Extracurricular Activities

"Just what do you think you're doing?"

I swiveled around to find Ms. Granger staring at me, hands on her hips, eyes filled with unhinged menace. I was caught. It was the end of me.

Gary had just left with the stolen answer key and I heard his receding footsteps. No doubt he had heard her. I was left hunched over her desk, five hours after the last class was over.

"Henry Thomas, what are you doing at my desk? And at this hour. Do your parents know you're here?"

It was strange that she would be here at this time too. It crossed my mind to ask her, before I dismissed that notion as suicidal.

"I...I was.."

"Hurry now. Speak up."

"I left my books here."

I said it like a question, as if I was asking her if that as a plausible excuse.

"On my desk?" she quipped.

"I couldn't find it on my desk, so I was looking all over." I motioned at her desk drawer when something caught my eye. A bottle. Of bourbon. It was partially covered by the attendance book and surrounded by a moat of pens and paper clips. I picked it up. I looked at her.

"What's this?" I asked, tried to sound naive.

She snatched the bottle away.

"Nothing."

She stowed it back in the desk and closed the drawer.

"Shouldn't you go home now?"

She was quick to get me gone.

"Yes, ma'am."