Chapter 79: History Class
Tuesday, January 3rd, Afternoon
Brett bounced into her history class and took her seat. She dusted off the desk surface and took out her notebook. History wasn't her best subject, but it also marked that it was near the end of the school day. Which was always good as she could hope, entering her most boring class of the day.
"You're excited," Nessa said, as she walked up to her desk which was next to Brett's.
"Day's almost over," Brett said.
"You still have a game tonight," Nessa pointed out.
Brett smiled, "Games are different from school," she said.
"Yeah? How so?" Nessa asked.
"I get excited about playing a game," Brett said, "Not so much about studying the history of people's bowel movements."
"You're such a jock," Nessa said and laughed.
"Duh! Anyways, I hope you're coming tonight," Brett said.
"Do I have too?" Nessa asked.
"You don't want to see the result of all your hard work?" Brett asked.
Nessa gave Brett a teasing smile, "More like your hard work, of course, I'll be there," she said.
Brett smiled and pulled out her textbook and opened her notebook to where they last took notes. "What are we covering today?" Brett asked, not sure where to they were.
"I think we're covering the post-World War Two European Reconstruction and the Marshal Plan," Nessa said.
"Oh joy!" Brett said, not sure what any of that meant.
A brownish-red haired girl walked into the room. They were classmates in this class. Brett studied her, and wouldn't consider this girl's hair auburn, it didn't look like her Aunt Kelly's hair, but it truly wasn't brown either. This girl looked around the classroom and walked over to Brett's desk.
"Hi Brett," the girl said.
"Marie," Brett said, to Marie Kilpatrick.
"So, how have you been?" Marie asked.
"Good, and you?" Brett asked, with an eyebrow cocked.
"Not bad," Marie said.
"So, do you know anything that could help me with the Marshal Plan?" Brett asked.
Marie tilted her head, "No, I don't anything about the Marshal Plan," she said.
"So, what's up, Marie? We've shared this class together all year, and several others over the years, but you don't come over to talk unless you want something," Brett said.
"I saw your Dad on the farm yesterday," Marie said.
Brett shrugged, "Well he's the gamekeeper, so he's probably up there for some reason or another," she said.
"Would you know why he would be up on the farm?" Marie asked.
"Did you ask him?" Brett asked.
"Yes," Marie said, "He said he was stalking the south herd of whitetail."
Brett nodded, "Then that's what he's probably doing on the farm," she said.
"We've not seen the whitetail in a while," Marie said.
"Doesn't mean they're not around," Brett said, "They're deer."
"It's just odd your Aunt came up the other day, and then your Dad, not soon after," Marie said.
"Well, I don't know, my Dad didn't share with me what he was doing, and he was gone before I even got up," Brett said.
"Does he always have secrets?" Marie asked.
"Marie, he's the parent, I'm the child, I answer to him, not the other way around," Brett said.
Marie made a face and nodded, "Thank you, sorry to bother you," she said and went to take her seat.
Nessa leaned over, "What was that all about?" she asked.
Brett shrugged and then shook her head, "Something to do about my Dad being on their farm," she said.
"So, what's the big deal about that?" Nessa asked.
Brett shrugged, "I don't know, it's just the way with the Kilpatrick's, I'd venture to guess," she said.
"I thought all you Irish were related," Nessa said.
"Maybe in Ireland," Brett said.
"Like that old SNL skit with Kate McKinnon," Nessa said.
"How would you know about that skit?" Brett asked.
"YouTube," Nessa said.
Brett shook her head, "Forrest needs to take you out more," she said.
"He does, we're going out Thursday, going to the art house theater. We're going to see a double feature, the Maltese Falcon and The Big Sleep," Nessa said.
"Whose idea was that?" Brett asked.
"Both of ours, we like those old Noir Movies," Nessa said.
Brett rolled her eyes, "Here's looking at you kid," she said.
"That's Casablanca," Nessa said, "You're thinking the line, The Stuff that dreams are made of."
"Dreams? Don't you mean fantasies?" Brett asked.
Nessa rolled her eyes, "Sometimes, you're such a jock," she said.
"Gee thanks," Brett said, "I never heard of The Big Sleep."
"It's a great movie, Bogart and Bacall, all grey characters, a classic in the Film Noir Genre," Nessa said.
"Who's Bogart and Bacall?" Brett asked.
"Humphry Bogart and Laura Bacall, they were actors and married to each other," Nessa said.
"Okay, still haven't heard of them," Brett said.
"You're Dad probably has the movies in his collection," Nessa said.
"Why are you so sure about that?" Brett asked.
Nessa laughed, "I've met your Dad," she said.
Brett nodded, "My Dad is unique," she said.
"Yeah, I never saw someone read Meditations by Marcus Aurelius for fun," Nessa said.
"You should see the rest of his books," Brett said.
Nessa looked up at an average height sophomore walking in the room. He pushed up his glasses and pulled out his smartphone. Slowly, he walked over and took a seat on the other side of Brett. Brett turned and looked at him.
"Yes, Trey?" Brett asked.
"Can I get a sound bite for the pre-game show, Brett?" Trey Terthero, one of the AV Kids that worked on the internet live stream for the basketball games, asked.
"Now?" Brett asked.
Nessa laughed, "At least it's only Trey and not the paparazzi," she said.
"Well, uhm, this is the only time I cross paths with you, Brett," Trey said.
Brett sighed, "Can we make this quick, Mrs. Babatunde doesn't like her class interrupted," she said.
"I just need a sound bite," Trey said.
Brett sighed, "Okay, you get one, I don't want to get in trouble," she said.
"So, are you going to kill it tonight on the court?" Trey asked.
"Seriously Trey?" Brett asked.
"That's what I was told to ask you," Trey said.
Brett nodded, "I'm going to give it a one hundred and ten percent effort tonight against Masonbourgh," Brett said.
"Will we see some Diesel Power tonight?" Trey asked.
"That's more than one, Trey, you'll get me and yourself in trouble," Brett said.
"That's all I need, just an answer to the diesel power one," Trey said.
"Fine, here it is," Brett said, "You'll have to wait and see."
"Thanks," Trey said.
"Now get out of here before you get us in trouble," Brett said.
"Too late Ms. Pierce-Burke," Mrs. Babatunde said from her desk, "Mister Terthero, don't you have a class to be at?"
"Yes, Mrs. Babatunde," Trey said.
"Well, I would head that way, wouldn't I, Mister Terthero," Mrs. Babatunde said.
"Yes sir," Trey said, stood up and beat feet to his class.
Mrs. Babatunde nodded, "Now the interruption from the Fourth Estate is over, let us open our books to the Post-Second World War and the European Recovery Program, better known as?" she said, "Yes, Mister Friedman?"
"The Marshal Plan," The Student said.
"Correct," Mister Barker said, "Now today we'll be discussing the purpose, the effects, and the legacy of the European Recovery Program, and any criticisms of such a program," Mrs. Babatunde said as the students started taking notes.