Sam

I walk away from my mom towards my school, she’s already switched to Ms. Mayor of Spellbound Cove. People stop by to shake her hands, it’s campaign season and she’s determined to keep her job. I don’t look back because I know she won’t be waving me goodbye. Keeping my head down, I pushed the double doors and the cool air and smell of breakfast from the cafeteria greet me.

My sneakers squeak on the polished floor. Kids pass by me and they sometimes knock into me, making my backpack slide off my shoulder. My former fourth grade teacher, Ms. Graham pass me by and we greet each other. I miss her class sometimes. She made History more interesting than Mr. Spalding did.

I can find my classroom without having to look up. A few of the kids have taken their seats, the bell hasn’t rung yet, so there’s plenty of kids still out in the hallway. Mr. Spalding says hello and I wave as I slide my backpack off and sit in the middle of the classroom. The hard wooden chair is cold through my trousers.

A stream of kids pile in as the school bell rings. I unzip my backpack and pull out my homework, I know Mr. Spalding is going to come around and collect them. I’m not proud of the work I did, I needed help with it. I tried asking my mom for help but she was busy. My face grows hot as Mr. Spalding approaches my desk.

He takes it and briefly looks at the page. Frowning, he keeps going, collecting the rest of the homework. I have a sinking feeling that he’s either going to make me do it over or give me a bad grade. It won’t be the first time that Mr. Spalding has done both.

After putting the stack of papers away in his briefcase, Mr. Spalding begins his lecture on US History. I cover my mouth to hide a yawn. His talking intermingled with the occasional coughing or sniffling causes me to think about the library.

Over the weekend, Ms. Isobel told the story of Velveteen Rabbit and a bunch of bunnies hopped out of the pages. It’s one of my favorite stories. Everybody was trying to touch or grab the rabbits. I’ve always wanted a pet, but my mom won’t let me have one; she thinks that she’ll be the one stuck taking care of it.

I stare out the window. The sea lays beyond and somewhere close by is the library. Somehow I have to make it through school, so I can go afterwards. It reminds me to check my backpack to see if I brought the library book that’s due. It’s the last book of the Captain Underpants series. Ms. Isobel introduced me to them and I’ve gone through the series fast.

Every time I open one of the books a villain would climb out and then Captain Underpants would soar from the pages, chasing after them. It would cause such so much noise that my mom would come and tell me to quiet down. I started reading outside when I can. Once Captain Underpants asked me if he needed to rescue me from my mom. He called her Ms. PartyPooper.

I laughed, but at the same time I was embarrassed. My mom does ruin things. She always says no. No pets, no noise, no eating too many cookies. There’s always something for her to say no to. I wish I could hide in my books. Fly with Captain Underpants. I bet he would let me eat as many cookies as I want.

My name is being called. I sit up straight, everyone is watching me as if they’re waiting for me to say something.

“Sam, did you hear what I said?” Mr. Spalding asks.

“No,” I mumble.

Some of the kids giggle.

“I had asked if you know who was president of the US during the Civil War?”

My mind goes blank and I know I know who it is. My scalp starts to prickle and my throat is dry. Everyone is still waiting.

“Uh…” I start and then it hits me. “Abraham Lincoln.”

“That’s correct,” Mr. Spalding says and he turns back to the chalkboard.

I sigh. Somehow I came up with the right answer. The others that were watching turn back to the lecture.

The period bell finally rings and everyone jumps up, slinging their backpacks on to head to the next class. I’m one of the last ones to walking out, when Mr. Spalding says my name. I hold back, watching the last kid leaving. At the desk, Mr. Spalding was pulling out my homework from his briefcase. I know it’s mine because there’s a doodle on the back.

“Sam, your homework is not complete again.” He says.

I nod.

“Did you have trouble with it?”

“Yes, I didn’t understand the instructions.”

“Couldn’t you ask your mom for help?”

I lower my head, my cheeks growing hot.

Mr. Spalding sighs and adds, “I need to see your mother. This has been going on for some time. If this keeps going, you’re going to fail History.”

“Yes, sir.” I say, not knowing what else I can say or do to make Mr. Spalding change his mind about meeting my mom.

“Have you been having trouble with the other classes?”

“Yes, sometimes.”

“I’ll probably have to check with your other teachers. They might want to join the meeting.”

My heart is pounding. My mom is not going to want to have this meeting. She’s going to say that she’s too busy and if she does she’s going to embarrass me. She’s probably going to switch to Ms. Mayor mode and talk about politics. I have to think of something.

“My mom won’t be able to come to the meeting,” I say, making it up as I go along.

“Why not?” Mr. Spalding ask as he places my homework down.

“She’s, she’s going away.”

“She is? Is that for her campaign?”

“Yes,” I say as I nod emphatically.

“Very well. This will give me time to see if your other teachers want to be part of the meeting then.”

I grip the straps of my backpack tight.

“Do you know when she’ll be back?”

I shake my head.

“I’ll just call her next week.”

“No! I can tell her that you want to meet with her and she can call you.”

Mr. Spalding pauses.

“Ok, fine. You tell her as soon as you get home, alright?”

“Yes, sir.”

I leave the classroom and speed walk to my English class. The bell is ringing as I scramble to my seat. My mind is still on the conversation, when Ms. Acosta asks for the homework. I search inside my backpack and find the Captain Underpants book, its spine splintering. I wonder what the Captain would do if he were me. If only there was a way to go inside a book and not come back.

I kick at a pebble as I walk out of school, my backpack is full of schoolbooks and homework to take home. I’m walking across the open courtyard when I spot my mom. Confused, I head her way. She’s in her pencil skirt suit and people greet her with their kids. Mr. Spalding is approaching her from the other side.

I run, trying to beat him to her. My backpack is flapping on my backside. I get there first and I take hold of her hand and guide her away from the school. She looks down at me, her mouth twisting to form words before her mind can understand what I was doing. We rarely hold hands and it felt strange.

“Sam, what’s wrong?” She asks.

“Nothing, I was actually wondering the same thing.”

“Oh I just thought maybe I can pick you up from school today.”

She never does that. I’ve always had to walk home alone. She’s smiling at the other parents and teachers as I continue to guide her. I hesitate to look over my shoulder to see if Mr. Spalding was following us. I don’t hear him calling us, so I assume he gave up.

“So learned anything is school today?” My mom asks.

It such a strange question. Of course, I learned something, that’s the whole point of school.

“Yes.” I say.

“That’s great.”

We cross the street and I am breathing better. The road that leads to the library is coming up.

“Can I go to the library? I have a book to return.”

“Ok. I’m going back to the office. I’ll probably be coming home late. There’s leftovers in the fridge for dinner.” My mom says.

She kisses me on the forehead and I watch her walk towards the City Hall, her heels clicking on the sidewalk. For a moment, I feel guilty for not telling her that Mr. Spalding wants to meet with her, but then as the distance between us grows bigger, so does my resentment.