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“How come Gene’s all scary-moody again?” Tracy sat in the Math classroom, but had her Social Studies book open. Lisa had never seen her act so studious. Tracy paused to wave her pencil in the air. “I mean, just because he’s got his nose all bent doesn’t mean he has to growl at me.”
“Um… Tracy? Math is going to start soon. Are you sure you should be working on that?”
“Yeah! I got an A minus on the last test, and it was worth almost half our grade. But we’re talking about Gene here, right? I mean, what’s with him? He won’t tell me anything.”
“Wait. You’re getting an A in Social Studies, and a C in Math, and we’re in Math, but you’re working on the paper for Social Studies? Even if it’s due tomorrow, you could just do it after school. We only have one more period after this.” Lisa sat on top of her desk and kicked her heels. They had at least two more minutes before she had to sit properly. Plenty of time for kicking heels, not so much for answering Social Studies questions. “Seriously, how do you justify it?”
“You don’t understand. If I lose my A in Social Studies, then Mr. Gordon won’t let me doodle and stuff in class anymore. But in Math, it’s just a grade. As long as I get at least a C, there’s no problem. Right?”
“Is that true?” Mr. Foster stopped in the doorway and looked at Tracy.
“What? Oh! Mr. Foster. Sorry.” Tracy quick put her Social Studies stuff away.
“Is it true that Mr. Gordon will let you doodle if you keep your grades up?”
“Sure. Anything I want, as long as it doesn’t disrupt the class. But he’s really strict-like on the grades.”
Lisa thought he would say something more, but he kind of just went, “huh” then went to his desk like they hadn’t even said anything.
“The point is, I’m getting fed up with him. He wouldn’t even let me into his room last night, and all he wanted to talk about was some guy that Mrs. H kissed.”
“Oh! Is Drew back?”
“No. That’s the other thing Gene wanted to talk about. Who is this Drew guy, anyway?”
“It’s Mrs. H’s lover. I only met him a few times, but he’s really cool. Well, maybe a little strict, but you know he loves Mrs. H. a lot and he gets along great with Ben. But Ben said there’s some kind of problem, so he might not be the same when he comes back. But he’s coming back, and that’s what’s important.”
“Then why was she kissing someone else?”
“I don’t believe she was.” Lisa got off the top of her desk and moved to the seat as the bell rang. “Sounds like a bunch of hype to me.”
“Hype? The hype is what everyone keeps saying about this Drew dude.” Tracy got her math book out.
“Oh no, that isn’t hype. That’s legend.”
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Love those closing lines!
I loved the way the conversation was so clearly teenage. You so easily slipped into their persona’s and saw life through their young eyes.
Poor Drew. He’s a legend with no chance to live up to himself. Unless he finds a cure down there in Mexico?
very well written teenagers.poor Drew hope he finds himself and her.
Love that last line! And the teacher in me wonders what Mr. Gordon is really thinking.
Legend – I love it! I hope Drew finds his way back to being more than just legendary, though.
This made me want to go back to school..the energy and the world inside..you’ve captured it superbly..having the wrong book for the lesson ahead seems to follow you through life at times..and sticking to the things you’re good at! Jae
Ditto on the last couple of lines!! And yeah, you really do teens well!!
Sounds like no one, including Tracy, is going to be happy until Drew comes back. Love the last line!