English

The next class was English, and you had not even read the chapters you were meant to, let alone do the work you had been assigned.

This teacher was not as easy going as Kangal, and you knew it would be tougher. He could be very strict, and everyone knew it. He considered people slacking off to be a serious insult to him, and be (correctly) believed you guilty of that.

The only benefit was that each year got a different book to study, so you were not too far behind in this class.

You decided to take a different approach with him when you approached him after class.

Pity you did not simply get that chance.

Being called on to answer questions you did not know, or could even guess really ticked him off!

That earned you a lunchtime detention.

After class, during the break before the next double, you waited and said “Can I have a word with you sir?”

“I will not go light on you, or revoke your detention.”

Mentally sighing, you surprised him “I am not expecting you to. You hold us to strict standards to make us do our best.”

Getting onto focus you got to the issue “I apologize for my poor work. Issues at my last school gave me massive studying problems, and I have been adjusting to moving here. This is not an excuse, but an explaination.”

. . .He was confused by now.

“I do intend to improve in my classes, and hope my future work will reflect that. The reason I wanted to speak with you was because I have arranged with my history teacher to get copies of assignments to do as a study guide at the start of lunch. Doing them will not affect my grades directly, just help me learn better. I ask to be allowed to arrive a little bit late so I can get that work.”

The teacher thought for a bit and came to a decision. “You will have five minutes to get it at the start of lunch, and I will be checking.”

“Thank you sir! I had better go and prepare for my next class.”

He waved you off in dismissal.

As you left you thought to yourself “It could have been much worse.”