I didn’t understand. Why would the teachers, my teachers that I’ve known for many years separate me from my best friend? Do they not no of the sorrow it caused me? I pondered these questions as I was slowly sinking into the pool of sleep. It was Monday evening, and I had a long week ahead of me. “I’ve got to go to sleep now,” I continuously thought to myself. I rolled over on my springy mattress, and started blankly at the bright blue numbers, 11:50. “If I fall asleep now I’ll get 7 hours of sleep, 6 and a half, 6. All notion of time was lost in my thoughts.
* * *
“BEEP….BEEP….BEEP…” my alarm woke me, I peered over at the clock, 7:00. Right on time. I swung my frozen feet out towards the door, and hopped up onto my feet. I had to lick my lips a few times before I got the feeling back into my face. I cleared the sleep out of my eyes with two fists, and mindlessly stumbled into the bathroom. I kept my head down avoiding any contact with the mirror, I’ve always been afraid of myself when I wake up. I wet my hands with what was supposed to be warm water. I continued draining it until it was moderately warm, and stuck my head under.
I kept it submerged underwater for about a minute, everything felt so peaceful and light. I pulled myself out barely missing the solid metal fausit. I just stood there looking into my own eyes threw the mirror. I thought about school, how today was going to go. “JOE!” my mom yelled from downstairs. “ONE SS-SECOND!” I screamed back. I went back into my room and hopped
in and out of my clothes as if they were on fire. I raced down the stairs and gobbled down my oatmeal.
“I’ve gotta get something.” I raced back up stairs into my room put on my backpack flew back downstairs put on my shoes and was out of the door at 8:00. “Good timing, huh?” I said to my mom slamming the car door blocking the cold air. “Yeah best this year.” She said struggling to start the car. I reached into my backpack and pullout my iPod.
* * *
“Bye!” I said to my mom over the wind. I raced down towards the classroom, with smaller kids behind me. I reached for the frozen handle and opened the door. I was greeted by a rush of warm air. I let out a deep breath. I was happy to be at school. I set down my backpack and lunch next to my cubby, dodging fellow classmates. Before I could open my mouth to greet my neighbor “Ding” we had to go to circle.
I unconsciously sat beside my best friend, Joey, like I had been for the past three years. Within two seconds of my bottom touching the carpet, our certainly least favorite teacher Mark .F, signals me to sit somewhere else. And converses with our other teacher, Rachel in front of the entire class. “Obviously this separation policy does not penalize those who break it, from now own if one of you sits next to the other you will lose your recess.
We all hated Mark, but I hated this policy even more. This is absurd! There is nobody in our class of 26 that has this kind of rule enforced! Some people can’t sit next to each other but we can’t even work together! And when we do manage to work together we get stuff done. One of the things I found the most ridiculous was when I was talking to a classmate, and Joey was sitting at the same table doing his work. And the teachers would make him move.