Another Day in the Life 2
The bell finally rang after the longest lecture known to man and everyone hastily packed up to leave. Tenzin glanced at Lin for the hundredth time that morning wondering what actually happened before she arrived.
Lin gathered her books and made for the exit without a word as Tenzin followed quickly behind.
"Miss Beifong." The teacher beckoned just before she made it out the door. Tenzin stopped as well, thinking he should hang back in case she needed support. "I am very curious to know what was so important that caused you to be tardy."
"It's my sister, she –"
"I woke up late…I had to pack my own lunch…My pig-chicken ate my homework – Believe me, I have heard it all. I will not tolerate this kind of behavior, especially from you. I will see you bright and early tomorrow morning before class begins. You will get the chance to improve your penmanship."
Lin stared into that awful woman's eyes and then left abruptly without a word, to which Tenzin sighed and hurried after her.
"Lin, wait!" He called as she barreled down the hallway.
Knowing her friend couldn't follow her inside, Lin scurried into the Ladies restroom. Tenzin almost walked in after her until the door slammed in his face and a few nearby girls giggled at the interaction as his face turned tomato red. He attempted to hide his face and leaned against the wall in wait. It took about 5 minutes for Lin to return to the scene.
"So – Lunch?" She asked in a tone attempting to sound normal.
"Are you alright?" He asked, finding all of this behavior very odd for her.
"I'm fine… Just fine." She responded, really punching that second "fine" for effect. They began to walk down the hall and toward the outdoor lunch area.
"Obviously…" He stated sarcastically.
"You know the problem already. It's my stupid, stupid sister. I was getting ready for the day and trying to get us out the door when I realize that she took off – Again!" The two of them found their way outside and skated around several groups of teens before finding a table.
"Did you find her?" He asked as they sat across from each other.
"Yes, but she is being a defiant brat. She made me miss my first two classes, she never actually went to school, I now have detention, and I managed to give Su her lunch but I forgot mine." Lin let her head fall into her hands out of frustration and shook her head.
"Just go get some school lunch. It's salmon today." He said, pulling out his own lunch.
"I didn't bring any yuans…" She said, sounding muffled from behind her hands.
Tenzin sighed and unwrapped his food. "Here, eat this." He said, handing her a spring roll.
"Thanks." She said meekly, but took a big bite. "Mom's going to be so angry with me. It's my responsibility to keep the house in order and Su in line so that Mom doesn't look bad to her colleagues. I am going to get blamed for this, you know."
"How do you figure that? It's not your fault that Su skipped school."
"I know that, but Mom won't see it that way. She's worried that all of this family drama will cause the council and the public to lose her trust. She is the chief of police and has a reputation to uphold."
"Oh, I know all about that. Maybe we should send Su and Kya on an extended vacation."
"There's one in every family." Lin chuckled, then took a few more bites of the roll. She stared off into space for a moment, thinking about her situation and sighed. "You know, Mom gives us all this freedom, but there are never any consequences. I don't even have consequences. She just gives me an earful and then drops it. No wonder Su thinks she doesn't care."
"It sounds to me like it's Su who doesn't care."
"Well, she should. It's not just her life she's messing with." Lin responded with frustration, and then focused her attention back on Tenzin. "Can I come over tonight? I really don't want to be home."
"Normally I would say yes, however, my father is hosting a dinner party for the council members tonight and my mom explicitly told us not to have visitors."
"Not even the extremely proper daughter of Republic City's Chief of Police?" She pleaded, but knew what his answer was going to be.
"I'm afraid not. I can't believe you would put on a fancy dress just to get out of going home."
"Well, I'm desperate."
"You can't go to someone else's house?"
"Oh please," She chortled, "you're my only friend."