First of the Last
Ok, so It's the first day of school. I've been doing this since I was 6 years old it should be all old hat right? But this isn't just any first day of school. This is the first day of my last year of school. Last year! That would have to mean that I'm a senior, wouldn't it. So I am.Last night I was honestly going to go to bed real early. I was going to face the day like a man, mind you a much trendier, better groomed man, and..well, more like a woman. It's just an expression, gosh. But anyway it didn't work out so here I am at 6:30 in the morning and I have no idea where I am or what my name is because the sleep fairy passed me over last night and I'm disoriented.
I crawl out of bed and into the bathroom. God, I look horrendous. My hair is every which way and my jammies are a million sizes too large and I just need a nice long shower to get myself in the groove but..oh right, school. I have a schedule now don't I...
I notice my capris hanging on the shower rod that I set out last night, after spending about 30 minutes scrubbing a stain with at least 5 different detergents. I am so proud of me. I go over to take them down and admire my handy work.
Hah, that's funny it almost feels like the capris are...why are my capris wet? How could they still be wet? I mean, I set them out last night it usually only takes one night to hang dry just about any item unless...unless I forgot to rinse all the detergents out. I'm an idiot.
I quickly throw the capris into the washing machine, and arrange for my mum to bring them to me while she brings me my Six Flags ticket. I forgot to mention, not only is it the first day of my last year of school, but I'm ditching half of it and going to six flags with my friend! Brilliant, hey?
I arrive at school with all my books in my arms, my backpack full of notebooks over my shoulder, and my purse slung around some empty limb. Ok Kimmi, your a senior. You are at the top of the school here! Just stride in with confidence! Show that smile and put your books in your locker and...my locker. Uh-oh. I have no idea what my locker combination is. I just had it written down the other day and I know I put it in my purse, so why isn't it here? Yes, so far I'm doing really brilliantly. Now I have to take all my books down to assembly with me.
I've gone down the hallway lugging these books and now I've finally reached the assembly room so I can sit down. No one will notice the books if I just put them underneath my chair.
Oh lovely, the principle is speaking now. The annual principles welcome does not usually consist of much welcoming. More or less just rules.
"A jacket can be worn over a school appropriate logo shirt as long as the material is fleece or cardigan." The principle carries on, after a while moving on to "I know some of you are having difficulties with drugs and alcohol and I want you to know that we are here for you, but if you bring them to campus then you will be expelled, we mustn't cross this line , especially at a Christian school where..."
The English teacher isn't here today, huh, that's odd. I think there is a fly on that girls head, someone should swat it! I would swat it if I were there.
"...Leaving campus at any time before classes are finished will be severely punishable by multiple detentions, suspension, and inability to participate in any sports for the rest of the school year..." The voice drones on. I wonder how she got her hair to stick like that, it really must have been quite a feat.
Kimmi! Stop it! You're a senior you have to set the example for all these less fortunate under classmen who still have full class schedules (snicker). Actually, on second thought, don't teach them to listen to this it's a load of crap anyway. I'm doing them a favor. Wow is she still talking??
Once the assembly has finished I head upstairs and go to my first class, English. Mr. Loss isn't here so Mr. Malin is substituting and he just wants us to write a journal entry on "a picture of yourself that you have seen recently, and what you like about it." OK, that's easy enough.
I write some bull about a picture of my brother and I holding hands as children and how it moved me. It really was a good journal write I think. Too bad Mr. Loss doesn't bother to read any of our work anyway. English class is painfully uneventful and next is a study hall. This should be fun I like study halls! The teachers just supervise while we all talk or watch TV or goof off in their classroom. Of course there is some studying...occasionally.
I look at my schedule and it tells me to go to the science room for study hall. That's a disappointment. I was hoping for the English room so I could sleep on the couches, or maybe the computer lab so I could check my mail. Oh well, now I can at least have one class in the science room with the new teacher.
I walk into the science room where a few other student are already sitting and take a seat next to my friend Chris. OK, so it's not just a few students, it's all of them. I had a little delay getting into my locker so I'm a bit late...
"Great well you all are looking good here except..you two are a little too close why don't you spread apart some so there's just one student per desk." The teacher says.
Is she talking to me? This is a study hall you can't tell me where to sit...and hey! These are two-person desks what do you mean I'm too close? I look up and the eye contact confirms that she is in fact speaking to me. I give her an odd look and move to an empty double desk.
"Ok good. I don't have a syllabus for this class but I'll have assigned seating tomorrow. There will be no talking, just read or study. If I see you aren't working then I have plenty of glassware that needs washing...
Glassware? Washing?
"...I actually graduated from SLA myself and I'll be..." She continues.
I can't believe what I'm hearing. Doesn't she realize the standard procedure for study halls here? Someone needs to tell her so that we can get back to enjoying ourselves! Washing dishware? What is she talking about?! I pick up my book, Confessions of a Shopaholic, and start reading the first paragraph.
"...I like to ski but since I injured my hip a few years back I haven't been able to enjoy it as much..." Continues the teacher.
I read a few more paragraphs and glance up again.
"...So the flies come out around December down in Alabama where I'm from..." She just keeps going. Didn't she just say something about a no talking rule? Gosh, she's like the energizer bunny.
Thank God. That was the bell. As I leave I see Chris approach the teacher and say something like "you are going to have personality clashes if you keep doing study hall this way." Way to go Chris, show her what we're made of! Oh. She just assigned him to washing glassware next period...Maybe we'll just have to take this from a different approach.
My next class is U.S. Government. I hear it's a pretty interesting class so I'm looking forward to it somewhat. It can't be any worse than study hall. I sit down in an empty chair and wait for him to start talking. Somewhere in the middle of his speech a thought occurs to me. He's cultivating democrats and I'm severely outnumbered. My friend and fellow republican Kate has a notebook which says "You be quiet, I'll be right." I can tell this will be an interesting semester.
Following Gov. is my final class, Bible IV. He talks a bit about nothing and before I know it there's the bell! I'm free! I'll just go to the office and sign myself out, call Aubie and we'll be off to Six Flags!
As I approach the office I see the secretary sitting at her desk behind the clear glass walls that make up the office. I tap lightly on the door, walk in, and she looks up at me expectantly.
"erm, hi! I need to get an early release form. I have plans this afternoon and I'm going to have to miss the handshake." I say, trying to pull off a regretful expression.
"I'm sorry, your required to say." She says with...is that a smile of satisfaction on her face?
"Well, I know there is an event this afternoon but I don't have any more classes and I really can't stay. I already paid $30 for my ticket (I leave out the part where I can use the ticket any day I want, it really isn't important...) so I'll just have my parents call in and excuse..."
"No, your required to be here, I'm sorry." She just interrupted me! And wipe that grin off your face!
"Look if my parents call in and excuse me I should be able to leave." I'm trying valiantly, why is this such a big deal?
"And I'm telling you that you can't." She says.
I'm getting very frustrated and I have half the mind to yell that she can't keep me here against my parents orders and I'm not required to stay for SA events like the banquet so this shouldn't be any different but I'll keep my mouth shut for now. I think of just leaving but the principles words are echoing through my head about multiple detentions and suspension and such. That's it, I'm calling mum. She'll know what to do.
The phone rings a few times and my dad picks up. Oh great, this could be difficult. I give the phone to the secretary and she speaks to him briefly, hands back the phone with a sickeningly satisfied smile that makes me want to slap her, and sits back down at her desk.
"Dad, let me talk to mum, OK?" I whisper into the receiver.
"Hello?" The familiar voice comes through the ear piece and I feel slight relief.
"Mum I need your help, she won't let me leave! Can you speak with her?" I tap on the glass once more and the secretary...ignores it. She can't ignore me! Where is she going? Come back here, I knocked!
"Mum do you know the office number? Good, can you call it? No, I can't just hand her the phone. No, I need you to call in there. Don't ask why. Just take my word for it OK? Thanks, goodbye." I hang up the phone and sit on the steps.
I see the secretary talking quietly into the phone in the office. It's taking quite a while, I hope we're making progress. Ah yes, I see the smile fading a little. This is good.
The phone hangs up and she looks up at me in irritation. I love irritation. I smile, take the early release form that she is handing me, and walk out the front door with the same smile she was wearing earlier, although I think it looks much nicer on me.
Mrs. Booth, Aubie, and George are all waiting for me in the parking lot already, so I get in the car and we head off towards the park. I think this is going to be a good year.
posted by Kimmi @ 11:00 PM
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