Deja-vu Before Friday

She wasn’t unthinking, writing her name on her reading assignment because, even though the sensation while stepping into class at nine-thirty was unusual, sensing she’d been in this mindset several times during school, there was an unrelenting vision that something terrible was about to happen. Her mind experienced this every time, seeing foresight the time must’ve passed ten, the class ending at ten forty-five; reaching into her backpack carefully she pulled out her phone and checked her notifications, she saw her father texted ‘good morning’ after she left for school; thousands of kids must’ve gotten the same message, Theo thought curiously. The next experience she was visited was when one student - forgetting his name (he was always quiet) - he’d ask the teacher if he could have the hall pass and after gently grabbing it from her, Mrs. Destiny, he’d walk out covering his face with his hoodie and proceed to spend most of the class time outside - most likely in the restroom, Theo thought.

Usually, on a Thursday, before a Friday, the best or worst had passed; all major assignments turned in, reading quizzes graded; teachers left suspended in the belief the worst had to be over. “Okay, guys,” Mrs. Destiny said; she turned in her seat and faced away from her computer, “The time is ten-ten. You guys have thirty minutes; when you're done make sure your names are written down. Last time most of you didn’t write it - I can’t give a grade unless I know who to give it to.” Seeing Theo already holding her phone, Mrs. Destiny then asks, “Young lady, are you done with your assignment?” Proud to say yes Mrs. Destiny then asks, “then come turn it in, let me grade it,” using her hands to gesture her over.

The desk rocked forward and back as Theo got up, to prepare if suddenly the need to walk normally and act accordingly became so unbearing, to the point she couldn’t think why others would stare at her, she handed her paper to Mrs. Destiny and proceeded to walk back, afraid she might trip on her laces or something. However, as predicted, since today felt so unreal, the possibility of that happening became so far to be necessary; she felt the future must have something in mind, that she must save her energy in case something does happen.

While Mrs. Destiny started grading Theo’s paper, the class, and Theo didn’t have to look to know what others were thinking, they waited until Mrs. Destiny looked up and called Theo back over.

In the past, Mrs. Destiny barely gave chances to those who seemed better with themselves, than those who struggled to maintain a level of social mobility, but lately, through the three years Theo has been in her class, she had, over each summer, slowly motioned herself to cut back on her insecurities, and remain fair - at least to the best she can - give promising help and points to those who develop so far as a manageable grade, at some point during the semester.

If I wish something bad to happen to someone, I don’t think it my fault if, by coincidence, something does, Theo once thought; when she received a D minus on her climate essay, she managed, while Mrs. Destiny wasn’t looking, to steal her reading glasses from her desk and keep it hidden in her bedroom. When Mrs. Destiny asked one day if anybody would steal anything from her desk, aware of the reputation she had, and since no one spoke, she kept everyone late from their next class, thus everyone wondered who did it - some thought it must’ve been the boy who leaves the class and spend most of his time walking around campus. But once Mrs. Destiny began becoming neutral to students, Theo kept forgetting to sneak her glasses back onto the desk - now they just sit under her bed, collecting dust for months. Theo remembers Mrs. Destiny getting after the boy for leaving class, threatening to call his parents and send him to the principal's office. It wasn’t long, however, since Mrs. Destiny became fair and decided to let the boy leave anytime he liked, barely giving him any comment. Theo had wondered if it was because she must’ve received information about the boy’s mental behavior, or some related warning not to -

“Okay, missy,” Mrs. Destiny announced. Theo got up from her desk as Mrs. Destiny held her papers out to take. “Good job, Theo. Just a few notes, of course, and you’ll be on track,” she said; looking over at where the boy sat, she must’ve now realized it was him who left with the hall pass.

“Okay,” Theo said, she took her paper and walked back to her desk. Everyone, including Mrs. Destiny, went back to looking at their paper or looking at their phone until everyone was finished. Theo did the same and saw some answers needed to be rewritten, a few restatements must be cleared, and the last thing, of course, was she forgot to put her name. Before she could, Mrs. Destiny then says, “Theo?”

Theo looks up, as some students did as well, a few trying not to. “Yes, Mrs. Destiny.”

Mrs. Destiny began saying, “Don’t worry about questions 1 through 3, just go ahead and do -,” before hearing outside the classroom - boom, boom, boom.

“I guess we're next,” one of the boys said humorously.

The sound of harsh popping happened again - all then realized this was real.  

I thought I was dreaming for a second, Theo thought.