An Idea Journal

Click Click Click

It all started with a click.

I guess it would be more interesting if it was a bang, or even a pop. But no, it was just a click, barely audible, like that of the letter 'H' on a keyboard. In fact it was the letter 'H', h for hold.

I didn't know then then of course, back then I was panicking, trying to take care of the sixth graders, trying to, I don't know I guess just trying to be like the characters in all the books I read. Trying to be safe and confident, strong and in control, but its kinda hard to do that when your small, mousy and quiet. Well not really quiet more like never given a chance.

Any way, what I like to call the click started on May fourth. I know, I know May the fourth be will you and all that. It was the last class of the day and I was sitting at my desk in my over sized Star Wars T-shirt, pretending to work counting down the minutes until I could go home. All of a sudden Mr.Turner stops and starts staring out the window, he was just breathing and blinking not even his fingers were twitching.

Only a few others seemed to notice because the bell rang and everyone swarmed the door to leave. I stood up, Mr. Turner freaking me out a little.

"Mr.Turner?" I asked snapping my fingers in front of his face. "MR.TURNER!"

I sighed something was seriously wrong with that guy. I mean he was kinda weird to begin with, you know the teacher, the one that gives a quiz almost everyday to check tour homework and instead of walking around making sure that your not cheating just stares you down. No? You don't have one of those? Lucky.

Anyway as I finish packing up my stuff a yell rises from the hall,

"We're lock in!" Someone shouts. I push my way through to the front of the pack and tried the door. It didn't even budge. You know when a door is lock and it has a little bit of that 'jiggle room'? This door didn't have that, it felt like it was completely sealed shut. I looked out the window and I could see more kids struggling with the other doors.

"Did somebody try asking the secretary in the office to unlock the doors?" Brian called. He was kinda a jerk, but the teachers all loved him so we had to play nice.

From the silence that was hurting my ears (see the sarcasm) I could tell that no one had. I pushed back through the group and into the front office.

The secratary, I think she liked to be called Barbra, had a phone pressed to her ear but she wasn't talking, in fact she wasn't moving at all. She was like like Mr.Turner, blinking and breathing, but other than that just taking up space.