Chapter 1
“Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Mrs. Brian and I will be your substitute for the day. All you have to do for today is watch this video and then some movie. After that, I don’t really care what you do. Get on your phone, computer, sleep just as long as you don’t be disrespectful. I don’t tolerate that, so don’t do it,” Mrs.Brian said in one breath.
“Mrs.Brian, I’m new here. I know you’re a substitute and all, but I don’t know where to sit.”
“Boy, just sit there, where the whole table empty,” she pointed.
I see you’re still here. I know nothing is happening now, but just wait till my next class. Wherever that is. I sat down at the table with everyone’s eyes on me. Everyone except the two students at the table next to me. Today is just gonna be great.
“Just do whatever after I take role,” she called every student, but when she got to mine, “Park Ch- how do you say your name?”
“Park Chin-hwa,” I replied and everyone turned to look at me again.
“So you’re a chink,” the boy named Jacob laughed.
“No,” I glared, “I’m your mom’s affair.”
“That isn’t funny, man.”
“Does it look like I’m laughing?”
The teacher shouted, “Alright enough! Watch this video and Chin-hwa, take this to the office. Maybe you’ll learn your way around without anyone telling you.”
I walked up and took the paper. Just you wait.
“Mrs.Brian, can I use the restroom?” Jacob asked.
Time to go. I sped down the halls, searching for an adult that knows the way to the office. I turned a corner and bumped into an adult. Finally.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
“Yea- yes, sir,” I said standing up, “I’m looking for the front office.”
“You’re in luck. I was on my way there, so you can just follow me,” he smiled, “Are you new or something?”
“Definitely new.”
“Then why are you taking the attendance?”
I looked down at the paper, “I guess the teacher wanted me out of the class.”
“Why is that?”
“I told a student that I had an affair with his mom.”
He laughed and tried to hide it with a cough, “Interesting.”
I shrugged, “I think she wants me to get lost, so I won’t come back.”
“How about this? It’s not something the teachers should be doing, but after you take the att-”
“Okay,” I interrupted.
“What?” He stopped in front of the office door.
“Okay,” I repeated.
It literally reads office. I think I memorized the way to the office. It’s not even far from the class, but it isn’t close either. He opens the door and heads to another room.
“Good morning, Mr.Garcia.”
“Good morning. He has attendance for his class…don’t let him leave.”
“I can hear everything,” I pointed out.
He went back into the room and I gave the lady the paper. When she wasn’t looking I backed out of the office. I wasn’t going back to class and I wasn’t about to hang around a teacher all day. It’s only 8:47 and I still need to find out where my next class is. I guess I’ll visit the office again when the bell rings.
I like the sound of empty hallways. I don’t know why my parents didn’t just send me to some private school. I roamed the school, studying every room number and the floor it was on. It isn’t like the school back at home,but more like- I don’t know- American schools. That is where I am and I’m not liking it at all
The bell rang, startling me because I lost track of time. I didn’t bother going back to my first period because there was no reason to do so. I came to school empty handed and couldn’t care less if I got into some trouble. Not like fighting others’ trouble, but like teacher trouble. I headed back to the front office for a new schedule. I left my old one in my first class.
“...affair.”
Shit. Just my luck. After avoiding him for a good forty-five minutes, I still ran into him. Who said I couldn’t just go back to my first to get my schedule. I turned back around.
“Mr. Park,” Mr.Garcia called out.
I rolled my eyes before turning around, “Yes?”
“Would you mind apologizing to Mr.Matthews?”
“Sorry that your mom liked my d-” Mr.Garcia cleared his throat, “Sorry, Joseph.”
“Whatever, chink,” he mumbled to me, while opening the office door.
“Mr.Garcia, I came for a new schedule. I don’t know where my second class is,” he ignored me and continued talking to the secretary, “Why aren’t you in your classroom? You’ve been here the whole time. Where is the principal?”
A student walked in, “Principal Garcia~ I’m done with the posters.”
“Thank you, Elizabeth. Mr.Park, what were you saying?” He turned to me.
“I need my schedule because I lost my other one,” I lied.
He held his hand out and the secretary gave him my schedule, “Keep up with it this time.”
I rolled my eyes and snatched the paper out of his hand. If I wasn’t in a rush to my next class, I would curse him out right now. In Korean of course. I was walking past the restrooms and got pulled into one of them. What the hell?
“Well, well. If it isn’t Mr.Chinky.”
“Can I help you?”
“Actually, yeah, you can,” he said, as his friends gathered around, “We need a tutor and you look like a smart chink. Think you can help us?”
“Sorry, guys. My hands are currently full. Unless…” I started.
“Come on. Speak up,” Jacob said.
“From the top. What’s in it for me?” I crossed my arms, “You know I just moved here and I need to know who has the most popularity here.”
“Why is that?” one of his friends said.
“I don’t know. I think I just want to be with the popular group,” I smiled, “Let me know and then I’ll think about tutoring you all,” I patted his shoulder and left the bathroom, “바보.”(idiot)
