That Year

by M.J. Fontana

sides of the hall. They looked like they survived a bomb explosion. The horrid smell fills the hallway air, overtaking all my senses. People wearing old, torn, ripped clothing sit with their backs leaning against the lockers.

  These deprived people begin to surround me. “Get away from me,” I shout. “What the hell is going on out here,” a man coming out of a classroom shouts. He wears old, dusty clothing. His sleek black hair is combed back with grease. He would be a good looking guy if not for his deprived appearance. “I don’t mean any trouble, I just got lost,” I plead with the man. Slowly he walks in my direction. He extends his hand. Confused, I shake it. “Names Leonardo, call me Leo for short,” he says. “Follow me”. “I should be heading back, I got lost it’s my first day.” “First day in this high school,” he asks me in amazement. “Yes,” I say. “Please follow me.” The people that surrounded me back away and sit back down backs against the hallway walls, their eyes expressionless and sad. Just looking at them it is hard not to feel bad for them. “Okay, sure why not,” I say. We walk a short distance down the hallway then turn into an empty abandon classroom. I cough as pollen and dust fills the classroom air. The only light in the room comes from a grimy window in which the sunlight struggles to shine through.

  This classroom, this section of the high school is full of despair, abandonment, and sadness.

  3

  Leo sits in front of an old dusty teacher’s desk in the abandoned classroom. “Get a chair,” Leo says in a soft voice while he picks up a pencil from the desk and begins writing in a notebook. I turn around locate a chair and pull it close to the desk.

  “Where exactly am I,” I ask. Leo ignores me focusing his attention on writing something in his notebook. I lift myself up slightly to see what he is working on. He notices what I’m doing, looks at me and closes the notebook shut, shooting dust into the air. He turns in his chair, “I want to personally apologize for what you experienced out there. Those people out there are depraved, desperate people.”

  “Of what,” I ask. “Of what,” Leo repeats under his breath, shaking his head. “Of education and rights that other students have. That every man and women should have,” he tells me with a fire in his eyes. “I don’t understand.”

  “Transfer students, foreign students, students who came to this school to better themselves don’t have the same privileges that you and the rest of the student body have,” he says attempting to get me to understand. “The people you saw out there won’t give up the fight, but many before have. They give up the fight for the rights they deserve, drop out of school unprepared, uneducated and they disappear into the abyss. They get lost in the world that is so easy to get lost in. Others take to drug dealing and gang banging to put food on the table for their families. See the greatest weapon you can take away is someone’s education. Because education can lead to a better life, a better person,” Leo finishes.

  “How is this possible,” I ask. “Welcome to the real world, the world is not all sunshine and butterflies. There are people out there that hurt people for no reason, no motive at all.”

  The world seemed great with Victoria. How I longed just to be with her and have someone to face this world people refer to with. “These students, they don’t receive any schedule, and when they try to force their way into classes. They disappear. I fight for these people because they need someone to look up to in a dark time like this.” “Are you a transfer student yourself,” I ask. “No I’m not.” “Then why are you doing this,” I ask. “Those students are no different than you or I”

  I gaze at Leo and all that he represents. I can’t help but admire him. He is someone I always wanted to be. He stands for something. He is not afraid to be heard. He faces challenges but you can see in his eyes the passion and genuine care he has for the people in the isolated hallway outside.

  “What are you working on,” I ask looking at the closed notebook placed in front of him. “To show the students of this school that it belongs to them and not the people who thrive on placing fear onto others. First, I need to be in an influential position. I’m working on a campaign for Student Body President.” Leo opens his notebook, crossing out words with his pencil, and gets lost in his work once again.

  “I want you be to my Vice President,” he tells me turning his head to face me. “Why me,” I ask. “I see potential in you. I saw the hurt in your eyes when you witnessed the despair outside these halls, the anger in your eyes when I told you their story.” “I don’t know if I’m the best person to help you, I don’t think I could be comfortable in the spotlight.” “You are the person for the job. You can’t be afraid anymore. There is no escaping the spotlight. If you do you will disappear into the world, and no one will come looking for you. Maybe you were afraid before. This is a new era where fear will no longer control our lives. This school more than ever needs you. It’s your time to become the person you always wanted to become,” Leo says.

  “I want to be your Vice President,” I finally tell Leo returning from my thoughts buzzing around in my head. He places his hand on my shoulder. “Great.”

  4

  Leo packs his things in his backpack. “Where are you going,” I ask. “Schools out see you tomorrow,” he tells me. “What time should I meet you here?” “When is your lunch,” he asks. “I got the C lunch period.” “Okay I’ll have my scheduled changed by tomorrow and we will meet here during our lunch periods.”

  I head for my bus. On the drive back I sit in silence by myself looking outside my window, but not really looking at what’s outside as I’m lost in my thoughts. Thoughts about my first day, the secrets I had discovered. I ponder what fear Leo was referring to.

  “How was it,” my mom asks as my dad and I gather around the table. I take a seat across from my dad, “I got lost at first.” “How did that happen,” my dad asks. “It’s not that hard to get lost in there, it’s a big building,” I reply. “You’ll get used to it. Pretty soon you’ll be able to find your classes with your eyes closed,” my mom says taking a seat next to my dad. My golden retriever Rover places his head on my lab with begging eyes. How could I possibly say no to that face? I cut a piece of chicken and give it to him. Satisfied he walks away and lies down on the wooden floor next to the dinner table. “Why don’t you go to Victoria’s house and have dinner with her family anymore, god knows you love her cooking more than mine,” my mom asks. “Honey would you stop,” my dad says. I think they know I’m most likely not seeing her anymore, but I really don’t want talk about it with them. “Mom that’s crazy, nobody, and I mean nobody could beat your cooking,” I say. My mom chews on her piece of chicken, “Yeah your right.”

  The next day I find my first period class a lot faster. Mrs. Snow walks into the classroom as the bell rings. She wears a white shirt, and a short black skirt. I can’t help but stare at her. I know I wasn’t the only one awe struck by her. As she writes on the white board with her marker in her hand I admire her ass. I walk up behind her, and I slowly lift her skirt up exposing her pink thong. I rub her butt cheeks with my hands and pull down her skirt, then her thong.

  “Matt,” Mrs. Snow shouts. “What,” I say alarmingly. “Could you do number three on the board.” “Yes,” I say as I get up from my desk.

  An announcement comes through the speakers from above the door, “Please turn on your televisions for the mourning announcements.” Mrs. Snow reaches for the television attached to the ceiling behind her desk. I notice her shirt barely lift, exposing a slight hint of her bare skin.

  “Hello students, faculty and staff to another year here at Mountain High, I’m Brandon and this to the left is the very beautiful Sage Windstill.” “Thanks Brandon you’re not too bad yourself, even if you do think my younger sister is prettier than me.” “Well you know what Sage, I was drunk, and I think we went over this a number of times over the past week.” The camera cuts away from the arguing news anchors.

  “Hi, I’m David; I’m going to tell you the weather for tod
ay.” David leaves the screen and comes back moments later. “It’s currently sunny; it’s going to be sunny today.”

  “Hey everybody, it’s Jimmy, your probably thinking what’s for lunch, well I’m your guy. Today we have the normal chicken patties, burger, fries, pizza, subs, with our daily special being a healthy Mac n cheeses salad. For all you healthy people out there bring your own lunch.” The camera cuts back to the lead anchors Brandon and Sage. “Have a wonderful day.”

  I nearly fall asleep during my second period class. My teacher Mr. Seethers speaks in the same monotone voice throughout the duration of the class, stopping occasionally to slide his glasses that keep sliding down his nose. “Hey, no texting,” says a guy storming into the classroom out of nowhere. “Principle Burns, I… I wasn’t texting I swear,” says the kid nervously. “You calling me dam liar, son I am a lot of things, but liar is not one of them,” shouts Principle Burns. “Sir I didn’t call you a liar, I think you just are seeing things.” Principle Burns paces up and down the classroom. Mr. Seethers sighs while rubbing his forehead with his hands from a seat at his desk. “So now your calling me crazy, get your black ass out of that chair,”