NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3: Chapter 3
The first major school event in spring was coming: A flea market. It was quite the tradition at this school. Students would take thrash and unusable or unwanted things with them to school and try to bullshit parents into giving them money for those things. It was amusing to see the adults buying unnecessary stuff just to make the teens happy, and the teens laughing by themselves thinking they got the adults for good. It could be called charity for the delusions. Ah yes, everyone writing their own lies and bathing themselves in them. Cinematic. Pretentious. Youthful.
From the moment word about the upcoming market spread, I instantly knew that the fate for the next week was sealed. There was no way I'd have any time for my little naps at breaks. It is probable that they will argue with each other endlessly about what theme our stall will have or what contents it will offer. Not that I care, really. Most of the time, whilst others made their stalls, Azur came to the school canteen to make some pasta with me. That was completely not related to the situation of the flea market, but the time passed so slowly and I had no interest in it, so this was the best way to spend the time. Azur was not a student anymore, but since he studied here he was well known among the teachers. That's why he was always let in at festivals or events. In class, Paulio stood dramatically on his desk with a makeshift speech:
"This year, we must make the best booth in the school! We will sell home made things out of wood and other materials! Artificial campfires, figurines, chess boards, whatever you can think of! Then we'll buy paint and paint them over, improving their quality and setting them up. Also, it would be best if our stall would be also made out of wood, just to match the merch! Who's in with me!?"
The class erupted in cheers, applauding Paulio.
I snickered. This was hilarious after all. If it was thought about realistically, there would be nowhere near enough time to make all the products, not speaking about the booth itself. Considering that the market would take place next week, everyone would at least need to work six hours a day on the products and the booth would need to be preordered. And don't get started on the cost-to-profit deficit. But that isn't really my problem. Not that I will do something anyways. It's not my problem. With that, I collected myself and headed out of the classroom. The loud environment was hard to bear after all. Here in the corridors, the chatter was at least kept somewhat civil. I took out my banana, the only snack I had with me today. I always took bananas with me. They were easy to transport, easy to eat and easy to dispose of. Also they were on sale last week so I had plenty of leftovers in the fridge. The banana was quickly disposed of, leaving only the outer peels behind. Quite delicious. Whilst leaning back, some second graders from the junior classes ran down the corridor. Ah, those childish times. When was it? I can distinctly remember when I ran like this before. Without a care, without a care in the world. I ran in similar corridors, in a similar place, not this one. If my memory isn't lying it was in the school next town. It was smaller than this one in the city, but quite good for its size and remote location. I can remember that i had frien-... No, not friends, acquaintances back then. Back then I actually talked openly to people, had many connections and a somewhat middle school love relationship. Well, completely wrong, not love, after all it was just a- … pretense. Yeah. Everything was clear after that day. But not to sulk on it, it was just me being youthful I guess. Only difference between me and the others who are here in this school is just that they haven't realized it yet.
The bell rang and the class was about to begin again. Short breaks are a pain, it isn't possible to sleep enough in that time.
On my way home, all the events of today flew through my mind. Well, Azur was on a work trip the whole week until the market so there was no point in going to the pub today. What a letdown. I walked down the street as usual, when a sudden meow caught my attention. It was coming from a huge container in an alleyway, filled with thrash and other stuff. The meow was coming from the depths of it, probably a stray cat caught in it and not able to get out. I stood there for a few seconds and then sighed. My coat and hat fell to the ground as I crawled into the container. It was probably ten by five by two metres so it was hard to get into. Once inside, I saw the problem: The cat was stuck in a pipe that was misfortunate enough to stand straight upwards and thus had only an exit on the top, which made it impossible for the cat to crawl out. A sigh left my lips as my hands lifted the pipe. The cat slipped through the bottom cranny that I made and jumped onto my shirt. I took it onto my arm and climbed outside again. Thankfully the smell I got wasn't that bad since the cat was stuck on the side stuffed with furniture and not thrash. As I put on the coat again a person caught my eye: There was a woman standing on the other side of the street, carefully observing me. With a better look, I discovered it was Shena. My mood worsened instantly. I put on the hat and lightly gestured a greeting by touching it. Then, I hastily left. This wasn't optimal, after all, I have been seen climbing into a trash container. I wondered what rumors would spread about me this time. Ah, but it was probably fine, whatever would come, could never be as bad as the things before. Not anymore. I would never fail again at grasping the situation. That's called awareness. And I am always aware.