Okay folks buckle up! Next week it is back to school. And you know what, I am not too upset about it. Yes I love loafing around all summer in my pajamas but I am excited. I have all my school supplies together and I can not wait to get back. Back to my friends, interesting classes and routine. I have always thrived on routine, it is when I am most productive. But most of all it is a new opportunity. Theres new teachers, students, and plays. I can not wait to start auditioning!!! I love theatre almost as much as writing. As for writing know that I am in high school their will be even more writing opportunities like high school programs and contests. So there is my bit of positivity. Still I get it, a lot of people aren’t as thrilled. Fair enough I am not looking forward to homework either. But whether we like it or not school is coming. To get us all in the spirit here is a short story set in a school cafeteria.

Rumors 

By Lili Lang

Just like kids, teachers have a reputation to uphold. There’s the fun teacher, that administrator that always gives you a tardy even if you were only a minute late. Then there are the ones that are just plain mean. Well, Mr. Walker was just meh. Not mean or overly strict but not really fun either. Just meh. Then again, how do you even make Algebra fun? 

Now I had heard some rumors but I knew enough not to listen to those. One time Ragen got a second ear piercing and by lunchtime half, the school said she had a nose, and belly button piercing, not to mention botox and a nose job (I’m still not convinced she didn’t get work done). So a couple of whispers about Mr. Walker acting differently wasn’t all that convincing. But I can’t deny my own eyes.

When we got to class it took a second to realize something was up. But then it hit the teacher was nowhere to be found. Now, this got our attention. Everyone knew that if a teacher was more than 15 minutes late the class was free. Students had gotten close before but it had never happened. Here we were counting down the minutes till history was made. Then the letdown. He showed up, they always showed up, but, can’t a kid have a dream? OK, that’s a little weird. Mr. Walker was always a tweed jacket and bowtie kind of guy. With disheveled hair, crumpled pants, and scuffed shoes. Today he had hair that was slick and gelled back, what looked to be new loafers, slacks, and a freshly pressed tie. I have to say he looked pretty snazzy. Even more curious was that instead of his usual messenger bag, he carried a cardboard box that he quickly slid under his desk. Between this and being late, we were all pretty caught off guard. And much less ready for what happened next. “Everyone, it’s time to change seats”. Ugh, changing seats was the worst. He looked down at his seating chart, squinted, and threw it away. “You know what class, how about you just pick your own seats for today”. Excitement swelled as we swarmed through the room. Now for the adults out there sitting back wondering what the big deal is, I’ll tell you. Seats are make or break. One month you could be living it up chatting with your best friend then the next thing you know you’re stuck next to your arch nemesis working on your death glare. So we definitely appreciate it when the pressures off. Once we were settled came the next revelation. With a smirk, he said “you may be wondering why I was late today, well, I had to pick up a few things” and took the box from underneath his desk. It was filled with movie DVDs and some packages of candy. “I thought for our last class till break we should change things up so what’s it gonna be Monster Inc or Ratatouille” with that a cheer rose from the class. 

By lunch all the school was buzzing with the news, it wasn’t every day that a teacher went rogue. Most of all we wanted to know what had caused it. All sorts of theories were thrown out. Concussion, alien probing, and even werewolf bite were all assumed. One popular theory was that he’d been switched with an identical twin. But the real reason was even crazier. I was actually the first person to see it.

Instead of Mr. Walker’s usual slouched shuffle to his car, he seemed exuberant with a big smile on his face. He was practically sprinting. I could see why because waiting there was Miss. Skinner, one of the school administrators with her long wavy hair down and a joyful expression. The only thing to match it was Mr. Walker’s smile. Then they drew closer with a hug than a long (well you know what). Mr. Walker had a girlfriend! And I’m gonna tell everyone. 

Good by Summer hello School!