Cracks

008 | vivid tangerine paper

V I V I D   T A N G E R I N E

—

          Immediately, Avery was surrounded by a mass of other students, all journeying towards the same entrance. The building itself was a huge brick rectangle, nested on a corner between two streets, the walls decorated with various pockmarks and graffiti. At the entrance, Avery shoved his book bag down on the table, walking through the white detection arch and quickly retrieving it on the other side. Now that he was actually leaving this place, he found that the final last walk down its halls was melancholic, as if some minuscule part of him would miss the hellhole. Efficiently, he found his locker among the sea of brown metal, grabbing the necessary books and selecting two notebooks, an empty journal and a mechanical pencil that looked more like a ballpoint pen; a gift Mr. Thompson had given him last christmas. Avery's eyes widened in sudden thought as he closed his locker, taking a right down another hallway. 

That reminded him.

A bell shrilled through the halls, bouncing frequencies that accompanied his journey to the doorway. What he saw made him smile slightly in adoration. There, trying and failing to organize a tsunami of papers at his desk, was another one of the people Avery knew he would desperately miss. Though English was nowhere near his favorite nor best subject by far, Kenneth Thompson's classes were always his favorites. He was on the short list of teachers who were competent and actively included material that they enjoyed. But he was also more than that. Over the years, Mr. Thompson had become a mentor of sort to Avery, ever since he'd failed that essay back in 8th grade.

Finding his desk Avery took a seat, pulling the book they'd been working through out of the shelf. Moments later, Mr. Thompson let out a sigh of frustration, not finding what he'd been scouring for, one Avery could only see due to the cacophony of chatter about the classroom. Drawing himself up, Kenneth smiled, walking in front of his desk and sitting on the paper-less edge.

"Morning class."  A few 'Morning, Mr. Thompson's' were murmured here and there and he nodded in recognition.

"Unfortunately, luck appears to have left me this morning." He frowned, crossing his arms and looking up at his pupils.

"I seem to have lost the worksheet I was planning on having you do today." Before any reactions could occur, he waved his hand flippantly, already putting together an abridged lesson in his mind. "I know what you're thinking, how awful is that?—Mr. González, would you be so kind as to untangle yourself from Henrietta for a moment? I can assure you that she is more than aware of your affection for her." A few chortles rang out here and there, alongside smirks from some of the two's friends. Kenneth smiled, humor coloring his perspective.

"Save that for after class." Then staring off, pretending to be in thought, he added, "or math class."

"Roger that, hermaño," Aaron González fake-saluted him, something that made Kenneth chuckle stiffly and repeat hermaño under his breath before deciding to let it go.

"Now," He said, turning his attention back to the rest of the class. "Where was I, let's see–oh right. No papers, how lucky for you. Now lets talk about last nights reading, I'm sure at least some of you did it." As Mr. Thompson chattered on about Macbeth's fall to greed, Avery zoned out, reminiscing on how this was one of the last times he would be in this classroom, maybe even the one of last times he would see Mr. Thompson. His mood quickly dimmed, a frown taking over his face as once again, Avery realized everything he had to leave. He was going to miss Mr. Thompson. The man was a college-educated borderline genius. One that deserved a much better job. And though formerly from money, one who happened to have been orphaned in his teens. Mr. Thompson understood a lot of what Avery went through and most importantly, was someone he was able to get some guidance from.

His eyed glanced around the classroom, taking in the various familiar maps taped to the walls along side quote posters. Mr. Thompson had done his best to put his mark on the world, something Avery hoped to follow. The bell rang and the clang of students shoving papers and notebooks into bags commenced. Avery got his things together and picked through the throng of people eager to leave, yet reluctant to go to their next lesson. He couldn't stop himself from glancing at his watch every few moments. He was, undeniably, a creature of habit.

         "Mr. Thompson, can I speak to you for a moment?" He stopped in front of the desk, nervously adjusting the strap of his book bag.

        "Ah, Avery" Kenneth looked up from his pile of papers, grateful for the distraction, however brief it proved to be. "Just give me one moment." Avery settled his body into a near-by desk, picking at a loose thread on his shirt in order to give his clammy hands something to do. He didn't have to tell him. He didn't have to tell Edi or Monroe. If he still wanted, he could just walk out of here and never have to deal with it. Avery knew all of this, yet he stayed put. Because the truth hurt, but sometimes, the truth was worth more than all of the lies put together. He repeated that to himself over and over, trying to trick his mind into believing it.

        "Alright," Kenneth walked around his desk and sat on the edge of it, crimping a piece of orange paper as he waited patiently for the boy to start. All of the other students had cleared out of the room, leaving just them.

         "I don't think I'll be here for graduation," Avery looked down at his white high-tops, unable to maintain his gaze. Then before Kenneth could get a word out, "I found out Tuesday."

        The room fell into tense silence, for a hot minute, both of them unwilling to be the one to end it. Kenneth didn't like bringing about confrontation yet the longer he waited, the more he understood that Avery was waiting for his response.

        "When do you start?"

        "Orientation begins the day before." He grimaced, knowing how these things worked from experience but finding himself surprised each time. The swift turn around got him every time.

        "How'd your mother take it?"

        "Not...too well." Avery admitted, remembering her tears. "Though she tried to play it off as worry for me." Kenneth sighed, deep in thought, breaking his gaze and adjusting his tie. He worried about the kid, from the tired eyes and yawns, he could tell the kid was working too much. Sometimes he looked so exhausted that Kenneth wondered if he'd even slept the night before.

         "I'm not too far away, at least." Kenneth looked up, surprised, yet apprehensive.

          "And where will you be?" Avery bit his lip, running a hand through his hair before glancing back down at his toes and back up preparing for dismay.

          "Chicago." Kenneth snapped his eyes up to Avery's. Disbelief and comic irony fought each other in his mind. "You're going to Tulsa?" Avery waited for Mr. Thompson to get mad. To exhale a sigh of quiet disappointment or express some note of concern. Yet Kenneth said nothing Avery predicted.

        "I'm so proud of you." He wondered if his hearing was starting to fail him.

        "You're proud of me?" Avery repeated back, unsure of what else to say.

       "Of course." he replied, with an odd look. "Why wouldn't I be? Avery, you deserve it." Avery couldn't help but laugh in disbelief and Kenneth took that as a sign to continue.

      "You're an admirable kid. You've just been offered an amazing opportunity. If anyone, and I mean anyone, deserves this chance it's you." Avery started to open his mouth but Kenneth shot him a warning look that make him snap it shut.

     "Feel a little happy ok? Be proud of yourself. You're a smart kid and it's paying off." This time, Avery was speechless, having been prepared for an onslaught of disappointment. But praise? That, he hadn't expected. That he had no idea how to respond to. Kenneth walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder, understanding the boy's stupefaction.

      Giving his shoulder a tight squeeze Kenneth added, "Come visit anytime. I know that campus, there are a few ways you can sneak off." Then he winked. "If you're stumped just shoot me a message."