Chapter 96

“Dear Time, You’re so beautiful when You stand still.”
—Jon Ng, Dear Time: Circle of Life

26 APRIL 2020

In four weeks, it will be over. I looked at my calendar and for the first time, I could see ‘Final Exams’ on the bottom line. I’d like to say that means the worst of the year is over but ... Prom.

Since only juniors and seniors can buy tickets, it was silly for me to think about asking someone to the prom, but apparently, it’s already been decided. I’m taking Rachel and Livy. I tried to protest with ‘What about Joan?’ but they already had that covered. Our only senior was taking Rebeca to the prom. Fortunately, all I have to do is provide flowers, dinner, pictures, my tux, and transportation. The girls bought the tickets.

Not that I’m going to complain.

What’s more worrisome is that Friday I had a note delivered to my homeroom, Ms. Levy’s Honors English class. I’m to appear before my guidance counselor to ‘discuss your fall class schedule.’ Fortunately, I get along okay with Mr. Gieseke. I know what it’s all about, though. I didn’t sign up for calculus. This time, I’m getting all my ducks in a row before I go talk to him. I’m just not going that route again. The old man was consumed by technical construction, mechanics. And that means math. I’ve determined that I am not going to go that route this time around and with my stellar scores in Trig/Pre-calc, there is bound to be some push-back. I can hear the argument already. ‘Would you like fries with that?’ Well, hell. If that’s what it takes to have fulfilling life instead of just a profitable one, I’ll recite the line to the best of my ability.

I think it’s funny that they’ve scheduled the meeting so that I’ll miss my math class Thursday. That’s really forward thinking.

I was pretty uptight about school. I only had one AP class and the AP Exams were next week. Ms. Renault was drilling us in class every day. There were no new chapters to read. Every night we had a practice exam to do at home. Each morning, she reviewed it question by question. I had adapted to most of the pieces that were different from what I remembered. But we hadn’t even touched on the current events part of the curriculum. That’s where I was really confused. I could see trends in American history now that affected where we were politically and socially but I didn’t have any confirmation of them. I sifted through the news each night and wished for the days when we had a morning newspaper delivered. I think I’d believe a hand-written pamphlet handed to me by a homeless man on the corner more than I’d believe what I read on the Internet.

And that gave me an idea, too. Maybe it was time for a return to the printed word. Well, I fancy I’m a writer. Of course, I’d like to see a return to print. But anyone could say anything on the Internet. Stupid denials of facts were seen as valuable opinions and, like assholes, everyone had one.

The team went up to Carroll for a boys’ varsity and JV track meet Wednesday afternoon. I ran well. Our 4x800 relay team didn’t fare well but even Randy, the shot putter, ran a personal best. I won the 3200 JV race with a solid time of 11:41. If I could hold another mile at that by cross country season, I could be in the numbers when I raced.

“Hello, Jacob. Come in,” Gieseke said when I showed up for my Thursday morning appointment. “We have a couple of problems with your fall schedule we need to work out.”

“I was pretty careful selecting my courses. What’s the problem?”

“To start with, you didn’t include Calculus on your schedule.”

“I think I’ve finished all my math requirements. I have eight credits,” I said.

“Well, yes, but that doesn’t mean you should just quit. We can get you in to Calculus sixth period by dropping this Expository Writing class.”

“Why would I do that, sir? I plan to become a writer. Expository Writing is an important component.”

“You could take it senior year. You already have the required English Literature and Composition course on your schedule this year.”

“I don’t see a reason to wait. I’ve done all the math I want to and I included Business Accounting on my schedule so I have a Quantitative Reasoning course, per the requirements.”

“Well, we’re kind of letting that one slip past since you haven’t had an Intro to Business course,” Gieseke said.

“I took Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Mr. Bryce said that covered the essentials of the Intro to Business course,” I replied. I was staying calm. I wasn’t going to become a whiny teenager like I’d come off as when I wanted out of Algebra I. Gieseke sighed.

“Jacob, your results from the National Service Readiness Exam came back with a strong recommendation that you continue in math,” he said. The fuck, you say? What business does the NSRE have making course recommendations?

“The NSRE can require that I take a class I don’t want and don’t need?” I asked.

“Well, no. Not exactly. We’re encouraged to guide you in the direction they advise.”

“I’m really not interested in taking Calculus and since there is no reason for me to switch...”

“We’ll need to talk to your parents,” he said. “This is very important.”

“Will this help?” I was ready. I talked it over with Dad Monday and he agreed. I handed Mr. Gieseke the letter signed by both my parents.

“Due to Jacob’s other interests and commitments, he will not continue with Math in his junior year. We have gone over his proposed class schedule and agree with it,” Gieseke read. “You really came prepared, huh? I don’t want to make this difficult. We want you in Calculus. I see that you have fifth period orchestra scheduled. We have a fifth period Calculus class and you have to audition for orchestra anyway.” I handed him another letter.

“Jacob Hopkins has successfully auditioned for a position in the 2020-2021 Mad Anthony Student Orchestra. He will be a valuable addition to our award-winning orchestra. He has permission to enroll in the class for the coming school year. Leonard LeBlanc, Conductor.” Gieseke sighed.

“I understand this is the form Mr. LeBlanc uses for all orchestra students,” I said.

“I have one more card to play, Jacob,” he said. “We can deny you entry into the Constitutional Government class. This will free up a period in your schedule and that is normally a senior year requirement.”

“When it’s too late,” I said. I leaned in across his desk. “By the time students find out what their government is doing to them, it is too late for them to make plans, to apply for special services, and to take advantage of programs specifically offered under the National Service. If you deny me the class, I’ll take a study hall and do the work for it anyway.”

“Don’t become a rebel, Jacob.”

“Mr. Gieseke, when the Declaration of Independence was signed and people went to war to free our country, Andrew Jackson was 9 years old. He served in the local militia at 13 and was captured by the British at 14. Major Thomas Young was 12. He joined the militia at 16. The Marquis de Lafayette was 18. He was commissioned as an officer at 13 and was Major General under Washington at 19. James Monroe was 18 when he joined the Continental Army and was commissioned as a lieutenant. Charles Pinckney was 18. The next year he was a delegate to the Continental Congress. They were revolutionaries. Henry Lee and Aaron Burr were 20. Nathan Hale and Alexander Hamilton were 21. We should be raising ... Specifically, Mad Anthony High School should be educating rebels.”

“I’ll let the school board know our new mission statement,” he said sarcastically.

“If there are no other questions about my schedule, I should get back to Trig/Pre-calc so I don’t fail the course,” I said. He waved a hand at me and I left.

I was still shaking when I met my girlfriends for lunch but couldn’t really say anything other than to tell them all that I’d have second lunch next year instead of third.

Friday afternoon, at Pike, I ran a personal best 11:33 in the 3,200 and won the JV race.

The AP test was brutal. But I’d been studying hard, as witnessed by Gieseke in our brief encounter. I wasn’t sure I scored high enough to get AP credit, but if not, too bad. One of the things V1 brought to the table, a leftover from his bad attitude as an octogenarian, was a lack of fucks to give. For the first time in my life, I felt like I’d made a step toward achieving a life goal that was what I wanted. It wasn’t based on what career path would yield the greatest return on my investment and provide for a comfortable retirement fifty years from now. I wanted a life filled with words and music.

And my girlfriends.

The next weekend was Desi’s. I saw all four performances of The Drowsy Chaperone and found it funnier each night. I just stayed at school Thursday night after our track meet against Huntington and went to opening night. All of us attended. Desi played the title role but that isn’t really the leading role. I think by the end of the run, the kid who played the ‘old man in a chair’ narrating the show was adlibbing more lines than he had memorized. It still worked.