Tick...tock.

The dull rhythm of his wristwatch was surging against Ben's consciousness like waves against the bow of a boat. He had been sitting in the classroom's stuffy air since 8 a.m., trying not to fall asleep during class.

Tick...

Mrs. Werner, the history teacher, was just telling them something about the development of agriculture. It was the last period, only 30 more minutes and he could finally be out of here.

...tock.

He scribbled another stick man onto the margin of his notepad; he didn't take notes anyway, he couldn't concentrate enough for that.

Tick...

Ben stifled a yawn. Once again, his glance wandered to his wristwatch, then to the clock above the blackboard and back to his wristwatch again. It seemed to him as though time was running backwards.

...tock.

He pondered what he would be doing after school. Have something to eat first, he thought. He still had a few Euros in his jacket, with which he would buy something on his way home.

Tick...

Mrs. Werner was showing them a picture of a tractor. Ben drew a smaller version of it next to his stick men.

...tock.

I hope, she won't give us any homework again, he thought. He had forgotten to do it last week and had gotten an entry for that. This had caused quite some trouble at home!

Tick...

23 minutes left. Ben could hardly keep his eyes open. Someone coughed. Mrs. Werner didn't let that distract herself.

...tock.

Ben gave the figures on his notepad tiny hats of ball pen ink.

Tick...

The side of his head was resting in the palm of his left hand, his elbow resting on the table. He watched the sweep hand above the blackboard.

...tock.

I could go to the loo, the period would be over faster that way, he contemplated. But he couldn't be bothered to move.

Tick...

Ben's eyes kept falling shut. Mrs. Werner's voice was a monotonous lullaby about the propagation of potato.

...tock.

5 minutes left. Almost there, Ben thought, and closed his eyes.

Tick...tock.

"Ben?"

Tick...

"Benjamin!"

...tock.

Someone shook his shoulder.

Tick...

Shit! Fell asleep, he thought, as he woke with a start. He looked at the clock.

...tock.

8:37 a.m.. Mr. Niemann, Ben's math teacher, stood in front of him, looking sternly at him. "How do you want to make it through the day, if you fall asleep in the first period already?" he asked.

Tick...tock.