Here is something I wrote for English last year. It's in a strange style 'cause it was for this thing called Tales in the Hall which is something the Journalism class does and supposedly puts in the paper, but we didn't last year. Anyway. The ending sucks. Hope you like it.

The entire 5th period math class has fallen into a trance. After one bomb scare and three other periods the students seem to have forgotten how to count let alone do complicated logarithms and quadratic equations.

Despite the dozing students, Ms. Mastellone keeps teaching, jumping from blackboard to blackboard and thought to thought as though she would be happy to continue multiplying logarithms for the rest of her life. Finally, after an extremely long equation, she turns to the class and sees the dazed students.

"Alright," she says with a sigh, "I told you not to do last nights assignment since we didn’t finish the lesson due to yesterday’s bomb scare. I’m not sure everyone heard me, so if you did it anyway, take it out and I’ll give you extra credit."

The class is suddenly alive with the sounds of shuffling papers and happy students. As the teacher walks around the room the class begins to settle down again, until one voice cuts through the quieting buzz.

"Why should they get extra credit? It’s not fair!" the class turns to the back of the room in shock. With this single statement, the math class is transformed into a debate team. Should Ms. Mastellone give extra credit to the students who did and unnecessary assignment?

"You told us not to do the assignment, but they did it anyway. Why should they get extra credit for not following directions?" the girl persists. There is suddenly a glint in Ms. Mastellone’s eyes and you can see the beginnings of a mischievous smile. This is an opportunity for a real debate and the look on Ms. Mastellone’s face only proves my theory that most math teachers would be far happier teaching social studies, law, or anything other than mathematics.

"Well, what do the rest of you think?" Ms. Mastellone asks and three hands shoot into the air at once.

"You’re just saying that because you didn’t do it. Why do you have to ruin it for everyone?" counters a boy in the front. He has turned in his seat to look the girl in the face while making his accusation.

This is stupid, I scribble on my notebook, only to keep from screaming at the trouble-making girl.

"She’s not taking any credit away from you," mumbles the boy in front of me, "Just mind your own business."

I begin to doodle flowers around my earlier statement.

"It’s only one point!" yells an exasperated girl towards the middle of the room. Her hands fly into the air and her eyes roll so violently it’s incredible she didn’t pull something.

I add stems to the flowers.

Another boy on the opposite side of the room calmly clears his throat and begins to speak, "Let me just ask you," he has managed to gain the attention of the whole class, "If you had done the assignment, would you still think it was unfair?"

"Well," the girl hesitates before answering, "I probably wouldn’t."

The class is again in an uproar. I write I hate math in bold letter under my flower drawing.

"Okay, okay," calls Ms. Mastellone, "Everyone calm down." She addresses the girl, "You’re very brave to be so honest and go against the class. Have you ever considered being a lawyer?"

The class laughs and the girl shrinks in her chair.

"I think we’ll take a vote," Ms. Mastellone continues, "All for extra credit?"

22 hands rise into the air.

"All against?"

1 lone hand rises defiantly.

"I guess that settles it. Extra credit wins. Please take out your assignments so I can check them.

"But you just said….!" the girl starts to speak again and the class turns in their chairs to stare murderously at her.

"Do you know what happens when a lawyer keeps arguing after a judge has already ruled?" Ms. Mastellone asks with laughter in her voice. The girl shakes her head. "The lawyer is held in contempt and fined."

The class laughs.