THE NEW KID

THE NEW KID

         “Can I help you, young man.”

         “I’m new to your class.” He handed her the add slip and schedule. Jack had been entering a new school almost every year since middle school. His mother never stayed long; she feared Jack’s dad would find them.

         “What’s your name?”

         “It’s on the add slip.”

         “You’re name’s Jack Frost?” The class burst out laughing.

         “Yes, Ma’am.”

         “What the Hell kind of name is that?”

         “Mine, Ma’am.”

         “Are you always such a disruption?”

         “No, I don’t think I am being a disruption.”

         “You interrupt the lesson, get the class laughing uncontrollably, and you don’t think you are a disruption.”

         “It’s my name. Where do I sit?”

         “Over there; right behind Old Man Winter.”

         Jack took his schedule and sat down.

         “Turn to page 65. These are examples of the distributive property. This prop…”

         Jack raised his hand.

         “What is it Jack Frost?”

         “Jack Frost?” the biggest boy in the class droned. “I knew it got colder in here when you came in.” With that the class roared loudly.

         “Well, what is it?”

         “I need a book.”

         “I think what you need is a trip to the office,” she chastised.

         Referral in hand, Jack left the building and trudged home. Same treatment, different school. Every time his mother moved to a small town, the kids ridiculed his name.
Once inside the door, he threw his backpack toward the fireplace and plopped down in front of the TV.

         “Jack? Why are you home so early?”

         “You picked a winner this time. I got a referral because I asked for a book.”

         Lisa brought out a big bowl of fresh popcorn and a couple of cokes. They talked for the rest of the morning. “Maybe we should just home school you for a while,” she conceded.

Word count: 299