even dared to cough, breath heavily, or Shift their Weight. her expression was just slightly too Maniacal to risk speaking up, even if they hadn't already understood this since First Grade. (possibly earlier.)

"Good then!" she smirked, eyes back Burning Holes in heath's bowed head. "Then no one should have trouble with it anymore, right Heath?"

heath lifted his head, slightly startled by being actually Picked Out. He hesitated for a second, debating saying No, until he saw her almost Crazed expression. He cleared his throat Nervously and merely nodded as his answer.

"Good," she Hissed, sending little terrified shudders down heath's spine. (and he was not one to Scare easily.)

there was awkward silence for the remaining two minutes of Class, which was Shattered by the bell soon enough. heath gathered up his books and Bolted out of there before she could grab him or choke him or Something.

remember what he said before about the other people in the class being Wimps? he'd changed his mind. it took all the Courage in the world just to sit for a period in that classroom.

and it she scared Juniors like this, who knew the Horrors she inflicted on the Freshmen?

…

Before anyone asks, the really funky capitalization was purposeful. I was just trying to delve into Heath's character a bit more. And I'm sorry if he appears a little weird: he's a Poet. Just look at his awesome hair and you'll understand exactly why he must be.

This chapter was really just to introduce the character of Sonia, who'll play a pretty important role later in the story. (What that entails, I'm not telling! You'll see later. I haven't really figured it out myself yet, so how am I supposed to tell you?)

As always, thanks for reading, and please review.

Sudie!