Daily Flash Fiction Challenge

Mrs. Parker continues roll call, “Alan Morgenson?”

“Present. It’s Mogenson.”

“Thank you, Mr. Mogenson. Duly noted!”

She has mispronounced my name every morning since freshman year began--forty-three times, give or take. And, since the very first day of school, she has singled me out in one humiliating way or another. For some reason she doesn’t like me.

“Why is your backpack next to your desk?”

We are supposed to stash our gear in the coatroom, but my math book is still in my backpack.

“I didn’t have a chance to take out my book before the bell rang, ma’am.”

“Then you need to get here earlier, Mr. Mogenson!” She clenches her fat fists, as spittle spews out of her pie hole.

Mrs. Parker doesn’t like her rules challenged. But I figure I’m already on her list so I have nothing to lose, no matter what I do. Right?

She walks toward me. “I’ll take that.”

I take out my math book, and hand over the backpack.

‘What do you have in here, a brick or two, or three, Mr. Mogenson?”

“Lots of books,” I say, as calmly as I can. “Avid reader.”

She doesn’t bother to look inside, and waddles to the coatroom, backpack in hand.

I set the timer for two minutes.

“MAY I BE EXCUSED?” I stand.

“YOU MAY NOT,” she hollers from the coatroom.

“Everybody run!” I yell.

I run!

My classmates run!

BOOM!

I imagine I’ll get caught and put in juvey for a very long time, but all things considered, I think it was worth it.