Emily was the only one actually doing any work in second period. This was the continuation high school, so students not accomplishing much is a normal Thursday. Emily managed to complete two assignments.
And she wasn't even enrolled in the class.
(Emily was in wood shop second period, but it was too cold in the room. She received permission to switch to the warmer room.)
During the passing period between second and third, I noticed Emily had left a paper behind. I scanned it. Assuming she'd return for it, I left the paper on her desk.
Then third period arrived.
One of the boys picked up the page.
"Does anyone know Emily? She left a suicide note."
In seconds it had gone through five sets of hands, everyone wanting to see the "suicide note".
"It's not a suicide note," I informed them. "Give it to me."
"How do you know?" a student asked.
"I've read it."
"What does it say?" He folded the note and held it away from me.
What? He wanted me to quote it verbatim? I don't think so.
In retrospect, I realize I should have picked the paper up when I saw it. I really should know better.
The boy eventually gave me the paper, and I left it on the teacher's desk. And they got started in class... Well, they sat down, anyway. Not much work got done.
What was in the "note"? Here it is:
Did you ever write notes in school? Did you ever misplace an assignment?
Today's A to Z Challenge post brought to you by the letter...
Interesting note...I think I want to slap the boy who picked up the note.
ReplyDeleteYeah. He's that sort.
DeleteHoping he's not going to grow up to be a psychologist or psychiatrist :)
ReplyDeleteWrote notes all the time in school. I guess it was our equivalent to texting these days.
betty
Emily has very nice penmanship. Aside: I wish I could have taken woodshop in high school, but it seemed to a 'boys only' zone. Don't know if it was officially so, but def culturally so.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like more boys still take it than girls, but nowadays that's not a school thing. In fact, most of the wood shop teachers encourage girls to take it. (There's even an auto shop at one of the schools, and the very old school teacher is welcoming to girls.)
DeleteOh, good grief. I used to take notes on the lesson while my best friend wrote notes to *me* and then copied what I wrote for that class. ~grin~ Guess I was better at note taking. Be well!
ReplyDeleteI think that still happens. Although, nowadays, the kiddos just take a picture of their friend's notes.
DeleteApparently that boy's mom did not teach him to be kind to others.
ReplyDeleteWow....such a strange suicide note. HAHA...kids, they can be such pains at times. As for why most flowerbeds are near the ground~ for us short folks!!! haha.....I have no clue, less dirt maybe?
ReplyDeleteI think my point was, you might as well make them taller so you don't have to bend over.
DeleteI hope he didn't give Emily a hard time about it later. Seems he might be that sort.
ReplyDeleteShe has beautiful penmanship! and she sounds like a nice girl, (talking to her mom and all).
ReplyDeleteDate Night to Avoid Burnout
She was nice enough. But yeah, that penmanship!
DeleteShe sounds nice and thoughtful.
ReplyDeleteShe was.
DeleteHow in the world did the kid come up with suicide note from that?
ReplyDeleteThey're a strange bunch at that school. They could have gone much worse, if you can believe that.
DeleteWhat a creep! I'd want to wring his neck. She seems to be a sweet girl
ReplyDeleteLots of jerks at that school. He wasn't as bad as most.
DeleteIt is the wannabe psychologist in me that would see that note as a deliberate cry for help! I reckon it would be an interesting exercise to get everyone in class to finish the sentence " my mum always taught me...."
ReplyDeleteWren x
I guess I can kind of see that. At that school, however, with how easy it is for them to see the counselor or administrator, she wouldn't need to leave a note.
DeleteInteresting note. Reads like a straight from the heart sentence. The boy should have been more sensitive.
ReplyDeleteI don't think he's capable of sensitivity, to be honest.
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