Ertifferrah Written By: Elay Understood CHAPTER 11 GOODBYE ...Elay TV Content Creator

 

Before going to her new class, Erica stopped back at the secretary’s desk where she had first checked in. “Hi. Whew, what’s up with that lady? I mean, is she, uh, always like that?”

“Oh,” The secretary laughed. “Yeah, she’s got her ways, and to make it all worse, she’s best friends with your new accelerated teacher!” Looking around, she added ‘between you and me, ever since Miss Veedra’s arrival, it’s been like a living hell here, at least in the main office, that is. But don’t tell her I said that, or-“ she pulled her head back, drawing her finger across her neck as she made a slicing sound.

They both loudly laughed. Suddenly, the tall lady poked her head around the corner, peering over thin, silver-framed glasses, and cleared her throat.

“Better get going, huh?” Erica said. “Nice talking to you. See you around.”

“Aw, maybe it’s in your best interest that you won’t ever have to see me around again.” She said in a low tone as she glanced around as if looking for eavesdroppers. “Today Principal Veedra gave you good news but if you were to return into her office again for any reason, more than likely, it will be because you’ve upset her. Upsetting her is something you don’t want to do young lady. I’ve seen her bad side and believe me, it isn’t pretty. –But sizing you up a bit, I get the notion that this won’t be a problem for you though.

*

Down the hall, past the glass case that contained numerous trophies and plaques, she walked back to Government class. “This is it.” After a couple of knocks on the door, a voice replied “Who is it?”

“Huh, come on! Why are you always playing around?” Erica asked smiling.

It was Fortney, he’s a tinge on the daffy duck side, but it’s another ‘quality’ that made him one of the poplars, that and being on the Varsity football team. He’d always ask to copy Erica’s notes she took in class because they were much neater than his. 

There was a day when he tried to write his own notes for an upcoming test but when he got home from practice, the chicken-scratch on the paper was so bad, bombed the test. From that day on, Erica always Xeroxed a copy of her notes and gave them to him after class. On one occasion, they met after school in the cafeteria so she could help him cram for a quiz.

“Come in,” he said, laughing.

“Thank you!!” She walked in and started packing up books and papers together.

“You’re leaving. Got that accelerated class, huh?”

The rest of the class grew silent.

“Who am I going to pick on now?”

It was kind of a shame, she thought, to see how sad he looked. She couldn’t believe he was serious about not having someone to pick on in class. “Hay, Frotney, come on man, there’s that really quiet girl over there.” She whispered to him before closing her desktop down. “You could mess with her. Besides, that week I got expelled, where do you think I got those notes to give to you?” She said with a grin.

He smiled.

Taking one final look around, she walked over to Mrs. Portice desk and turned in her books and final assignment.

“Huh, I knew it. I knew this moment would come.” Mrs. Portice whispered, her face turning a deep magenta. “Class, will you excuse us for a second?” Placing a soft palm on Erica’s shoulder, she stepped towards the hallway. When the door was closed behind them, she spoke. “You were my favorite student.” After another long sigh, she added, “We were just on our way to prepare for the class debates. Then, there’s the trip to the museum.”

“Yeah, I know. Bummer,huh?”

“Well, it’s no good in suppressing a God-given talent. When it’s time to spread your wings and fly, then so be it. Boy, I’m really going to miss having you as part of my class. You brought a different form of energy; not only to my students but for me as well. I won’t keep you long, but let me tell you this. In all my years of teaching Government, never before has anyone challenged our Democracy as earnestly as you.”

To prevent from crying, Erica directed the conversation towards a lighter mood. “Mrs. Portice, I’ll still be coming to this school, so it’s not like I’m leaving totally.”

“This is true. Well, having said that, good luck. I know you will excel. Oh, and will you still come to our Government after-school club?”

“Oh-yeah, you don’t have to worry about that! I’ll be there.”

“Great! That makes me feel a lot better!”

“Guess I better go then, see ya later, Mrs. Portice.”