It Pays to Pay Attention

A couple of young boys get caught cutting up in class

"I'm only going to say this once! No talking during the test!"

Tommy snickered and leaned across the aisle. "That's what she said last time. I'll bet I can get her to say it again." He raised his voice a little, still leaning across the aisle toward Tavon. "Okay?"

"Thomas! What did I just say?"

"Sorry, Mrs. Harper. I didn't hear you."

"That's because you were talking. No talking during the test!"

Tavon and Tommy both slid down in their seats, nearly apoplectic from trying to hold their laughter in. After a moment, they each had their laughter under control. Tommy looked down at his test. It was a standardized test, where he had to use a No. 2 pencil. I wonder what other numbered pencils there are? He thought as he looked blankly at the questions.

1) Jane uses hyperbole so much, I can't tell what's real.
         "Hyperbole" means:
         A - Lies
         B - Exaggeration
         C - Metaphor
         D - Analogy

Tomy crinkled his brow and took a guess: C

2)" Sun : Day :: Moon : Night" is an example of:
         A - Comparison
         B - Paradox
         C - Syllogism
         D - Simile

Tommy chewed the end of his pencil and guessed again. And again. And again. None of this made any sense! He glanced over at his friend, and he could see Tavon looked just as confused and worried.

@---@---@

The next day, Mrs. Harper handed back the tests.

"Those of you who passed, there will be pizza in the cafeteria during lunch; those of you who didn't (she glanced at Tommy and Tavon) will be spending lunch with me so we can review this material again.. I'm only going to say this once (this time she looked {directly{/} at Tommy): it pays to listen. Doesn't it, Tommy?"

Neither Tommy nor Tavon felt like laughing anymore.

NOTES: ▼

Word Count: 297
Submitted for "Daily Flash Fiction Challenge" 
Prompt: Use the phrase "I'm only going to say this once"