Empty Classroom

Passed a group of boys standing by some lockers on the way to my class and my sense of smell was accosted by an overpowering wave of men’s cologne. Over the next few days I subbed for the AP Biology class of a high school. AP stands for Advanced Placement and these kids were on the fast track to success. The only pressure they applied was to themselves. I did notice, however, that after test in last period, they all wanted to go to the library and work on their projects, which were due at the end of the week. At one point, I looked up to see only two students playing a game on the computer set up on the back counter.

A runner came in with a message for one of the students. “Wha--?” she said. “Where is everyone?” And I looked up from my novel to the empty classroom. “They’re in the library,” I said, knowing full well, they had all gone home.