absorbed
in each of their own worlds
the question stretches
like bubble gum
and
deflates
as some stir awake
with distant eyes, and minds
the answer is muttered
while chalk talks with the blackboard
proving whoever said x was wrong
it was y all along
but that was expected
the room is still quiet
though there are now smiles beneath the masks
knees bounce under the desks
as fingers text
slowly fill the chatroom with messages
til the teacher's voice fills the air
"today we'll be starting on..."
and papers rustle
pencils click
just in time for the anthem.