The Unknown

Progress reports

One year later

Lisa's pov

Today we received our progress report cards at school. The four of us are sitting in our room comparing the notes our teachers wrote on the cards. Carrie appears to be the only winner here. She has only meets expectations and above expectations checked on both her academic and behavioral categories. The rest of us are not so fortunate.

Julie and I have the worst fifth grade teacher at our school. She's like a thousand years old and has no sense of humor and no tolerance for rule breaking. Big surprise we have the most needs improvement boxes checked on our cards.

"I am so screwed," I say, frisbeeing my progress report across the room as I collapse on my bed.

Julie picks up my card, looks it over and replies, "What are you talking about, Lisa? Your report is better than mine."

"It still sucks," I sigh. "Spelling, gym, handwriting, and follows directions, all marked needs improvement. Shane and Mike are gonna be pissed."

"I'm in the same sinking boat you're in, Lisa." Stacey reads off her card, "Music, math, and respects others property, all needs improvement."

"Please, I have both of you beat by a landslide," Julie brags, picking up her card and reading it aloud. "Handwriting, works well with others, uses time wisely, punctuality, respects authority, and follows directions, all needs improvement and under comments it just says conference needed. Tell me that's not the cherry on top of the sundae, conference needed. When Shane and Mike see this, my ability to sit comfortably in the near future is going to be marked 'needs an insurmountable degree of improvement.' Don't feel so bad now, do ya?"

"Yeah, I do feel better. You are so screwed, cuz," Stacey smirks.

"Thanks," Julie says, throwing her pillow at her cousin. "You suck by the way."

I envy the two of them for being able to joke around at a time like this. I wish I could be so cavalier about disappointing Shane and Mike and the painful punishment that goes along with it.

"How much time do you think we have 'til they get here?" I ask anxiously.

"They should've been here by now," Stacey says, after looking at the clock. 

"That's great. I'm sure being stuck late at work will only enhance their pleasant demeanor," I quip sarcastically.

As if on cue, the phone rings. I pick it up, it's Shane.

"Look, we're runnin' late, girls, so if we're not back by 6pm, just go to dinner without us. Okay?"

"Yeah, sure," I reply.

I can hear Dr. Curtis in the background, "Donovan! If you're done gabbin' on the fuckin' phone, can we get back to the meeting please?"

Shit, he sounds pissed.

"Yes sir, I'll be right there," Shane responds. "Alright, Lisa, I've gotta go."

I hear Dr. Curtis again in the background, "Now, Donovan!" he yells.

"Bloody hell!" Shane mumbles under his breath, forgetting to cover the mouthpiece of the phone. "Bye, see you tonight, girls. Love you," he says quickly, before the line goes dead.

"Well the boys are runnin' late so we may be on our own for dinner."

"Did he say anything about our progress reports?" Stacey inquires.

"Nope. Maybe they don't even know we got them today," I say optimistically.

"If wishes were dreams," Julie says cryptically.