AN: I'm baaaaack! Sorry about the long wait, guys. My computer had some nasty viruses and had to go to the doctor for a while, which meant I couldn't type. But, I'm back now and I'm ready to go! I even have my next chapter part way done! I'm trying to make longer chapters for you guys. Now I'll answer some reviews...
Bookworym: Theo is NOT out of they way. He just wasn't allowed to go out with Yumi while she was healing since she seemed to be so "accident prone" around him. He'll be back, don't worry.
Wind91Rider: Don't worry, the plot will pick up soon. It's kind of like the calm before the storm, you know?
A HUGE thanks to G-Force 4 for helping with the skit and for letting me borrow Dirk and Clayton. He's the greatest!
Oh my... This is a lot of people, Yumi thought in awe as she looked over her class of 25. Small conversations were taking place between the students, and as the teacher rapped his knuckles against his desk, the students ceased talking and faced forward.
"I am Mr. Hyonin and Miss Ishiyama will be instructing you," the disheveled brunette said, running a stern eye over the class. "The floor is yours, Miss Ishiyama."
"Ok... well, this is English and Literature class so let's get to the literature," Yumi began nervously. Picking up the sheet that held her lesson plans, she glanced at the day's activities.
In class:
Skit - record student tendencies and cooperation efforts
Distribute books
Assignments:
Favorite book information sheet
"Since interpretation is a major part of literature, we're going to start with some skits," Yumi said, feeling a bit more confident now that she had their attention, "Everyone needs at least one partner, then I'll give you the item to work with and the emotion you need to use. Go ahead and pair up." As the students grouped together and speculated about their skit, Yumi looked to Mr. Hyonin for approval.
He caught her eye and gave her a small nod, then went back to grading the stacks of papers left over from the previous school week.
Once the students stopped milling about, five distinct groups had formed. Of the five groups, three had six members, one had five, and the last had two. Yumi groaned inwardly as she saw the contents of the smallest group. Clayton and Dirk. Please, please let them behave, Yumi thought with a sinking feeling in her heart. Though she dreaded the end result of their skit, she resolved to see her plan through. Grabbing the five items, she distributed them among the groups. On Sunday night, she had assembled the most ordinary items to give to the groups and came up with the emotions to pair them up with.
Yumi gave the group of five the pillow, on which was a tag that said happy. One group of six received chopsticks labeled love, while another group had a pencil and hate to work with. The last group of six was given a light bulb and discontentment. When she finally reached Dirk and Clayton, she had two items left. One was an old-fashioned fan and anger and the last was a walking stick and confusion. Figuring they could do less damage with confusion, she handed them the walking stick and headed back to the front of the classroom.
"You have fifteen minutes to prepare and remember, no violence." The last part was added for the benefit of a certain two troublemakers, but Yumi figured all of the groups should hear it, too.
During her fifteen minute reprieve, Yumi set up the 30 books she had chosen for the class to pick from. Her desk became a colorful display of books with various themes and genres. Classic, horror, sport, teen problem, fantasy, and many others lined up across the wood, ready to be selected. When the students' prep time was up, Yumi cleared her throat loudly to get their attention.
"Before we start with the skits, I would like you all to come up and choose a book," Yumi said confidently, gesturing at the books, "The book you choose is the one you will be responsible for reading and giving an oral report on." The students looked at the books on the desk with little less than contempt, but they still went up to the front of the room to make their choice. Once every student had a book Yumi motioned for the first group to begin their skit.
"Ann, look at this pillow, doesn't it make you so happy?" Elizabeth said enthusiastically, shoving the pillow at the blond girl."
"A happy pillow! You've found a happy pillow!" Ann gushed and the skit continued. Seeing the first group perform did a great deal to loosen up the others and each skit became even more vivid and funny. Finally, only one group was left.
"Dirk and Clayton, please present your skit," Yumi said authoritively, fearing the worst.
The two bullies walked to the front of the class and nodded slightly to Mr. Hyonin, completely ignoring Yumi.
"What's that?" Clayton asked, pointing to the walking stick and trying his best to sound confused.
"I don't know, and who are you?" Dirk replied, barely attempting a confused tone. Then, suddenly, Dirk tossed the walking stick at Clayton and crossed his arms. "Forget it. Take it from here, Clayton. I'm done with this."
A look of genuine confusion crossed Clayton's features as he attempted to comprehend the latest events. After a minute of silence passed, Dirk glared at his supposed friend and turned around to walk back to his seat.
Confusion turned to anger as Clayton realized what Dirk was doing. He was trying to make his right hand man, his friend, look like a fool. Clayton's hands clenched the walking stick and started to bend it downward unconsciously. Had he continued much longer, the prop would have be reduced to kindling. Instead, the muscle-bound boy threw the stick down, grabbed Dirk by the shoulder and turned him around roughly, then grabbed him by the collar.
"What the heck do you think you're doing!" the angry boy yelled into Dirk's face.
Any other student would be quaking in his shoes, but not Dirk. Instead, he smiled and replied, "What's the matter, Clayton? Can't figure it out yet?"
Again, confusion crossed Clayton's features and his hold on Dirk's collar loosened. Confusion was then replaced by a small smile as he realized that Dirk had done all of this to really confuse him and get him to follow his lead.
"Look, you gotta run that by me again. I mean, all we have to do is present a little scene with that walking stick, right? I wasn't really paying attention so I don't know what's exactly going on," Clayton said, trying to play along.
"And what exactly is going on, Mr. Kap Hwan?" Yumi asked bitingly, trying to nip a potential problem in the bud.
"We're performing our skit of course," Dirk replied matter-of-factly. Seeing her confusion, Dirk smirked and explained, "Anyone can just plan out a scene using these simplistic guidelines. However, I thought I should play this one out by ear so that I could really get my friend here confused. Of course, I'm just explaining this to the class because obviously you knew that already. Right, teacher?"
"Just sit down," Yumi said exasperatedly, rubbing her forehead. The two boys complied, returning the walking stick on their way back to their seats. Once they were seated, Yumi sighed softly and straightened her shoulders, trying to not get angry with the two. After all, they did do as she assigned. Picking up a stack of papers from her desk, she distributed them as she explained the assignment.
"You need to fill out this sheet with information about your favorite book and please follow the instructions carefully. This is due tomorrow." Yumi made a mental note to stop trying to sound so much like a teacher and instead try to be herself. Getting angry or frustrated with her students wouldn't get her anywhere.
When the large bell in front of the camp rang, signaling the end of class, Yumi sighed again, this time in relief.
"Remember to read your book and fill out your assignment," Yumi reminded them, "Class dismissed." As the students filed past her, two stopped just inside the door.
"Ready to quit yet, teach?" Dirk asked snidely, speaking quietly enough so Mr. Hyonin wouldn't hear.
"You wish," was Yumi's terse reply.
"Yeah, we really do," Clayton said quietly. Somehow, this hurt more than all Dirk had said.
AN: I hope you liked this chapter! My next one is partially written and the one after that is partially done, too. I'm trying to get back into the swing of writing a lot, so expect more sometimes soon (I hope!). I'm going to try to follow some of the classes that the gang is teaching or is in.
If any of you want to talk to me, my MSN Messenger is back and so is my Yahoo ( my sn is Trillinka). Also, I'm on TV Tome under Trillinka. Please review before you leave, thanks!