The Clarks Continued

Dear You Know Who, We are supposed to write a 500-word story about the main character from our character sketches. I am not sure that I want to do it, much less can do it. Here goes. One Cold Bad Day It was a cold day. Mindaya walked into the school with only five minutes to spare. She was going to have to go to class without a book. As she was racing to her class, she bumped into him. He was five foot seven. He was dark skinned. He had a college cut, low and to his scalp. He was good looking. Mindaya came back into reality when the guy handed her a spiral. Mindaya looked at the spiral. It was her journal. She quickly took the spiral from him. They finally finished picking up all of their stuff. He helped her up and then said, "Slow down girl. You might hurt somebody. "Mindaya smiled at him and said, "Thank you." The guy smiled back at her and then went on his way. Mindaya stared at him as he walked away. When he got out of sight, Mindaya felt like an idiot because she hadn't asked him his name. Then she felt even more like an idiot when the tardy bell rung. The day was not starting off well. She had near about run a cute guy over and the she had to go to the vice-principal's office, which was the rule if you were out in the hall when the tardy bell rung without a hall pass. Mindaya adjusted her bag on her shoulder and headed for the vice-principal's office thinking, "If I would have just asked him his name..." Mindaya finally made it to her Literature class. She forgot that she needed her copy of Happy Faces, Sad Places by Martha Hazleton. It was still in her locker. They were reading the book in class. Mindaya knew that Mrs. Gogans was not going to be pleased. Mrs. Gogans had a way of making you feel like a total and complete idiot when you came to her class unprepared. As Mindaya sat in her assigned seat next to her best friend, Linda, Mrs. Gogans started in on her. Mrs. Gogans said, "Ms. Clark, we are glad to see that you could join us. Please begin reading on page 98." Mindaya looked at Linda. Linda smiled at her. Linda knew what was going on. Usually, when Mindaya had left her book, Linda would wait until Mrs. Gogans back was turned and slip her the extra copy that she always kept because she knew that Mindaya was always forgetting stuff. Today, it was as if Mrs. Gogans was on to their little scheme. She did not turn around. She just stared at Mindaya. After some seconds, Mindaya finally said, "Mrs. Gogans, I don't have my book today. I didn't have time to get it out of my locker." That set Mrs. Gogans off. She began her usual tirade, "Students, you mustn't forget your supplies. If you go through life forgetting important things that you need, you will lead an unfulfilling life of going back to get what you left and missing what was ahead of you.” She droned on and on. Mindaya felt a couple of her classmates stare at her as if they were willing her out of existence. Mindaya began to suspect that the day was going to get crazier. Mindaya's next two classes went ok. There were minor things that happened, but not enough to make a difference. Lunch, now that was a different story. First, some guy who was talking with a glass of juice in his hand wasn't paying attention and he spilt the juice on Mindaya's new blouse. The one she had begged her parents to get for her for a week. The guy didn't even apologize. He told her to get out of the way, very forcibly. For lunch today, the cafeteria was serving chop steak, spinach, and corn. Mindaya hated those foods. The salad bar didn't look appetizing to her either. Mindaya wasn't sure what she was going to eat for lunch today. She hadn't brought anything from home. Finally, she decided to go through the salad bar. That proved to be as tragic as the rest of her day. She dropped the tongs used to get the salad on the floor. That caused the line to be backed up and people to complain. Somehow, Mindaya wasted salad dressing all on her skirt. Everyone in line laughed at her. She had a soda stain on her blouse, a salad dressing stain on her skirt, and her skirt smelled like ranch dressing. Mindaya walked over to the clean-up area of the cafeteria. She discarded her trash and put the tray and silverware in their appropriate places. She walked out of the cafeteria. She headed towards the principals office. She was hoping that her mother could come pick her up and take her home. I hope this is good enough for the club. Love and peace, See ya! Mary