“What’s up with him all of a sudden?” Jenny asks.
She and Gemma are at her house on a Saturday afternoon, talking over the next writing presentation for English class. Mr. Halloway and Mr. Lockwood will both be in the class this Thursday.
“Bill just wanted to organize a club. I bet he’s going to ask the principal to approve of this!” Gemma points out while spooning a scoop of French vanilla ice-cream out of the box.
Jenny Craig shakes her head in agitation and sighs heavily,” But a Helping-animals club sounds too obvious. How about we try forming a new name for the group.”
“You’re sharp, Jenny!” Gemma praises. “Why haven’t I thought of that?”
Jenny rolls her eyes,” You never think. You may be good at imagining stories and articles, but when it comes to group planning, your brain gets all blank or something.”
“Maybe I’m just stupid…” Gemma looks out of Jenny’s bedroom window and shoves more ice-cream into her mouth.
Jenny stares at her for a while, then finally speaks in a bored tone, “Why are you shoving ice-cream into your mouth like you lost a boyfriend? Do you even have one?”
Gemma stands up and towers over Jenny, spoon pointing at Jenny, “Who cares about having a boyfriend. I’d rather stick up for everyone instead of praising and loving one person on a different level.”
Jenny rolls her eyes,” I don’t get it. Praising and Loving?”
Gemma licks the spoon and mumbles, “Don’t get the wrong idea. That was just a matter of opinion.”
Jenny smiles maliciously, “We’ll see about that.”
English class at 10 AM.
Just two hours before lunch on a Monday morning.
Jenny comes rushing at Gemma and starts squealing.
“What is it?” Gemma asks scanning her English paper for the grade and grammar mistakes. Mr. Halloway and Mr. Lockwood didn’t arrive yet, so the class was free to go wild for the time being.
“I got an amazing idea for the club name.” Jenny pushes another chair over to Gemma’s desk and takes out scrap paper from her schoolbag.
On it is written titles in sparkly, purple pen ink:
Animal Rescue Team
Heroine for Critters
Animal Collections
Mini Hospital
Potato Land
Animal World
Gemma looks it over and makes a confused expression,” What’s up with Potato Land?”
Jenny giggles,” I was just playing around last night since I was bored.”
“Bored? This is what you come up with when you’re bored?”
“That’s exactly correct.”
“Jenny…”
“What is it? Is there something wrong?”
“No…”
Gemma takes out a pencil from her pencil case and circles some of the written title ideas,” Well, these two,” she gestures to the circled “Animal Rescue Team” and “Heroine for Critters” and looks up at Jenny,” aren’t really that fit. You…uhhh…you know. We’re not literally saving animals. I just said that the club name was ‘Helping-animals club…Not Saving-animals club…”
Jenny takes the paper away and stares at Gemma in the eyes. “You don’t understand. It doesn’t really matter. People will understand what we’re talking about and doing in the club anyway.”
Gemma hesitantly nods,” Right…Oh! There’s Mr. Halloway and Mr. Lockwood. You should get to your desk now.”
Jenny agrees and slides back.
“Okay kiddies! Let me see what you guys have for me. First draft right?” Mr. Lockwood exclaims cheerfully.
Gemma pulls out her typed article and Jenny tries to show Gemma hers.
“What is it?’ Gemma hisses. They aren’t allowed to share work or talk at a time like this. “We’ll get into trouble.”
“I just want you to see if it’s quality work.”
Gemma rolls her eyes and turns around at her chair to search for a red pen. That’s when she caught Bill’s eyes. He is waving and smiling at her from the back row at the last seat.
The lonely seat.
Where nobody talks to you at all.
Gemma waves back then turns to Mr. Lockwood, who is holding out a hand to see her paperwork. “No spacing out in class Ms. Woods.”
“Yes, sir.” Gemma says and hands over her paper.
“Psst.” Jenny whispers as he walks further down the aisle, “You were looking at Bill, weren’t you?”
Gemma,” Yeah? So what?”
“ What, you ask? Isn’t it obvious that something is happening between the two of you?” Jenny enjoys playing detective. It annoys Gemma sometimes, especially now.
“Err…Don’t get the wrong idea. I was only waving—“
“Oh really? I wanted to prove you wrong just two days ago that you were going to lie to yourself about boys not mattering.” Jenny laughs and turns around. “Just look at him. I mean, he looks like he’s in pain from such rejection!”
“Rejection? What reject—.”
At that moment, Gemma turns around for the second time and catches Bill staring at her in a way no guy has looked upon her before.
“Jenny?” Gemma whispers to Jenny while still staring at him.
“What is it, girl?’’ Jenny coos back.
“What’s with the puppy dog eyes? Does he usually have puppy dog eyes?”
“Don’t think so…”
“But anyway!” Gemma says almost to loudly to distract herself. She turns back to her desk, “Now is not the time to do that!’’
“Oh really?” Jenny echoes.
She and Gemma are at her house on a Saturday afternoon, talking over the next writing presentation for English class. Mr. Halloway and Mr. Lockwood will both be in the class this Thursday.
“Bill just wanted to organize a club. I bet he’s going to ask the principal to approve of this!” Gemma points out while spooning a scoop of French vanilla ice-cream out of the box.
Jenny Craig shakes her head in agitation and sighs heavily,” But a Helping-animals club sounds too obvious. How about we try forming a new name for the group.”
“You’re sharp, Jenny!” Gemma praises. “Why haven’t I thought of that?”
Jenny rolls her eyes,” You never think. You may be good at imagining stories and articles, but when it comes to group planning, your brain gets all blank or something.”
“Maybe I’m just stupid…” Gemma looks out of Jenny’s bedroom window and shoves more ice-cream into her mouth.
Jenny stares at her for a while, then finally speaks in a bored tone, “Why are you shoving ice-cream into your mouth like you lost a boyfriend? Do you even have one?”
Gemma stands up and towers over Jenny, spoon pointing at Jenny, “Who cares about having a boyfriend. I’d rather stick up for everyone instead of praising and loving one person on a different level.”
Jenny rolls her eyes,” I don’t get it. Praising and Loving?”
Gemma licks the spoon and mumbles, “Don’t get the wrong idea. That was just a matter of opinion.”
Jenny smiles maliciously, “We’ll see about that.”
English class at 10 AM.
Just two hours before lunch on a Monday morning.
Jenny comes rushing at Gemma and starts squealing.
“What is it?” Gemma asks scanning her English paper for the grade and grammar mistakes. Mr. Halloway and Mr. Lockwood didn’t arrive yet, so the class was free to go wild for the time being.
“I got an amazing idea for the club name.” Jenny pushes another chair over to Gemma’s desk and takes out scrap paper from her schoolbag.
On it is written titles in sparkly, purple pen ink:
Animal Rescue Team
Heroine for Critters
Animal Collections
Mini Hospital
Potato Land
Animal World
Gemma looks it over and makes a confused expression,” What’s up with Potato Land?”
Jenny giggles,” I was just playing around last night since I was bored.”
“Bored? This is what you come up with when you’re bored?”
“That’s exactly correct.”
“Jenny…”
“What is it? Is there something wrong?”
“No…”
Gemma takes out a pencil from her pencil case and circles some of the written title ideas,” Well, these two,” she gestures to the circled “Animal Rescue Team” and “Heroine for Critters” and looks up at Jenny,” aren’t really that fit. You…uhhh…you know. We’re not literally saving animals. I just said that the club name was ‘Helping-animals club…Not Saving-animals club…”
Jenny takes the paper away and stares at Gemma in the eyes. “You don’t understand. It doesn’t really matter. People will understand what we’re talking about and doing in the club anyway.”
Gemma hesitantly nods,” Right…Oh! There’s Mr. Halloway and Mr. Lockwood. You should get to your desk now.”
Jenny agrees and slides back.
“Okay kiddies! Let me see what you guys have for me. First draft right?” Mr. Lockwood exclaims cheerfully.
Gemma pulls out her typed article and Jenny tries to show Gemma hers.
“What is it?’ Gemma hisses. They aren’t allowed to share work or talk at a time like this. “We’ll get into trouble.”
“I just want you to see if it’s quality work.”
Gemma rolls her eyes and turns around at her chair to search for a red pen. That’s when she caught Bill’s eyes. He is waving and smiling at her from the back row at the last seat.
The lonely seat.
Where nobody talks to you at all.
Gemma waves back then turns to Mr. Lockwood, who is holding out a hand to see her paperwork. “No spacing out in class Ms. Woods.”
“Yes, sir.” Gemma says and hands over her paper.
“Psst.” Jenny whispers as he walks further down the aisle, “You were looking at Bill, weren’t you?”
Gemma,” Yeah? So what?”
“ What, you ask? Isn’t it obvious that something is happening between the two of you?” Jenny enjoys playing detective. It annoys Gemma sometimes, especially now.
“Err…Don’t get the wrong idea. I was only waving—“
“Oh really? I wanted to prove you wrong just two days ago that you were going to lie to yourself about boys not mattering.” Jenny laughs and turns around. “Just look at him. I mean, he looks like he’s in pain from such rejection!”
“Rejection? What reject—.”
At that moment, Gemma turns around for the second time and catches Bill staring at her in a way no guy has looked upon her before.
“Jenny?” Gemma whispers to Jenny while still staring at him.
“What is it, girl?’’ Jenny coos back.
“What’s with the puppy dog eyes? Does he usually have puppy dog eyes?”
“Don’t think so…”
“But anyway!” Gemma says almost to loudly to distract herself. She turns back to her desk, “Now is not the time to do that!’’
“Oh really?” Jenny echoes.
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