Chem exam day

   I alternate between being angry with myself and being pleased with myself when I think back over that afternoon at Mandy's. I'll probably think over that event until I'm 90.
   I'm pleased that I didn't get entangled with Mandy. That is emotionally tangled. If I had, I might never get out of this place. As for physically entangled, my body aches and wishes for another chance.
   Shirley said something that I have trouble getting out of my head -- "Don't listen to the words of songs or you'll think they're meant just for you." I'm already guilty of that. Whenever I hear 'Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter', I always think of Mrs. Kaiser's lovely daughter Betsy.
   Why is it so easy to learn that you don't understand anything?
   Bringing me to -- what to do after school? After the 17th of June?
   We've had exams already. I won't know for awhile exactly how I did, but what difference does it matter now?

 

 

   The University of Maryland will probably hold my seat until August for me, but what good will that do?
   During exams there was one incident that still makes my blood boil. Pop Garner, the math teacher, was proctoring our chemistry final. Hersch volunteered to hand out the exams, while Pop read the instructions aloud.
   "Absolutely no talking during the exam," Pop read.
   Hersch skipped putting the exam sheet and answer booklet on Timmy's desk.
   I said, "Hey, Hershey Bar, I saw him. He'll be here in a moment."
   Pop Garner heard me and said, "The rules say no talking. Hersch, give me Almon's exam." He took the papers and placed them on his desk in the front of the classroom.
   "But," I protested, "how can I be cheating? I haven't even seen it yet."
   He ignored me and gestured for Hersch to continue handing out the chemistry exams.
   I was fuming and wanted to do something but I didn't know what.
   Timmy came in before I could decide what to do. He