Kandace (1)

Thomas

I smile. I can see the excitement on Kandace’s face when Mr. Johnson tells me to sit next to her. I’m happy too. I also see that excitement leave as Mr. Johnson calls Collin’s name. He’s going to sit right next to her. I feel bad for Kandace. She said something about this not being the first time. First time she’s been hit? First time she’s been bullied? I don’t know. Hopefully she’ll realize that the number I gave her is mine, and she’ll text me. I sit down next to her. The smile re-appears on her face. She looks at me and I smile at her.
        “Alright, is everyone happy with their new spots?”
I look at Kandace, expecting her to raise her hand and ask if Collin can move. She doesn’t. Instead, Collin raises his hand.
        “Mr. Johnson, can I move? I won’t be able to focus on my work with Kandace next to me, she smells.”
Kandace DOESN’T smell, how dare he! The whole class laughs. Mr. Johnson glares at Collin.
        “You may not switch spots Collin, I put you next to Kandace hoping that her good grades would rub off on you.”
This time I laugh with the rest of the class. Collin sits down and glares at everyone until they stop laughing.
        “Now that everyone is settled, we can begin our new unit.”
        “What’s it on?”
        “I was just getting to that, Miss Carlyle.”
Carlyle. Who’s that? No one except the teachers call students by their last name. I look behind me. Oh. Its that Agnes girl. Agnes Carlyle. She’s like, the smartest kid in this highschool. She’s ALWAYS asking if something is graded, or what the next unit is on. I’m glad Kandace isn’t like that.
        “As I was saying, this next unit is going to be on the Ancient Egyptians. Some of you may already know some things, based on the books you read. If any.”
Mr. Johnson looks at Collin. I try not to snicker.
        “Shut it, Bridgewater”
That’s my last name. Thomas Bridgewater. Literal dumbest last name on planet Earth.
        “Did you have something to say, Collin?”
        “No Mr. Johnson”
Ha. Little wimp is scared of Mr. Johnson! Now I know who to get if Collin tries to hurt Kandace again. Mr. Johnson continues class and we take a pretest. How am I supposed to know what King Tut’s name is? I look at Kandace to see how she’s doing. She’s on the same question I am! I watch as she writes Tutahnkahmen. Huh. That’s a long name. Well, sorry, but thanks for the answer Kandace! When everyone is done with the pretest we play a trivia game. Winner gets a piece of candy or five extra points on their next test. Unsurprisingly, Agnes wins the trivia. Even more unsurprising, she chooses the five extra points. Not that she needs it. I’m pretty sure she’s got 1,000,000,000% in every single class she takes. It’s a shame, I could have used those points. Or a Snickers. Probably need the Snickers more.