Chapter 66

Mornings

When Rome's in ruins, we are the lions

Free of the coliseums

I snapped my eyes open. This song was far too happy for this early in the morning. I reached for the Magic 8 Ball. "Should I get up?" I asked it.

Reply hazy, try again.

We are wild, we are like young volcanoes

We are wild, Americana, exotica

Do you wanna feel a little beautiful baby?

Yeah

No, Fall Out Boy. I did not want to feel a little beautiful. I turned off the music and got out of bed. I loved that song, but I just wasn't in the mood. I needed sleep, but sleep was the one thing I wouldn't get. That day I had the variety show and I didn't really know what was in store for me.

I quickly ate my breakfast and threw on a Led Zeppelin sweatshirt and jeans, the first thing I could find. My hair was still a total mess, but I didn't care. I had more important things to worry about. What did Candace tell me I could do this morning? It was escaping my memory.

Oh right, the announcements. I had to figure out what I was going to do for that. Maybe if I ran, I could get to school a little early. I picked up the pace a little.

I arrived at Rutherford B. Hayes High School at 7:43, two minutes before class started. I rushed to the office. A woman with curly, grey hair and glasses looked up from her desk.

"How may I help you?" she asked.

"I'm here to do the announcement about the variety show," I said.

"Doesn't that Candace girl usually do that?"

"Yeah, but I'm doing it today. Candace has a lot of stuff to do, so I'm doing this for her."

"That's very nice of you. Take a seat over there." She gestured to a chair on the other side of the room.

I sat down. A few minutes later, the woman called me over. I tried to remember what I was supposed to say. What did Candace usually say? She had been doing this for the last two weeks. She easily could have done this herself.

"Tonight is the 11th annual Rutherford B. Hayes High School variety show," I said into the PA system. "It will take place at the Main Street Theater at 7:00 and tickets are SOLD OUT! There will be concessions for sale and dogs from the Buffalo Heights Pound will be there if you would like to adopt. All proceeds from the event will help with maintenance costs for the Barnswell Library and Historical Site. If you are performing in the show, rehearsal begins at 5:00."

I walked out of the office. I was already overwhelmed by everything I had to get done that day, and it was only 7:45 in the morning. "Will I survive the rest of the day?" I asked the Magic 8 Ball.

Most likely.

I certainly hoped that was true.