Random blatherings...

She believed she could, so she did

2015-03-29T20:43:00.000-05:00

At long last, my unemployment is over. Starting tomorrow I will have a time clock to punch and a boss to answer to.

I had an interview Wednesday morning and a job offer by Wednesday afternoon. And they upped the starting pay by $4,000 a year. That is pretty exciting and I don't know that the excitement of that part has hit me yet. I think it will once I actually get started and get comfortable.

I am so glad not to look for jobs anymore. One of the best parts about my weekend was that I got to turn off all the job alert emails I was getting daily. When I opened my email this morning and I only had five new emails, I breathed a sigh of relief.

I am also scared. Every time I have started a new job, the few days before I'm set to start I get sick to my stomach with worry. I worry that I'm not really good enough for the job and that after a few days they'll realize they made a mistake and fire me. I'm afraid my education on my resume makes me looks smarter than I really am and when it comes time to do practical things, I will crash and burn. I worry that my new co-workers won't like me and they will actively work against me. I'm afraid that I will hate it and be stuck somewhere that makes me dread my life every day. Mostly, I'm scared of starting something new because even as thankful as I am to have a job again, I'm scared to walk in the door tomorrow morning and embrace the new.

I've talked about this with my mom, my friend Sheila, and God already and I know that I can do it. I even told God in the shower on Friday, which is where some of my best praying happens, that I will do it. I won't even believe I can't, I just will. I will take notes, ask questions, and go all in, which made me feel a bit more confident. In my last few jobs, I thought of them as something I was doing until I got where I wanted to go. Of course, I didn't know where I wanted to go. This makes any job a bad job because you resent being there, but you don't know where else you want to go, which makes you even more upset.

I still don't know where I want to end up. The difference is this time I'm choosing to see this job as a step towards my dream, unknown though it may be, instead of a holding tank while I get there. I don't know who I will meet, what I will learn about the business or myself, but I do know that if I don't claim it and make it my own, I will fail in the worst way. Failure can be okay, but failure from lack of giving it your all is not. I don't want to look back on this and know I could have done so much more if I had just tried.

So, here I go. Tomorrow I will dress up, plaster on a smile, and start a new chapter. I will still be nervous and scared, but I will not let it be a barrier.

Early Morning Observation

2015-03-24T03:18:00.001-05:00

The thing that makes me feel like I'm powerful and in control of my life ends up controlling me and I hate it.

Wordy

2015-03-22T20:01:00.001-05:00

"Language tethers us to the world; without it we spin like atoms."

-Penelope Lively

The Saddest Cake Ever

2015-03-22T02:32:00.000-05:00

Planets

2015-03-19T16:57:00.002-05:00

I was looking up Venus on Google, because I'm a nerd like that, and the first three results are about a swimwear line. Really, people? Y'all are more likely looking up swimwear over planets? This displeases me.

Of course, I was looking up Venus because I was confusing its appearance with Neptune, but that's neither here nor there.

Venus:

Neptune:

Because those are easily confused, amirite?

Alone

2015-03-18T16:06:00.001-05:00

"There is a wilderness we walk alone
However well-companioned."

-Stephen Vincent Benét

Fictional People

2015-03-17T20:28:00.000-05:00

After watching season five of Gilmore Girls and being incredibly irritated and disgusted by Rory...

and after reading The Time Traveler's Wife and throwing it into the hallway when I was done because I hated Clare and her selfish choices...

and after crying at The Doctor's regenerations on Doctor Who...

it has come to my attention that maybe, just maybe, I am too invested in the lives of fictional people.

Maybe.

#FML

2015-03-16T01:30:00.000-05:00

Instead of finishing my paper on Saint Francis, I have spent the last, oh, three hours reading a love/hate blog about the Duggars. This is an excellent use of my time. I'm fairly confident my professor won't look too kindly on my paper's lack of depth because I was too involved in the controversy of who Jana should marry and if Jessa is turning into a sexual freak now that she's married.

I don't support a lot of their views. Most of their ideas on family life, especially about women, concern me. I'm fairly liberal on the issue of the roles of husbands and wives within a marriage. However, there is something about this family that attracts me. I think it's the fact that their lives seem so sure. The girls were born to get married off and raise babies. That's their job. Sure, they can take on other interests, like learning to be a midwife, but for the most part their lives are set. As much as I dislike the idea of anyone not getting to choose exactly what they want to do with their life or at least having the chance to make it happen, I sometimes wish my life were so simple. I wish the plan that I've known since I was a child was the one that was going to happen. I don't mean the marriage and babies thing per se. The older I get, the more tentative I am about the idea of having a child. I just mean that I wish I had the assurance of knowing that my plan in life was set. Sure, the details would look different, but the general outline would be there.

Newsflash: that's not how it's been.

I see it work out for people who have had their plan since high school or younger and I think, Was it because I was lazy? Is my situation entirely my fault? I take the blame in part for sure. I've made choices that have led me to who I am, for better or worse. But, I think part of the blame is on very adults that told me that all of the work I was doing to get good grades or by being an outwardly decent human would be enough for me to make it.

It's a lie. It's not enough.

Getting on the honor roll and having teachers like you means nothing once you leave an academic environment. I'm not saying it's useless to get education and to strive to do your best, but to have your foundation built on that is a crock. That's why working on my Master's Degree is less stressful this time around. I'm just doing it to get done and to learn, not to achieve something higher.

Being the kid that doesn't drink or smoke or hang out with the kids that do doesn't get you anywhere. It's better for your health and decision making ability that you don't, but I have never gotten a job or gained anything of practical value from the fact that I'm not a drinker or smoker.

Basically, I was promised a good life by being boring and vanilla and, although I'm not homeless or starving, my life is not a good life. It's a boring, useless waste that has done nothing of any lasting value, even on an incredibly minor scale. I never wanted to change the world on an epic level, but I want my life to matter and it hasn't and it doesn't. The longer I'm unemployed and being reminded every day that I am not good enough for the over one-hundred jobs I've applied for, the angrier I get.

Right now, I kinda hate my life and, if I'm perfectly honest, I'm sick of everyone else and their good days because I'm tired of having to muster up happiness. That's not to say I'm not genuinely happy for whatever happens in someone else's life, but it take longer for me to get there. Happy is difficult for me right now and it hurts.

I'm not going to kill myself or anything, so if anyone reads this and gets all concerned about that, don't call me. I'm not going to talk about it with you.

However, I am going to go finish watching The Big Fat Quiz of the Year from 2006 that I found on YouTube and then go to bed since I actually have to be up early tomorrow to beg for mercy at the altar of the TWC gods.

A Year in Books: 2014

2015-03-04T16:50:00.000-06:00

I forgot to post this back in January. Oops. Better late than never.

These are the books I read in 2014. The ones in bold are my favorites. :)

My goal was 52 books for the year.

1. Entwined - Heather Dixon
2. Plan B - Pete Wilson
3. The Chase - Allison Vesterfelt
4. Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers - Mary Roach
5. Girl With a Pearl Earring - Tracy Chevalier
6. Chocolate Bar - Dylan Siegel
7. Evolving in Monkey Town - Rachel Held Evans
8. The Vanishers - Heidi Julavits
9. Deadfall Hotel - Steve Rasnic Tem
10. The Declaration - Gemma Malley
11. Demons in the Spring - Joe Meno
12. Doctor Who FAQ - Dave Thompson
13. Stardust - Neil Gaiman
14. Orphan Justice - Johnny Carr & Laura Faidley
15. Fairyland - Alysia Abbott
16. Grace for the Good Girl - Emily P. Freeman
17. The Resistance - Gemma Malley
18. The Legacy - Gemma Malley
19. We Have Always Lived in the Castle - Shirley Jackson
20. Giving Up the Ghost - Eric Nuzum
21. Doctor Who: The Dalek Handbook - Steve Tribe
22. Girl of Nightmares - Kendare Blake
23. Girl in Hyacinth Blue - Susan Vreeland
24. Waiter Rant - Steve Dublanica
25. Introverts in the Church: Finding Our Place in an Extroverted Culture - Adam McHugh
26. Quest for Celestia - Steven James
27. Shady Characters - Keith Houston
28. Delirium - Lauren Oliver
29. Heavier than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain - Charles Cross
30. Pandemonium - Lauren Oliver
31. Packing Light - Allison Vesterfelt
32. You Are Loved - Sally Clarkson & Angela Perritt
33. Requiem - Lauren Oliver
34. Full Frontal Feminism - Jessica Valenti
35. Love in the Time of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
36. Steve Jobs - Walter Isaacson
37. 45 Pounds - K.A. Barson
38. Empty Promises - Pete Wilson
39. Cloud Factories & Wind Chargers - Courtney Holden
40. Ready Player One - Ernest Cline
41. Sad Monsters - Frank Lesser
42. Suffer the Children - Craig DiLouie
43. Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman
44. The Sky is Everywhere - Jandy Nelson
45. Egghead or, You Can't Survive on Ideas Alone - Bo Burnham
46. Hector and the Search for Happiness - Francois Lelord
47. Bossypants - Tina Fey
48. The Virgin Blue - Tracy Chevalier
49. Bad Girls of the Bible - Liz Curtis Higgs
50. The Twins - Saskia Sarginson
51. You Are Not So Smart: Why You Have Too Many Friends on Facebook, Why Your Memory is Mostly Fiction, and 46 Other Ways You're Deluding Yourself - David McRaney
52. The Book with No Pictures - B.J. Novak
53. True Believer - Nicholas Sparks
54. Not That Kind of Girl - Lena Dunham
55. The Murmurings - Anne Carly West
56. Zechariah: God's Big Plan for Struggling Christians - Tim Chester
57. Living Whole Without a Better Half: Biblical Truth for the Single Life - Wendy Widder
58. Why We Broke Up - Daniel Handler
59. Edgar Gets Ready for Bed - Jennifer Adams
60. Holy Sh*t: A Brief History of Swearing - Melissa Mohr
61. Return to Me - Lynn Austin
62. Crackpot: The Obsessions of John Waters - John Waters
63. Hissy Fit - Mary Kay Andrews

Ten Minutes

2015-03-04T02:41:00.000-06:00

Searching for a job is difficult. It's the worst job that there is because no matter how much you work, no matter how much effort you put forth, no matter how many resumes you send out, or job emails you respond to, at the end of the day, you're still unemployed. Then, you sit at home in your pajamas watching Netflix or North Woods Law and take naps at odd times and turn into a bigger loner than you have ever been. (That last part might just be me.)

I'm sick of being out of a job. I like being at home. I like not having a schedule.. However, this whole feeling worthless and useless and feeling judged about my effort is just too much. It's worse than the fact that I have no income, which is a pretty big deal. Wait, I have an income, but it's from the TWC. That's the Texas Workforce Commission, the place where you can also apply for food stamps. I never realized how elitist I was until I had to apply for unemployment. In my head I thought, That's what lazy people do. I deserve those checks though. I was released from my job because of a merger, not because I was lazy or a bad employee. I'm just starting to wonder, as I enter month four of unemployment, would they let a truly good employee go? If I had been valuable like the GM said, wouldn't they have found a way to keep me? I know it's not logical. A lot of people, people with years of tenure and who had more to offer the company than I did based on experience alone, were let go too.

It just hurts because it feels like this is something I can't do. I worked at a horrible place for six years. I hated it and the only positive memories I have is the one friendship I carry with me from that place. Then, I found a place that liked me, a boss that appreciated me and treated me well, who was grateful to have me, who did nice things for me, and on top of all that I got paid really, really well. Then, eight months in, I'm out. And I hate it. I hate that rejection. It hurts my pride.

Telling the Truth

2014-10-23T14:27:00.001-05:00

Tim

2014-10-20T01:35:00.001-05:00

My cousin died last Sunday.

We weren't close, but family is family no matter what and I grieve the loss of one of my own. However, I don't want to come across like I lost my greatest friend. That would be untrue and cheapen my words, both for myself and any family members that might come across this at some point. In fact, I think the last time I saw him and his older sister was when I was nine and they had come back to town for my uncle's funeral. Like a lot of families, death is what brings us together. That's kind of sick, but that's how it goes. My family lived across the street from my grandparents, so while the adults were inside eating and doing whatever adults do after a funeral, the three of us were outside playing. My other cousin and I tried to ditch him. It seems we had important girl things to play, but it didn't work. He was persistent.

He died of a drug overdose.

I know he had had some problems in the past. I remember that when my grandma died, he wasn't able to come to the funeral because he was on something like probation and couldn't leave the area without approval or whatnot. I don't blame him for not going through that whole process. Dealing with the government of any level is generally unpleasant, let alone having to do it to go face the death of a family member.

My cousin was only twenty-five.

I think he's the youngest cousin on that side of my family. I have another cousin that might be younger. After everyone stopped sending birthday cards, it's hard to remember. He had overcome so much at his age and was on a path that looked to lead towards the so-called 'good life.' He made one choice and he lost his future and took himself away from his mom, dad, sister, girlfriend, other family, and numerous friends. I don't fault him for it. It's terrible and tragic and no one knows why he decided to break his sobriety that night, but everyone makes mistakes. The heart-wrenching part in his case is that he doesn't get a chance to overcome or to right his wrong.

I think the thing that I'm taking away from this is that there isn't always a second chance. Sometimes I make decisions that aren't wise or helpful while thinking 'Eh, I can fix this later.' In my cousin's case, whatever he was thinking or feeling, he doesn't get that chance to fix it and that gives me pause. How many times have I left myself open to not being able to correct myself or risk someone I love coming across something about me that I was hoping to erase later when I was getting my second chance?

I'm not saying we should live in fear that something bad is always around the corner. That's no way to carry on with life. I just know that this give me a reason to think more carefully about the choices I make and to be thankful and even respectful of the second chances I've been given. They aren't as numerous in quantity as we might think.

Without My Words

2014-10-17T20:24:00.001-05:00

I miss that I used to have so many words to write.

I miss the days when I had so many ideas that I had at least ten different saved drafts for posts.

I miss feeling smart and clever.

I miss the time before I gave up on writing because I decided that my voice didn't matter.

I miss the feeling of making something.

I miss that person who just wrote because the words needed to be out.

I feel like I ran out of things to say and that brings tears to my eyes because, without my words, who am I?

Just a Tidbit

2014-05-27T12:54:00.002-05:00

I've been doing a lot of introspection lately and, although it's been helpful and a learning experience, I am so incredibly over it. So much navel gazing! Agh!

Looks Can Be Deceiving

2014-05-14T15:31:00.001-05:00

While I stood in front of the refrigerator, I saw her walk in. Her purse was name brand. Her outfit carefully matched, accessorized, and perfectly clean. Not a strand of her hair was out of place, which is odd since the springtime winds are in full swing today. Her posture was perfect. I couldn't hear what she said to the employee, but he smiled at her and walked briskly to the back of the store. His quick pace and her put together appearance led me to believe she was making a complaint. A woman like that does not come into a store, walk a few steps in, and wait at the front counter, unless she has a problem.

I approached the cashier and smiled at the the girl. She's no more than 20 years old. As she made polite conversation with me, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching. I turned to see a tall, dark-skinned man approach the woman. He leaned in, just enough to indicate he was listening, but not so much as to invade her personal space. I liked that and it's a skill most people lack.

I was closer now, so I could hear what she asked him, "The manager at the CVS on Josey said you might have some openings at this location for a cashier. I'm looking for part-time work." As I passed them to reach the exit, he took her information down and they spoke about how many hours she would want.

As I walked to my car I thought, She wants a job here? She doesn't look like a cashier.

It seems looks can be deceiving, especially when you're working from a superficial foundation like I was.

Why did I assume she was an unhappy customer? It was her appearance.

Why did I think she didn't look like a cashier? For the same reason as above, her appearance.

So, what makes someone look like a customer or a cashier?

I think this says a lot more about me and how I judge people than I would like it to.

Yes, please, and thank you.

2014-05-12T09:23:00.001-05:00

Let's all just take a minute and be thankful that Short Stack is back to making music.

Yes, please, and thank you.

Things I'm Thinking, Vol. 12

2014-05-10T22:04:00.001-05:00

1. The ability to secretly unfollow certain Pinterest boards has likely saved many friendships.
2. I don't care what people say; I like Kristen Stewart.
3. Horoscopes seem pretty silly to me, but some of those things about Virgos are unnervingly accurate.
4. I have learned more about accepting and appreciating life in all its forms from watching Doctor Who than I ever have at church.
5. French fries are always a good idea.
6. I'm not a Heather.
7. I used to love The Catcher in the Rye. Now, I just want to smack that prat Holden Caulfield.
8. Netflix is simultaneously the best and worst thing to ever happen to me.
9. To each their own and all that, but bronies frighten me.
10. Can you be mildly bipolar? Is that even possible?
11. I cuss way too much. It's like a sailor in a bar brawl over here lately.
12. I'm tired of Kate Upton and her boobs.
13. I feel bad for Pluto. He's still a planet to me.
14. Octopuses cause me more stress than sharks. Those dudes are hella creepy.
15. Is it time for queso yet?

Long Time, No Blogging

2014-05-08T16:17:00.000-05:00

It's been a while.

I could blame it on getting a new job, then quitting that job after one day, then spending a month as an unemployed heathen, then getting a new job as reasons for why I haven't been writing.

I could blame depression or being tired or uninspired.

I could blame Netflix or Pinterest or books or my slight obsession with cross stitching.

I could blame a lot of things, but really, it's because it wasn't fun anymore. The idea of trying to come up with anything, amusing, thought provoking, or even just space filler, seemed daunting. That sounds so obnoxious, like I have this vast audience, a network that spans the globe that were awaiting some insightful post from me. In reality, it's a few people I know in real life and a few people that stumble upon it in a Google search.

Years ago, when I first joined Blogger, I used to keep it a secret, but my former co-worker, Devin, once told me it was stupid to try to have a secret online blog because being online is never secret. I tend to agree, which is why I keep it fairly open now. There are a few people I've tried to prevent from finding it because there are some people I don't want to know what I think about when no one else is around. Some things are better left a mystery for some of my friends.

Anyway, I'm rambling.

The point is, it seems like now is as good a time as ever to pick it back up. I feel like my brain is clearing out some room for some fun stuff or at least stuff that makes me want to write, which is as good a reason as any to start up again, eh?

So, onward and upwards, mates.

Karungi's Hobbies and Pets

2014-02-25T12:20:00.000-06:00

An original chicken picture? Oh yeah, happy day to me! :)

On repeat...

2014-02-24T15:16:00.000-06:00

It's Always the Quiet Ones - Paris Carney: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiQkz0HrgVA

Giants - Bear Hands: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhUUsYGpB2U

I Wish I Could Break Your Heart - Cassadee Pope: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByGmQn1uxJw

All Our Endless Love - The Bird and the Bee, ft. Matt Berninger: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IULpj5bQbAE

Human - Christina Perri: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5yaoMjaAmE

Enjoy, lovelies...

Courage

2014-02-20T15:13:00.000-06:00

Tension

2014-02-19T20:03:00.000-06:00

(I wrote this back in September of 2012 and I'm not sure why I didn't post it. Since I stand by it, here's a 'better late than never post.')

I recently finished reading President Bush's autobiography, Decision Points. It highlights different points in his presidency that he saw as significant markers. The 9/11 attacks and the wars following contributed significant pages numbers. It was fascinating to read it from the perspective of the man giving the orders.

One of the moments he mentioned was when Saddam Hussein was found in hiding. He was a vicious dictator that did unspeakable crimes since before I was born. For my entire life, his name has always meant bad or evil. When Bush was describing Hussein being found, it was literally paragraphs after revealing some heinous information about him, as if proving to any naysayers that his man was bad. Even knowing all of that, the reality was, he was an old man in an underground bunker. I remember seeing the pictures on TV. He looked disheveled, angry, defiant, and scared.

Although, I believe he should be punished for the crimes he committed, I found myself feeling sympathy for him. No one, even a horrible, despicable dictator, should ever be at the end of their life old and alone and in hiding. I felt the same way when Osama bin Laden was killed. I absolutely believe punishment was deserved, but no one, even a terrorist, should ever be at the end of their life facing death in that manner.

I believe that's the Holy Spirit in me creating that Divine conflict. I believe punishment is needed and even righteous, in some regard, but I can't get past the fact that these were still humans.

But here's where it hits my heart in a big way.

When recording information about Guantanamo Bay, where many terrorists were held, Bush records that the movie they most watched was one of the Harry Potter movies: a story about good versus evil, filled with fanciful imagery, and a magical world. These men who were bent on killing perceived infidels watched a story about a young boy and his friends with magical gifts. It blew my mind. I began to wonder, had these men ever had childhoods? Had they ever been allowed to dream or imagine? Had they been allowed to freely roam and play? How much time had they had before the rhetoric of their culture broke them and brainwashed them? It hurts me to think that.

I'm not trying to make some sweeping generalization that all terrorists had terrible childhoods and that that's the problem or that it somehow excuses their actions. That's simplistic and stupid. However, I do believe it's one more thing that set them off and another reason that I feel a kind of sympathy for them.

It's just that, I understand why governments resolve issues in this manner. I don't condemn those that devise or carry out those orders. However, unlike a lot of people I have seen all over the Internet, I cannot and will not celebrate the death of anyone. I will understand the relief that it brings, but I will not celebrate. The permanence of death sits too heavily with me.

On repeat...

2014-02-17T13:11:00.000-06:00

Pumpin Blood - NONONO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j4I0PqNzKE

Girls Chase Boys - Ingrid Michaelson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GBT37_yyzY

Books from Boxes - Maximo Park: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jmlWcItwxc

Once Upon a Dream - Lana Del Rey: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8waJ7W3QcJc

Let Go For Tonight - Foxes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pecj5GGjQi8

Enjoy, lovelies...

10 of 642

2014-02-14T15:38:00.000-06:00

Write a scene where the only spoken dialogue is "Uh-huh," "Umm," "Urrrr," "Mm-mmm."

Mitchell looked around the room. Four boys, including himself, three girls, and one that could go either way. He preferred when he was alone in detention. It gave him the opportunity to sweet talk the clueless old lady up front into letting him leave early. As the receptionist from the office who got shafted into working late, she often let him leave ahead of schedule.

Not today. With all these people in here, the Vice Principal, Mr. Powell, had taken over.

Mr. Powell was such a major pain in the butt. He relished being in charge of detention and always read from the handbook about the rules of detention.

The room went silent and Mitchell looked up, only to make direct eye contact with a ticked off Mr. Powell. The raised eyebrows and impatient foot tapping indicated he's reached the end of his spiel and was waiting for everyone to indicate they had heard him.

"Uh-huh," Mitchell muttered as he sank down in his chair and slipped off his shoes.

He stared at the clock.

3:19pm.

Detention was over at 6pm.

He glanced over at Mr. Powell. He had paperwork spread out over the desk and was tapping his bright red pen against his notepad. He was obviously lost in thought.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

The whole room focused on Mr. Powell's pen and if looks could kill, Mr. Powell would have been a goner. One of the girls shifted in her chair. That guy from Mitchell's Chemistry class cleared his throat.

TAP. TAP. TAP.

Just as everyone was summoning their last bit of strength to resist killing Mr. Powell, the classroom door burst open.

Mitchell, Mr. Powell, and everyone else jumped.

It's was Mrs. Powell, the librarian. Some people at the school used to say that Dolores Umbridge was modeled after this woman, but those were mostly the nerds. The rest just called her Satan. She and Mr. Powell were a match made in wherever it is awful people originate.

She motioned for Mr. Powell to come into the hall. He pointed around the room and shrugged. She crossed her arms and glared. Watching your teachers have marital discord was so awkward.

He sighed, walked across the room, and quietly muttered something inaudible before Mrs. Powell launched into a tirade. It seems someone had a bad day in the library. Turning beet red, Mr. Powell ushered his wife out and slammed the door. Muted yelling indicated that they were walking down the hall.

4:03pm.

Everyone stared at each other,but not daring to make a sound. Nobody was from the same social group. Mitchell didn't even know the names of two of the guys in the room.

He did, however, know Melanie Timms. They had gone to school together since second grade. They had even been partners last year for a history project. It was the only time he'd actually done the work required of him. On presentation day, she'd brought him a bag of his favorite candy, Skittles, as a reward for a job well done. He had liked her ever since eighth grade when Scott Anderson had grabbed her butt in the hallway, and she had turned around fast as lightning and punched him square in the nose, then helped him get to the school nurse.

He couldn't fathom what she could have done to get here. She was quiet, kept to herself, and was always reading books with long, complicated titles. He glanced at the door, then made his move. Strolling across the room, he plopped down next to Melanie. She brushed her hair from her face, smiled, and went back to doodling in her notebook.

Mustering up his courage, Mitchell opened his mouth, "Umm..." Melanie looked up quizzically. His mind went blank. She stared at him. Mitchell willed his brain to form words. She looked back down and began drawing again. Just as he was about to ask about her drawing, the door swung open with the reappearance of a visibly angry Mr. Powell. Everyone froze. However, Mr. Powell barely noticed the classroom full of students. He picked up some chalk and wrote, Detention - Early Dismissal @ 4:30pm, and began to gather up his papers.

4:22pm.

The room erupted in the sounds of backpacks being zipped and keys being fished out. A guy from the back of the room who had been napping, stretched and made an ungodly noise, "URRRR!" It sounded like Frankenstein's monster, only less pleasant.

Mitchell turned to look at Melanie. She was staring right at him. He started to sweat and his stomach churned. She tapped her pen and pointed to her notebook.

Can you give me a ride home?

His face broke out in a smile. Jackpot!

He grabbed her pen and scrawled, Sure. You want to stop at Sonic? I could really go for a chili cheese dog.

She smiled and rubbed her belly and let out a satisfied "Mm-mmm!"

4:30pm.

Mitchell went back across the room to gather up his stuff. When he was done, he looked up just in time to catch Melanie looking at him. She blushed.

4:32pm.

Mitchell got his keys out and grinned.

Who You Are

2014-02-13T15:03:00.000-06:00