Count Your Own Blessings

Similes

The next class was English. Mr. Davis has the reputation of being the strictest teachers of them all. His levels of excellence were high beyond reach, but I have somehow managed to produce works that satisfies him and sometimes even good enough for examples to show to the class.

Since then, I would wait in anticipation for Mr. Davis to give student examples at the end of every class, even if he kept them anonymous. I was the student example for three weeks in a row. Today, after Mr. Davis droned on and on about how to use metaphors, similes, and the whatnots, he finally said, "Now, here is one of the students' example of using a simile."

I leaned forward in my seat, intent of hearing my writing being read out. Instead, I heard, "Her eyes shone like stars at night." I sat back, perplexed, that was definitely not my writing. I looked around the room, and saw Zoey's face lit up so bright, the sun would have been jealous.

Jealous, yes, so what? Could you just be happy that your friend's writing has been shared with the class for the first time? I thought. You've already gotten your chance for three weeks in a row, have you forgotten? I tried to convince myself. But another voice, smaller than the others, sounded in my head. Oh, look, now even your friend is better at you in writing, by the way, in math too.

For the rest of the class, Andre's taunts replayed over and over, like a broken record. You only got 72 percent on the easiest math test in the world!

When the bell rang, I couldn't take it anymore. I ran out of the classroom and to the nearest trash can, there was nothing in it, like everyday in the morning when the janitors emptied them. I whipped out my math test, the numbers, 72, written in blood red ink, seemed to be laughing in my face. "Why'd you score so low on the easiest math test in the world?"

Shut up. I thought, and crumpled up the paper, then threw it into the trash can with a force that drove it to the bottom. No one paid me any attention as I left, leaving my test to be buried underneath other student's trash that will come later in the day. Good, now my test will be as gone as yesterday.