guy you’re pretty boneheaded when it comes to kids We don’t want to take quizzes about precipitation We want to play outside I raise my hand to ask if we can go outside instead Mr Karas shoots me a serious stare before I even open my mouth The answer is no Billy he says WHOA The dude must be a mind reader I lean over to my best friend Teddy sitting next to me and say I think Mr Karas is a mind reader Before Teddy can respond Mr Karas says A little less noise please He hands out a piece of paper to each of us But I can’t be quiet Something inside me is bursting to get out Mr Karas I say without raising my hand I think we’d learn a lot more about precipitation if we went outside to study it And the best place to do that is probably on the playground
Some of my classmates laugh at my joke Sal snorts and a wet booger lands on his paper It’s green and slimy and it’s glistening under the light EWW shrieks Polly That’s gross Nice shot says Teddy More like nice snot I reply The class laughs Parker gets out of his seat so he can inspect the booger He is so nosy Parker is always sticking his big nose in other people’s business
Bister Kadas I need a new quiz Sal says holding the gooey paper Yes please throw that one away and come get a clean sheet Mr Karas tells him And please wash your hands Then he turns to me I’m in a good mood today Billy so I’m letting that little outburst slide without a warning he says Then he gives me his serious stare Sal blows a snot rocket out of his nose and I’M the one with the outburst I think to myself I look down at my desk and try to focus on the quiz Then I look up at the clock No time has passed Say what I raise my hand Mr Karas I think the clock is broken I say He looks up at the clock and then down at his watch Then he looks up at the clock again
It seems to be working just fine Billy Finish your quiz please I stare at the clock for ONE WHOLE MINUTE without blinking I want to make sure that the hands are actually moving Sixty seconds later the hand moves But I could swear it went backward Mr Karas I blurt out That’s it Billy Burger No more Mr Nice Teacher Mr Karas says with a frown I’m writing your name on the board That’s one strike against me Two more strikes and I get sent straight to Principal Crank’s office As the teacher writes my name I stare at the clock and curse it I hope you fall off the wall I whisper I return to my quiz and try not to think about lunch and playing on the playground I have learned that time at school actually passes faster when you’re focused on your work If you stare out
