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What kind of school has no trig class? ButAP Trig Do you see that D there?” I tap ot for AP Geometry “I only passed that class because uy to kill his hile he was out to dinner with the chief of police and was distracted with atteot an A on the final, he’d pass me with a D”
Mr Bowot an A?”
“I did”
“And stopup stories like that, Shannon It makes you look crazy”
“That story was true, asshole When you’re living a life like mine, there’s no need for lies”
He sighs Loudly, like he’s just about done with me “The ied you and you rose to the occasion I’ain”
Defeat washes over me Dear God Can this life suck any worse than it already does?
Why, yes, God says Yes, it can You cannot graduate high school, Shannon Even though you’re seven credits ahead
I’d get angry, except I’ that too I’d walk out, but what the fuck? I did the work, goddaetting it done early?
“Are we in agreement then?” Bowman asks “You’ll do the extra work?”
I look down atfor pity “I don’t want to rise to the occasion, Mr Bowh this last seh all the ones that came before this” I look up and , I just want to exist right now And there’s no way I can skate through AP Trig I’rade by mistake I swear to God And then they refused to let me drop down to a lower class They forced , Mr Bow”
He sighs again “Look, I should’ve told you all this when you transferred here last month But it eeks before Christured it was best to break the bad news after the holidays You’ve been through a lot, Shannon You’ve been to five different high schools, three in your junior year alone So I understand that you’re upset and life is difficult right now But it’s not the best tiive up It’s the best time to work harder”
“Upset? Upset doesn’t even begin to cover it You told me I was ahead last se in the office and the library just to fill out my schedule”
“Again,” he says with his practiced sympathetic tone, “I’m sorry We didn’t knohat to do with you Your school in San Diego had you working in the office and library, so we just did what they did”
“Because at that school, I was ahead And it was a helluva lot nicer than this dump”
“And now at this dump, you’re behind I’ve talked to everyone I could Now, I canyou now, the adive in”
I sigh I ht cry, that’s how frustrated I am
“Would you like me to ask one more time?”
I nod, sing down my tears
“OK Stay put Calm down And I’ll be back”
This is not an office, per se It’s a room filled with desks and counselors Like half a dozen of them And there are kids everywhere I suddenly realize lots of people are staring atme have a meltdown
My whole face heats up as I glance at the guy next toa black Taking Back Sunday concert shirt, I’d have pegged hih school you are what you wear “Nice shirt,” he says, pointing to e the Elephant “You ever see them in concert?”
“Where the fuck do you think I got the shirt?” I snap
He puts his hands up and smiles I look away real fast, afraid that he will realize I’h Notin the counseling office does not screa to be nice screams bitch