So, I've always talked about how smart I am. Cause I am. But there's more to it than that. I'm in the gifted program.
Yeah. I'm like, super smart.
They didn't call it the 'gifted program' (so the... less gifted (stupid) kids wouldn't feel bad), instead they called it the... AID program (It stands for Advanced Instructional Development) ... but... if you look at it for even a second... it looks like 'AIDS'. Yeah.
I was an AIDS kid.
I think they forgot to read the name before making it official.
We could even make the 'S' stand for something like... Studies, or something. Yeah, that works.
Okay, besides the name, there's more to this program than just 'advanced instruction'. This program basically took up part of school to help kids grow with their creative abilities- basically, we went and did cool projects for a class. We would do things such as create instruments out of paper and plastic, or use computers to design stuff- yeah they let elementary kids use computers. You know this now, from the chapter about notebooks. Ew, books.
So, the school year is about two thirds done, and in the AID program (still can't get over the name. I'm probably just gonna call it the AIDS program now), we were going to do what's called the AIDS Fair. For this, each AIDS kid would research about whatever topic we wanted to research about, and then present it to the rest of the class. After we presented, we went out in the hallways, set up posters, and presented our projects to people who were walking by (Or when the teachers made their classrooms walk out and listen to us).
For my AIDS project, I decided to research...
Nothing. I couldn't think of anything. No, really, I couldn't think of any ideas to do. We were sitting, listening to the teacher talk about how it was important to building our fundamental greatness or whatever, and I was drawing up a blank. No ideas. None. I wasn't thinking about anything I wanted to research. Well, things I wanted to research, not specific people- uh... well, I mean... gross! Researching people! Especially someone like- why am I even thinking of Caitlyn?
We were assigned seats to sit at the computer lab and as we were walking there, I still couldn't think of any ideas. I sat down in my seat, pulled up the note-taking website we had been introduced to, and just sat there. For a while, too. I could hear the people around me typing away at their keyboards, probably looking up things that actually interested them. I was just looking up pictures of Luigi or something.
The teacher was coming around to check on us. Uh oh, I'm supposed to be doing work and I haven't done a single productive thing all class period. Time to look up something completely random and hope it works.
What's the first thing that comes to mind? Caitlyn! NO YOU IDIOT WHY DID YOU EVEN THINK OF HER
Second thing that comes to mind? STILL ONLY THINKING ABOUT CAITLYN WHY THE
I know why! It's because I hate her so much, I'm thinking about all the ways I hate her, and want to annoy her, and be with her... so I can annoy her. Yeah, yeah. See?
I didn't look anything up. I just put my hands on my face and let my head drop. The teacher came around and saw that I had pictures of Mario's brother on the screen with no other tabs open and asked how I was doing.
I was doing just great, obviously.
No, no I wasn't. I started to feel actually really horrible right about now. Like, really bad.
Sometimes I get this weird sensation when I feel extremely emotional. My eyes feel like they spark and flare up, and then a weird liquid secrets out slowly from my eyes, and it feels like sweat but nearly not as salty or tasty
I started crying.
God.
I was crying silently, because the loud Hu-HAUNs some people make when they cry (I'm included in this section of people) is extremely annoying, and I didn't want to disturb the people around me. I essentially held my breath to prevent myself from doing that. Like, I was trying so hard you would congratulate me for working that hard. Yeah, that's right, I'm a pretty good crier. Wait.
The teacher saw I was crying and consulted me, asking what I liked to do, and I randomly decided sports. I guess it was the third thing that came to mind.
Teach decided to ask if I wanted to do that for my project. Gee, why didn't I think of that? Probably because SOMEONE had taken over my mind.
Using the ideas of sports, I decided to research the origin of sports. My project started to work, and I'm pretty sure no one saw me crying.
"That was smooth, Becky."
WHO THE
"What?"
I had somehow paid not enough attention to not notice Caitlyn sitting at the computer desk right next to mine. Wait, did she just call me- YOU JUST CALLED ME BECKY AGAIN STOP
"Since when did you get there?"
"Wha- when you got here?"
She was there the whole time? Unbelievable.
"Uh huh, sure. What'd you... mean by smooth?"
"Oh, nothing, just, you have a little something right here."
She wasn't pointed at me to show me, she was using her own face for reference. She was dragging her fingers down from the bottom of her eyes to her cheeks and off of her chin.
"Uh, what're you talking about?"
Maybe... if I act dumb enough, she'll forget what happened.
"You're still crying, Becky."
"NO I'M NOT!"
The other students looked at me. I wiped my eyes and the rest of my face off with my shirt. I stared back at Caitlyn.
"I mean, no I'm not."
"Mm, I don't think anyone else saw besides me, so, good job holding it in. You looked like you were gonna puke."
mmmmmmmMMMMM SHUT UP
"Shut up, the topic I'm researching has a lot of sad stuff in it, I started crying when she read it out loud to me."
She leaned over to look at my computer.
"You're... looking at pictures of balls."
Sports* balls.
"They... look really sad."
"Yeah, right."
"Shut up."
I'll show her. I'll knock her presentation right out of the park when I present mine. Mine's gonna be so good, she won't even have the words to speak.
Mine... was basic. I just talked about how lots of sports originated in Europe, and it was super boring. And so was everyone else's, so I won't talk about anyone else's. It's fourth graders- you think we're creative?
Okay, that's not the highlight of this chapter. The bigger part is the actual Fair part.
The AIDS Fair. God, it's such a funny name.
For the AIDS Fair, we all take our poster boards or whatever we made and put them on top of tables and just stand there for hours, hoping smaller children walk up and ask us about our topics. Great, standing around for hours at a station, giving boring presentations? That's gonna be so boring!
"Hey, Becky."
NO NO I'D RATHER BE BY MYSELF THAN BE WITH HER
I placed my poster board down, and realized my station was right next to Caitlyn's. Yeah, I've got a problem.
"Y- oh, never mind, it's just you."
"Geeze, so-rry."
"Sure you are."
There was a bit of silence between us as we were finishing setting up our posters. I glanced over. Her project was on emotions. Well, I'll be! That's an incredibly boring project! i cant be talking can i
"Hey, wanna have a contest?"
What am I doing? Why would I say that, of all things, to start a conversation? What am I thinking, a contest? Over the AIDS Fair? I don't even think I've participated in a contest besides for sports before.
"A contest?"
"Yeah, you wanna see who can get more people to go to their station?"
I think it's a good idea.
"Good idea, Becky."
You ruined it. You ruined it, you had to say that name. Of course.
"What does the winner get?"
I didn't think that far ahead. I presumed she'd ignore or deny the idea and I'd have to come up with another way to make fun of her. But now, I've gotta do some quick thinking and figure out the award.
"How about... the loser has to do what the winner wants them to do for... a whole day?"
Oh, no. Why did I do that? I could've picked a much better award. Not only is it most likely not going to be in my favor because her topic (maybe) is a little more interesting than mine, but I also wouldn't be able to think of anything to punish her for. She won't accept, right?
"Sure, Becky."
God, when she calls me that I freaking writhe. And with the current context, it makes me especially angry.
"Oh, and no 'water clones' to pretend like you get more people, got it?"
I rolled my eyes. She thinks she's so funny.
"Shut up, you too."
So, who do you think won?
Me, obviousl-
"HAHAHAHAHA WHAT ARE YOU WEARING BECKY"
"Shut up, Anna."
"WHY DO YOU HAVE A COLLAR AROUND YOUR NE-"
"Shut up, Anna!"
Why do I have to sit with her? Can't I switch sea- oh, wait, I remember. The teacher DIDN'T LET ME. Why not, again? I dunno, maybe she just doesn't like me. I have no idea why, I always pay attention in class.
Anna kept laughing at me, and some people that walked in had a couple suspicious looks on their face. I glared at anyone who tried to talk to me about it. The teacher didn't even question me about it.
After Anna kept making jokes, eventually... Caitlyn walked in.
"Huh."
"I brought the collar. Are you happy?"
"Of course."
"And I'm wearing it."
"Good."
"Now what do you want me to do?"
"Hmm, let me think. I want you to act like a dog during recess, and obey my every command. Okay?"
"H-Hell no! Not okay! That sounds super dumb!"
Aha! I cursed again! I'm maturing so quickly, I'm amazed at myself!
"That was part of the deal, right?"
"But that's... too mean! I was just going to... I dunno, make you say something dumb out loud. That's not nearly as bad as what you're going to make me do. This isn't fair at all!"
Well, to tell the truth, I never really came up with anything to make her do.
"It was your challenge, right? I don't think it's fair that you're complaining."
She... has a point. Sure, I didn't have a plan, and sure, her topic (I still refuse to tell you what it was) was only slightly more interesting than mine, but I think I still won that contest. Why? Cause... I'm cooler.
Ughhhhh yeah, you're right, I didn't really do anything. I haven't even really done anything this entire chapter to make it seem like I'm worthwhile. Wait, no, I said I'm in the gifted program! Ha, I'm awesome, see!
I'm starting to wonder if the kids in the gifted program are really supposed to be there. Especially if both Caitlyn and I are in it- wait, uh, I don't even know why I mentioned Caitlyn.
I can't stop think- no, I can't stop hating Caitlyn. This is so hard. Why is it so hard?
"Aw, shoot, I spilled {Insert your least favorite condiment here} on the table! Hey, Becky, can you go clean it up?"
"Why would I help y-"
Oh, wait, the deal.
"Fine."
It was lunch time now. I was rushing to the bathroom and back, cleaned up the mess for her, Notice how it's the opposite of how it works for a dog and their owner. Doesn't that irony fit nicely?
Anyway, I did my hard work and hoped that during recess it would be much easier.
"Becky, I'm tired."
"Sick. So what?"
"Can you create a water bench for me?"
She seems to like making fun of me for being obsessed with having water powers. I was an Elementary kid, of course I'd love the thought of being able to move water with my mind! Just think, if you could move an object with your mind, you'd (freak out) be super psyched, right? That's exactly how I felt. And she just doesn't realize it.
"Uh, no. How would I even do that?"
Just kidding, I know exactly how to make a bench out of water.
"Well, aren't you made of water?"
Uh what's she implying
"What do you mean?"
"If you're made of water, can't you just use yourself?"
Still don't get it.
"What?"
"Becky, she's saying become her bench and let her sit on top of you."
"Anna! Shut up that's not- no-"
"Yes, that's what you wanted. So, Becky do that."
Haha, what? What does that mean, Anna?
"Uh, no? How would I even do that?"
"I dunno, just get on your hands and feet."
"Um... yeah, Becky, you're the dog, right?"
Caitlyn seems to ALSO like calling me a dog. Maybe she should've made a custom collar that said 'Becky the Dog' on it. Wait, I shouldn't give anyone ideas.
How do I- what am I supposed to- what?
"Uh, still no? I don't really want my hands to get dirty."
I showed her my recently washed hands to prove my point. Washing my hands is a very important thing to me, and it's something that everyone should also value highly. You never know what's gonna happen.
"You're a dog."
Ugh.
"Dogs always get dirty, so you shouldn't care."
"I- Argh, fine."
I got into the all-fours position. Inconceivable.
"Okay... I'm tired, so... I'm gonna sit down for a while."
This is completely humiliating- I'm not gonna stand for this (or, I guess, position myself in a yoga pose for this).
I felt a light presence fall onto my back. I actually managed to withstand holding the weight for a few, seconds, and then CAitlyn put all her weight down.
Heavy as ************.
"Ouch!"
I fell down, with Caitlyn toppling down immediately after.
"Becky! You're supposed to STAY up!"
"It's not my fault! It's because you're so heavy!"
Everyone looked at me. I realized what I just said. I covered my mouth.
"Anna, how could you say that?"
Anna made a confused face at me.
"Did you just call me fat?"
Caitlyn was staring straight at me.
I don't think I've ever made that big of a mistake in my life (Yet.)
She looked furious. Do you need... some salt for that wound?
"Uh, no, are you deaf?"
Big mistake, again.
"exCUSE me? Say that ag-"
"Hey, smile!"
Anna was holding up a thin, rectangular box with a little circle, and she was looking straight at it. I stared at the little circle and waited before anyone else said anything to question what was happening.
"Ava! What the hell- no!"
"What are you doing?"
"Just... taking... a few pictures."
She was walking around us, rotating. Wait, how is she gonna take a picture with the box?
"Why are you doing that?"
"Uh, I dunno, Becky, maybe it's cause you're being used as a chair?"
So... Caitlyn had never, uh, gotten off of me. She was still sitting on top of me. That's why my back hurts, I guess.
"G-Get off of me!"
"Sorry!"
"That's so cute."
"Anna, shut up!"
We both responded to her with that. She stumbled off of me, and I quickly stood up and brushed the dirt off of my shorts. I looked at her with astonished eyes, and she returned the look.
"I'm... never being your... bench again."
"Well... I never wanted to sit... to use you as a bench anyway."
It feels like there's a blank space in between us. Something's wrong.
"Ahem. What pictures?"
We both looked at Anna. She held her phone to her chest.
"Not showing!"
I made a furious face and screamed, along with Caitlyn,
"ANNA!"178Please respect copyright.PENANAYHF8Cxg7L1