Stone

October 25, 2024

“Mr. Stone? Mr. Stone.”

“Yes!” I jolted out of my daydream. It had been such a nice daydream, why did this teacher insist on me listening to her every word?

“Mr. Stone, what was the last thing that I said?” How was I to know? Her voice was so dull and she droned on and on about a subject I simply did not care about.

“I am not sure, Mrs. Moon. I am sorry, I was thinking of the assignment.” I lied through my teeth, but I knew that would butter her up.

“Right, well, pay attention from now on, Mr. Stone. This is going to be on the test. Unless you would rather have a quiz on it all right now?” The whole class groaned and looked at me as if I had suggested the quiz myself.

“No ma’am. I will pay attention, ma’am.”

“That’s what I thought. Now, class, turn to chapter thirteen. We are going to go around the class and read allowed, maybe then Mr. Stone will pay attention.” and I could feel the whole class glaring a hole through the back of my head. Mrs. Moon had placed me in the front of the class last month because she felt it would ‘help me succeed’ and my parents agreed that I needed to up my grades and they would do anything to make that better. Mother had always wanted me to be a dentist. Why, I am not sure. No one we knew was a dentist and, as far as I knew, I had only been to the dentist a handful of times in my life. They just stuck their hands in peoples mouths and told them they needed to floss more. I guess I could do that. But Father, he wanted me to be a famous writer “Like John Steinbeck and F. Scott Fitzgerald, Scotty. He is your namesake after all!” Mother told me later that her maiden name was my namesake, but that if Father wanted to think it was because of F. Scott Fitzgerald, he could think what he wanted. Mother always knew how to make me laugh.

“…President Buchanan declared succession illegal, but…” could this class get any more dull?

Prior to her very rude interruption, I had been thinking about the story Grandma had told me the week before. She had lots and lots of adventures before Mom was born, and she loved to tell me about them. I am not sure they are completely true, but I like to think that they are. In this story, she had gone to Spain with my Grandpa, and they spent their first wedding anniversary on the beach and….

“Mr. Stone! What do I have to do to keep your attention, young man?” Mrs. Moon was mad, rightfully so, but I coudln’t help it. I couldn’t listen to more of this class.

“I am sorry Mrs. Moon…”

“I don’t want to hear it, go to Mrs. Andersons office.” She interrupted, sending me straight to the principals office. I didn’t mind. I liked Mrs. Anderson. Most kids in school thought she was terrifying, but she was just misunderstood.

“Yes, Mrs. Moon.” I say as I gather my things, and take the pink hall slip from her, shaking, outstretched hand.