No Lights

SOL #22

March 23, 2009

No Lights

I picked up my back pack and strolled downstairs. As I came near the last floor, I could hear the buzz of kids talking in the Lunch Room. I set my back-pack on the floor and wheeled it into the dark room that was inhabited by chattering shadows that stood leaning against the walls and tables with big back-packs draped from their backs. I sat down at the seat I had sat at in lunch. I pulled out a folder and started drawing on a blank piece of paper.

“Hi Ines!” Mehr called from the room’s door.

“Hello, Mehr.” I muttered. She sat down in front of me. I was happy to see her, but I couldn’t really see her at all in the darkness, students had been dismissed early because the lights had gone out all morning. 4 hours with no electricity, I had wished for that this morning. But I never expected it to come true.

“Bus number 9 and 8, people that ride on busses 9 and 8 come forward!” Mrs. Boatwright called,

“Bye Mehr.” I said softly, giving her a small smile.

“Bye Ines, see you tomorrow.” She answered with a big grin on her face. I turned back to the paper, I drew the dress that hung from the girls shoulders, and I added a couple of shades. I was so concentrated on the paper that about a 95% of the kids had left already and I didn’t notice until they called my name.

“Ines!” Mrs. Tuchi’s voice roared across the room. I slid the paper back into the folder and stood up. My dad waited next to the door. I hugged him,

“Why so early?” he asked me,

“Good question.” I muttered.