I'm sorry this took so long!! I got busy studying for exams and kinda forgot about this, oops! The next one might take some time too, so sorry in advance for that one.
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Property of Russia
After the teacher dismissed us when the bell rang, I let Ukraine guide me to my next class. It wasn't too suspicious, or intimidating in the slightest. Ukraine was quite shorter than me. But, I hope that whoever that guy was knew to stay away from me when he was around. He did go to this school system while I was homeschooled. Maybe he has a reputation that allows his peers to be safer.
I got to my class pretty soon. Me and my brother didn't talk too much on the way there, for the reason that you should know by now. I waved goodbye to him and he waved back before I entered my classroom.
If you memorized my schedule, you'd notice that I haven't been to the last mandatory class, English. Well, that class isn't required here. It's pretty obvious as to why we don't have to take English Language Arts, but we could if we wanted to. I didn't want to, since I speak mostly Russian, but am fluent in English for the most part.
Instead, my last class is Astronomy. I don't really know why, but I love the stars. There is so much to see in space, and I totally want to be the one to see it all.
I sit down near the back. I chose a spot near a poster that had all the constellations on it, and I tried to find my zodiac sign. I know that zodiac symbols were astrology, but I was still interested. I soon found the Capricorn and smiled. My birthday is on December 25th, by the way.
There was a few minutes before class started, so I looked for my favorite constellation, Drago, and for my family's zodiac signs. My dad was also a Capricorn, so his was easy to find. My sister was a Leo, and I admired the lion for a few moments before continuing to find my brother's sign, Virgo.
After I was done I spaced out until I heard my name. I thought it would be for role call, but it wasn't. I turn to see Poland, who decided to sit beside me.
"Hey, Ros!" She chimed.
I waved to her, giving a smile.
"You like space, huh?" Poland asked me.
I nodded. I adored space, it was all so cool. I'm going to see it one day, I just know it.
"I do too," Poland said, putting her face in her hands. She looked at the poster behind me with dreamy eyes.
Poland talked to me for maybe two minutes before I heard my name be called again. It still wasn't the teacher. Instead, I look up to see red-and-white stripes.
I wave at America. He waves back, a bright happy smile on his face. He sits in front of me, his arms on the back of the chair. He was in it backwards, but he looked pretty comfortable.
"Hello, are you a friend of Ros?" Poland asked beside me. I forgot that they hadn't met yet.
"Yeah, we met in math class," America responded. "Who might you be?"
"I'm Polska, Poland if you want it in English. Me and Ros met when we were small, before his whole mute thing happened."
"Neato! What did he sound like?" America asked, leaning forward in his chair in interest.
I put up my hands defensively. It didn't matter how I sounded, and I know I didn't have the manliest voice when I was in fifth grade.
"Y'know, like all us kids did," Poland said, shrugging. "Anyways, I never got your name."
"Oh, I'm United States of America. But America is fine," The striped boy put out his hand for Poland to shake.
"Nice to meet you, Ameryka!" Pola said happily.
I shake my head with smile. I think these two will get along.
Soon the teacher comes in. He's Mr. I.S.A., we've met before. My dad had a business meeting and I had to come along since my dad was paranoid about leaving me home alone.
He talked for a bit about introducing himself, then went over the role call. It was a while before he got to me, R is pretty far in the alphabet.
"Russia?"
I raise my hand, hoping he'd look up from his computer where he was taking attendance. He didn't.
"Is Russia here?" he asked.
I scowled. I would have groaned if I could. Luckily, Poland and America caught on.
"Yep!" Poland chimed.
"He's right here," said America.
I.S.A. looked up and saw my hand raised. "Oh yeah, I remember you. Can't talk."
I nod. I sink into my chair, the attention being drawn to me. He didn't have to point that out.
After he finishes up role call, he says that we probably went over the syllabus in every other class, and don't need to now. If I could have, I would have joined the few students who cheered.
I.S.A. was actually pretty cool. He let us do whatever since it's the first day, but he told us that it should be about space or each other. I guess we have to know our classmates. That won't be hard, since there was maybe 15 of us. He also said that he wasn't afraid to take up phones on the first day of school,
Me, Poland, and America continue talking. America says something about his amazing space program. I but in and say mine is better, to which America responds with "you wish!"
Poland laughed at our little argument. "You both have amazing space programs," she told us. "I've barely even gotten a satellite up, no way I'd get cosmonauts on the moon!"
I pat the red-and-white girl's shoulder. It's okay that she doesn't have the most advanced space program, hers was fairly new after all.
"cosmo-whats?" America asked, confusion plastered on his face.
"Cosmonauts," Poland repeated. "You know, the people you send to space?" It sounded like she was talking to a small child.
"Nah, those are called astronauts, 'cause astro means star, and that's where I'll go, to the stars!" America says, pointing a thumb at his chest and making a self-righteous look.
I look at him funny. Astronaut? That sounds weird.
"No, their called cosmonauts, since cosmo means universe and that's where we'll go!" Poland argued. She wrapped her arm around my shoulders as I agreed with her.
And, that's basically how my final period went. We continued talking about whether the people we send to space were called cosmonauts or astronauts (they are called cosmonauts).
In the end, I.S.A. didn't end up taking any phones, but he did have us make sure we at least new one person in the room. I could check that one of the list.
I.S.A. let us leave a minute before the bell rung, too. He said that the halls get really crowded, so we get a head start. Me and my friends thanked him in the way out.
"Hold on, I.S.A."
The teacher looked up at America and nodded for him to continue.
"Are they called cosmonauts or astronauts?"
I.S.A. laughed. "Well, those are two different words. Yes, they basically mean the same thing, but they both have different qualifications and shouldn't be used interchangeably. But, since you asked, astronaut is the term that is used more frequently."
America cheered. "See! I was right!" He boasted.
"Nuh-uh! He said they were still different," Poland responded.
I put my hands up. They shouldn't start arguing again. They apologized and we began to go to where we would be going home from. I was going to wait for Ukraine and Belarus in front of the school, so I was able to walk with Poland for a little while. America went in the opposite direction.
Me and Poland talked about things that weren't really all too interesting. Stuff about how we were still right, more drama I had missed, and we even got on to the topic of that major break-up again, but Poland still wouldn't say who the couple was.
I got curious, and decided to ask Poland about her own boyfriend. Estonia mentioned him during art, but she never talked more about him.
Poland laughed nervously with a blush. "Oh, it's not that interesting. He just studied with me for a while and things progressed from there."
I smiled at her. I didn't want to push her, but I was still really curious.
"You'll be able to meet him sometime, don't worry," she told me.
I pumped my fists in victory. Poland laughed. We were outside already, and the bell had rung. Poland and I exchanged goodbyes before she walked off. I sat on some bricks. I don't know why there were bricks here since they were too small to be some kind of wall, but I didn't question it.
I scrolled through my phone for a while until my siblings came. We then began to walk back home. I couldn't wait to talk about my first day back at school.
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Translations:
(Tell me if I'm wrong)
Ros: I shortened "Rosja", which is Polish for "Russia".
Polska: "Poland" in Polish.
Ameryka: "America" in Polish.