"What's with that girl over there?" Britney whispered as she combed her fingers through her bottle-blond hair.
"Which one?" asked Sarah as she fiddled with a charm-bracelet on her left wrist.
"That one, there. In the corner. Have you ever seen her talk to anybody?"
"Psh--no," Sarah smirked. "She never raises her hand or anything."
"Look at what she's wearing," Britney laughed. "That hoodie has stains on it!"
"Yeah," Sarah chuckled, but still maintained a whisper. "And who wears a parka like that anymore? What is she doing, climbing Mt. Everest?"
"I know," Britney was having a field day. "It's like, hello, make up your MIND already! Hoodie or parka. Ugh!?"
"Fashionista alert!" Sarah scrunched her faux-tan face like an armadillo. "Call Tyra, stat!"
The two girls cackled like banshees.
"All right class," the gray-haired professor cleared his throat. "Let's quiet down."
Sarah slid her Aeropostle backpack to the ground and Britney applied a fifth coat of lip gloss.
"We've got a few more oral-recitations to finish up before we get started today. Clara," the professor pointed to the girl in the corner. "Would you like to read your poem to the class?"
"Okay," Clara sounded like a scared mouse.
"This'll be good," Britney whispered to Sarah.
Clara pushed her long, dirt colored hair out of her eyes. She wore no make-up and acne was speckled across her face. She was awkwardly tall and very broad shouldered. "My poem is called Deity," she muttered nervously.
"Good Lord," Britney squeaked. Sarah burst into giggles.
"Deity," Clara cleared her throat. "The Deity knows her heart. The Deity knows her soul. The Deity is all-knowing. The Deity has control."
"The Deity needs a nightcap," Sarah whispered.
"Or a man," Britney added with a cocky smile.
"Ladies, please!" The professor gave them a scornful look.
"Sorry, Dr. Johnson," Britney said in a falsetto.
"The Deity," Clara continued apprehensively, "judges no one. The Deity's a saint. The Deity does what's right, especially when you c'aint!" Clara paused, shook her hair out of her eyes, and slumped down to her seat.
"V-very nice," Dr. Johnson clapped. A few others joined in sparingly, but most sat in stunned silence.
"Holy crap", Britney mouthed to Sarah.
"Wow," a boy in front of them turned around. "That's the weirdest thing I've ever heard."
"Definitely," Britney agreed.
* * *
An hour later, the eager students rushed out of the classroom. Britney and Sarah lagged behind.
"See," Britney grinned. "Wasn't that awesome?"
"Yeah," Sarah nodded. "She's one odd duck, all right."
"Well, I'm off to my dance class. We're picking partners for the Rumba," Britney squealed like a sow. "I SO want to be picked by a hottie!!!"
"We should get a manny after my Biology test," said Sarah.
"For sure-shees!" Britney blew her a kiss. "Tootles!!!"
"Tootles," Sarah waved. She walked down the hall and stopped in front of the drinking fountain. A gargoyle-esque figure was hunched over, gulping it down like a failing ficus. "Ugh," Sarah groaned impatiently.
"Oh, sorry," Clara backed up slowly, wiping slobber from her chin.
"Uh-huh," Sarah rolled her eyes. She lapped her water gracefully, turned, and headed towards the doors.
"Tell Aunt Cindy hi from me," Clara called out. "We're all praying she gets better soon."
Sarah rubbed the bracelet in her fingers; a gift from her mother when she turned sixteen. "Yeah," she looked past Clara. "I will."
Clara wiped her nose on her sleeve and headed off to math.
9 years ago
2 comments:
People are so mean. That took an unexpected turn at the end there. At first, I was laughing at Clara. Then, I was sad for her. I know that she is your conception of yourself, but seriously... That's not you.
I was trying to do the same type of story as your "Gorilla" one. Kinda.
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