User:Bulamutumumo

Burroughs

“Well, here I am again.” I thought to myself. I was sitting in the usual spot. It was a huge brown chair that made me look diminutive by comparison. I found it extra cozy for that reason. Being larger than the other kids brought a toll with it, and being able to sit there and look like an average ten year old made up for the trouble I’d be in. It felt like an hour went by before I heard the door open. As I heard the Dead latch click, I drew a quick breath in weary anticipation. Before I even finished inhaling, I was asked the first question. “What did you do this time?” I knew to keep my answers short, but it was always best if I did not answer at all. I hesitantly replied “Fighting.” However, I knew it really couldn’t be described as fighting, because it was one-sided and brief. What happened was a kid beat me at basketball, and then said something irksome. I picked him up by his neck, but before anything further happened it was promptly broken up. “Fighting? Mitchell, you’re going to have to be more detailed than that.” I stared blankly at the wall. It was only a matter of time before the scolding would continue on its own. My response wasn’t required. “Mitchell, you might as well tell me your side. I already know what happened.” I continued staring at the wall. I knew the outcome was predetermined. After a few moments the silence was broken. “Seeing how this is one of many occurrences for you. You will stay inside your classroom, during recess, for a month.” I’m sure my incredulous glare was noticed. Not only was I dumbfounded; I was very livid. Yet, I sat in silence while I contemplated what I would do with the one-hundred some hours of monotony that I’d be subjected to. My punishment wasn’t even partially digested when the office phone rang. The second door opened and the secretary notified the other occupant of a phone call for them. They both walked into the office, talking along the way. The door shut quietly behind them and all that was left of them were their muted voices in the other room. I kept trying to think what I was going to do, but the thought was drowned out by a cacophony of indignant voices from the past. Each reprimanded me for a past misdeed. I kept trying to think to myself what I was going to do during the punishment. No matter how hard I tried, it always revolved around an angry thought or action.

I finally had enough and bolted out the door, then continued on through the main entrance. I was outside now and my shoes met the pavement with glee. The sun felt brighter than usual as I ran past the playground. I heard shouting to my right as I ran, but I was too far away to care what was said. I made it to my grandma’s apartment complex. She was out front talking to a friend. I ran past her, went through the door, down the hallway, and out the back door. I was looking for a place to hide, but I had few choices. I quickly chose the garbage bin enclosure. It was an eight foot tall wooden shed without a roof. Its walls didn’t meet the ground, so I had to squeeze myself between the two garbage bins and hope my feet didn’t show. While I was waiting, something glinted in the corner of my eye. I reached under the garbage bin and grabbed it. It was an odd-shaped scrap of metal that resembled a crowbar. I put it back down and crept to the shed door. I peeked out looking for my grandma’s car and it was gone. I decided to sneak into her apartment. I only just entered when the phone rang. I instinctively picked it up, but I regretted it immediately. “Is Mitchell there?” they asked. “No, this is Jack Meof.” “Mitchell, get your butt back to school.” I was scared witless and hung up the phone. I ran back to the garbage shed to hide and when I was squirming back into my hiding spot, the piece of metal shone. I picked it up and swung it around a bit. It made a low hum when it cut through the air. I left the shed and made my way back to the office. I was running like a bat out of hell. I’m sure I caught many furtive glances while running back. It sure was a peculiar sight for a town of under four-thousand. I was a five foot, eighty pounds, ten year old boy running with a hunk of metal. When I reached my destination I walked through the front door. The Principal was right there, she darted me a look akin to a startled deer in the headlights. She took sprinting as fast as she could and that was an extraordinary feat for a woman her size. I followed her, casually jogging along. We passed by my teacher, she was yelling something at me. Her words dissipated at my heels as I exited the building. Immediately after I got outside, my eyes were assaulted by bright blue and red lights. Now, I was the one being chased. I ran with all my energy towards the library a few blocks down. Each footstep sounded like a clanging cell door to me. When I made it to the library, the police car pulled up and out came a decrepit police officer. I quickly looked around for an escape. I saw an opportunity to jump from one central air unit to the next until I got behind the library. As I was making my way over to pursue that route, a younger police officer blocked it. I turned around and the older officer was looking right back at me. “Drop it.” He commanded. “I’ll smuck ya with it.” I countered. He laughed and stated “No, you won’t.” He called my bluff, so I dropped the piece of metal. He motioned for me to get into the car. I looked at him with surprise and questioned why I didn’t get handcuffs. He laughed and opened the door. I got in and when I sat down inside the car. The Rolling Stones were playing on the radio. I don’t know why, but I laughed.