"Senor singer. Meet Barbara, the new girl who came late to her first Spanish class".Kim announced loudly.
"Settle down class" señor singer said while waving.
"But señor singer....."
I said settle down. Kimberley, you are constituting nuisance in my class". He was becoming angry and was already raising his voice.
"She is late to class". Kim said again persistently.
"Kimberley, one more word and am going to have to give you detention".
"You can't do that". Monica said.
"And why not?".
"Because you don't have the power".
"Again I ask why is that?".
"Because my dad is the principal".
"YOUR DAD DID NOT PUT ME HERE KIMBERLEY MCADAMS, I AM HERE BECAUSE I DESERVE IT. I AM HERE BECAUSE I WORKED AND STUDIED HARD FOR IT RATHER THAN WASTE MY LIFE LIKE YOU ARE TRYING TO. THE GOVERNMENT PAYS MY SALARY, YOUR DAD DOESN'T AND YOUR DAD CAN NOT SACK ME BECAUSE AM DOING MY JOB. YOU GET THAT?". He shouted angrily.
The whole class became so silent. I guess they are not used to seeing señor singer like this. I remember he told me he didn't get a lot of respect and I think this is the first time he is being a disciplinarian.
"Yes sir". They murmured.
"WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU SEÑOR?".Kim wailed.
"What's the problem, Kimberley?". He asked sternly.
"Again it's Queen Kim or Kim Kay and not Kimberley McAdams. Secondly, we want to know why you would support this tardy and truant newbie instead of us".
"First you need to be proud of your name take me for instance, My name is Senor Manuel Antonio Singer y Chavez and am proud of it. I do not like you all calling me Singer because you think Manuel sounds like manure or Antonio sounds like a little boy's name and Singer sounds the coolest. I am proud of my name no matter what anyone thinks".
There was a brief chuckle.
"Kimberley McAdams, your name is beautiful and you should be proud of it. You don't have to change your name to Kim Kay or Queen Kim to sound cool. Love your personality no matter what anyone thinks".
"At least, my name is not Barbara. I will be so pathetic if I had to live with that kind of name".
"At least I do not have a boyfriend named Marcus"
"What? Your real name is Marcus. Ew, that's disgusting".
Marcus made a face which shows he was embarrassed. I smiled.
"I have another name and it's Marvel. FYI, being named after the biggest film production studio in Hollywood". I continued.
"Who cares, "Kim said.
"Barbara, this is what am talking about, you shouldn't feel bad about your first name and should also not brag about having a Hollywood second name because someone thinks your name is not cool enough". Señor corrected
"Am sorry sir".
"Oh, you better be".He sat down. "Kimberley, I do not tolerate truant and tardy students of course but I also do not like a conspiracy. I dismissed the issue of Barbara being late because I knew that she was late to my class because she got lost. I would have asked her why she was late according to due process BUT....."He emphasized the word "BUT" probably to make us take note of the word. "I didn't because I didn't like the way you and your classmates conspired in reporting her and besides you are not the class representative, therefore, you do not have the right to report a classmate for being late and you, Kimberley McAdams is just like any other student".
"No, I am not like them".
Señor singer ignored her.
"Since have spent half the class correcting your mistakes, there will be no class today but I will you give an assignment which I want you all to submit on my table tomorrow morning".
"We have a party thing tonight".
"Good then, put on your dancing shoes and party all night"
The students cheered.
"After you must have completed your assignment".
"NO!". Everyone groaned.
"Do not dare me students because I will have that assignment on my table tomorrow or you face the consequences".
"Your assignment is to write out your full names and why they are beautiful in Espanol".
He left the class.
"What did you do new girl?".
I blinked twice and then stood up to leave. She dragged me back.
"Ouch".
"Oh am sorry, did I hurt you or something?".
"Not really, I just...."
"I don't care"She cut in.
"That's rude, I said".
"Whatever. What did you do to that man?".
"What man?". I asked feigning ignorance. Of course, I knew she was talking about señor singer.
"You know who am talking about now answer my questions. What did you do and how did you do it?".
"I didn't do anything, we only just met a few minutes before class".
"oh please, don't give me that. Señor singer had always been very lenient and now that he saw you he suddenly became a disciplinarian. You expect me to believe that. I know you have a hold on him and am going to find out what it is".
" I do not know what you are talking about".
She smiled quite mischievously.
"I know just how to get you to talk".
She walked out of the class and into the bathroom.
"Attention students! This is a very important announcement on behalf of principal McAllister. The students' council election will come in two weeks. Have you been nursing an ambition to be part of the students' council? If yes now is the time to act fast. Interesting candidates should submit their nomination forms signed by at least ten students altogether from all senior classes. The post for president and an assistant president will be based on official nomination. To stand a chance to be nominated, a candidate should write an essay on why he or she should be nominated. The essay must be at least a thousand words and should be printed. Interested candidates should go to the counsellor's office to get the required form". Counselor Justice's voice rang.
Hearing her voice made me remember that she asked me to see her after school. I quickly set an alarm on my phone to remind me.
"Did you hear that Marc? This is the year I have been waiting for. The year I will finally be able to make my mark and also fulfil my sister's dream".
"Uhm? I guess".Marc said dryly.
Her sister's dream. I wonder who her sister is.
The next few classes were a bit better than my first classes. At least the news had gone round that there is a new student in the final year so the teachers weren't so surprised.
As soon as the closet bell rang, I left for the counsellor's office.
"New girl, wait".
I stopped then turned around. It was from Marc.
"I have a name you know".
"Sorry Barbara".
"So why the hell are you chasing after me?".
"I wanted to invite you to the party at my house tonight".
"I have a Spanish assignment to get to, Marcus".
"I know but....".
"You know, if I were you I would focus on my school work and avoid trouble as the counsellor told you to".
I walked as far and as fast as possible. it was easier finding the counsellor's office this time. I knocked and went in when she told me to.
"What this thing am hearing about you being pregnant?".
"High school queen's mischief".
"Kimberley?". She sighed. "That girl needs to be tamed. I am so sorry for any inconvenience, okay? I will look into this".
"No problem ma".
"Here is your school uniform, you can wear the skirt and pinafore interchangeably but the sportswear is for Wednesdays. You wear either a trouser or shorts the colour of your jersey or black".
"Okay Ma". I said while collecting the uniforms. "Thank you so much ma".
"The pleasure is mine".
I turned to leave.
"Wait".
She stopped me. She brought a sheet of paper from her handbag and handed them to me.
"Here have this".
I looked into it and saw that it was a requirement list for the students' council election.
"Entry closes next Monday".
"But I just got here".
"Think about it, Barbara. I trust you to make a good decision".
I put the paper in my bag and left her office. Simon was waiting outside for me.
"How was your first day at school?".
"Dramatic".
He started the engine and drove me home. I went to my room immediately I got home. I put the sheet of paper the counsellor gave me on my dressing table. I did my Spanish assignment. It took me no time to complete my assignment as I learnt enough Spanish from Manuel to write a whole essay then I brought my diary and began writing in it.
DEAR DIARY,
Today was my first day at Duncan high. Big school - I got lost twice, lots of students most of which are not in any way friendly. I also heard that it is the only school in the whole of Duncan. Turns out here in Duncan people don't really go to school much. I haven't made any friends and the teachers are equally as bad except for one. There is this girl, Kimberley McAdams whose dad is the principal and who thinks she owns the school. She has a boyfriend named Marcus and he really was flirting with me. Some boys even tried to harass me. Can you imagine that?. Everyone is just so unfriendly except for the counsellor who is actually mum's friend and Marcus's aunt and señor singer.
Let me tell you about señor singer. He is about 6 foot 1 inch tall cute, handsome and nice. He is Spanish and his name is Manuel. How coincidental! He is also very young probably about twenty-five years old. I know he is too old for me and I should probably not think about my teacher in such a way but I think I like Señor singer.
Update: In love with a hot teacher
XOXOXO: Marvel.