Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26739 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26739 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Grabbing my backpack, I sighed with relief as I packed up.
“How was it?” Marilee asked while packing her own bag.
I shot her a so-so smile.
“It was okay. Let’s talk more after we’re out of here.”
She nodded and began stuffing papers at light speed into her backpack. I focused on the task and hand and tried not to think too much.
History had never been my strong suit, but I’m confident I did decently well.
The problem is my brother. I shot him a quick look. He too, was studiously packing his bag, and I was heartened. Yet, I could hear Kurt breathing the entire test, but couldn’t say anything without alerting Mrs. Rogers. I hoped he didn’t have an asthma attack while taking the exam because our shrew of a teacher wouldn’t be sympathetic. She may even fail him for his “dramatics.”
Just thinking about how she treated my brother made my blood boil. We may not always be the closest of siblings, but I still loved him. I’m not sure where this protective instinct comes from because actually, he’s older than me. We’re fraternal twins and he was born five minutes before me. But he had always been a cry baby growing up, running to me whenever someone picked on him or hurt his feelings.
When we got into high school that had come to an abrupt halt, but I’m not sure it’s for the better. I think the stress is making him crack, and I wouldn’t mind helping him if he would just open up. But as a teenage boy, Kurt is obstinate and won’t talk about feelings.
I exited the classroom, and when Kurt came out not long after me, I immediately noticed his paper white face. He looked…guilty. Immediately I grew wary. Was there something going on? But before I could grill him, Mrs. Rogers called us both back in.
“Kurt, Kim!” she cackled. “May I speak with you for a moment.”
Oh no. What was it now?
“She wants something,” I whispered to Marilee. “I’ll see you later?”
“Yeah sure,” my friend replied with a sympathetic glance. “Hopefully everything’s okay.”
The empty classroom made me feel claustrophobic as Mrs. Rogers simpered at us.
“Shut the door please,” she said in a sugary sweet voice. Obediently, I shut the door as Kurt and I went over to her desk.
“Well, well, well,” she cackled. “Apparently we have a naughty little boy who didn’t listen to the rules.”
What? What was this about? Unfortunately, Kurt’s color suddenly paled further than I was aware a human could go. He was positively ghostly. Sweat beaded on his skin as his breathing picked up. Was he going to have an asthma attack? I was glad he finished the test without having one but if he had one now, that could be catastrophic.
“What is this about?” I asked tightly. “My brother is sick.”
Mrs. Rogers merely cackled again and stretched out one bony hand.
“Hand over your phone, boy.”
I glared at her.
“Don’t call him that!”
She merely cackled again, showing stained, brown teeth. But surprisingly, Kurt’s tension dissipated, further increasing my confusion. Why was he suddenly calm?
He handed over the phone, and Mrs. Rogers looked over it with a skeptical eye, going through the open apps before handing his phone back. She clicked her teeth meditatively while staring down my brother. Her narrowed gaze sent chills up my spine and then suddenly, the old woman brightened. She noticed his smart watch, again holding out her hand.
“Your watch too.”
Suddenly Kurt wasn’t so calm anymore. His face turned red as the sweat trickled down his forehead like miniature rivers. He literally began shaking in place.
“Ma’am, I don’t-.”
I cringed internally because he knew better than to try to talk to Mrs. Rogers as if she were a rational adult. Why didn’t he just hand over his watch? Now she had a real reason to be suspicious of him.
Mrs. Rogers’s aged face twisted into a sneer, the sharp features becoming gargoyle-like as they set in stone.
“I didn’t phrase that as a question for a reason, boy.”
When Kurt still hesitated to hand it over, I turned to him.
“It’s okay,” I whispered. “Just give it to her. It’s no big deal.”
After all, if he was hiding porn or something then he would get over it. Everyone watches porn on the sly, and for teenage boys, it’s practically a given. Besides, Mrs. Rogers looked about ready to fail him if he didn’t comply, I didn’t want his embarrassment to cost him this class. We needed it to graduate.
But Kurt looked petrified.
“Ma’am,” he began again.
“Your watch,” she demanded.
With tears in his eyes, he finally handed it over, every move reluctant but finally, it rested in the teacher’s palm. She fiddled with the buttons, and the longer she had it the more nervous Kurt became. He nearly shrank into his skin when she let out an especially evil cackle.