Chapter 2: Class in Session (Part 1)

Christopher wasted no time recovering from the collision, swiftly getting back on his feet and heading to his desired seat. As he walked towards it, his eyes caught sight of Georgie, Sheldon's older brother, sitting nearby. After settling into his seat and finally feeling a sense of relaxation, Christopher's tranquility was interrupted by a girl named Sarah, who struck up a conversation with him.

Sarah approached Christopher with a friendly smile. "Hey there! Mind if I join you?"

Christopher glanced up, slightly taken aback by her sudden approach. "Um, sure. Go ahead," he replied, gesturing to the empty seat beside him.

Taking a seat, Sarah extended her hand. "I'm Sarah, by the way. What's your name?"

Christopher shook her hand, feeling a hint of unease. "I'm Christopher. Nice to meet you, Sarah."

Sarah leaned back, crossing her legs. "Nice to meet you too, Christopher! So, what do you think of Medford High so far?"

Christopher let out a sigh, trying to find the right words. "It's... different. Bigger than what I'm used to, for sure."

Sarah nodded, her eyes scanning the crowded room. "I know what you mean. So many new faces and things to explore. Have you made any friends yet?"

Christopher shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Not really. It's only been a few minutes since I walked through those doors."

Sarah laughed lightly, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Well, don't worry. I'm here now. We can be friends."

Christopher managed a small smile, feeling a mix of gratitude and apprehension. "Thanks, Sarah. That's nice of you to say."

The conversation continued, with Sarah asking about Christopher's interests and sharing anecdotes from her life. Christopher attempted to avoid personal details, but Sarah's persistent questions made it increasingly challenging.

Finally, Sarah leaned in a mischievous glint in her eyes. "So, Christopher, do you have a girlfriend?"

Christopher's eyes widened, realizing he needed to end the charade. Taking a deep breath, he decided to be honest. "Sarah, I need to tell you something. I'm not like the other high school freshmen. I'm eight years old."

Sarah blinked, her expression a mix of surprise and confusion. "Wait, seriously? You look so much older! I would have never guessed."

Christopher nodded, his voice filled with sincerity. "It's true. I've skipped a few grades. I hope you understand."

Sarah's surprise transformed into a friendly smile. "Wow, that's impressive! I admire your intelligence, Christopher. Let's just continue being friends, no matter the age difference" (Prison is also just a room)

Christopher's relief washed over him as he realized he had found acceptance, at least from Sarah. With a grateful smile, he replied, "Thank you, Sarah. I appreciate your understanding."

The conversation gradually shifted to other topics, and Christopher felt a sense of relief and a glimmer of hope that his unique situation wouldn't hinder his high school experience entirely.

As the conversation drew to a close, the classroom, on the other hand, was far from silent, seemingly unaffected by the arrival of the homeroom teacher, Ms. McElroy. She entered the room with a casual stride, her presence failing to command any immediate attention from the students. Unfazed by the lack of response, she casually approached the blackboard, taking hold of a piece of white chalk. With deliberate movements, she inscribed her name, "Ms. McElroy," on the blackboard.

"Alright, everyone settle down," Ms. McElroy began with a firm tone. "Let's get one thing straight. It's McElroy, not Macaroni. I may have a unique name, but I assure you, I'm not on the menu at an Italian restaurant."

The students remained silent, their lack of reaction indicating that Ms. McElroy's attempt at humor had fallen flat. Her pasta-related joke seemed to not quite hit the mark with the class, leaving an awkward silence.

"Swiftly moving on," Ms. McElroy continued, her tone transitioning from firm to businesslike. "In addition to being your homeroom teacher, I will be seeing some of you in my English class and some of you on the volleyball court."

As Ms. McElroy continued speaking, Sheldon's attention wandered in search of his brother, Georgie. His eyes scanned the classroom until he finally spotted Georgie sitting a few rows behind him. However, to Sheldon's dismay, Georgie subtly gestured with his body, indicating that Sheldon should focus on the front of the class.

Ms. McElroy's voice filled with pride, "Just to give you a little history, I have been here at Medford for 29 years." When the words left her lips, Christopher couldn't help but blurt out, "Damn!" The unexpected outburst echoed through the classroom, causing a few giggles.

Ms. McElroy's face twisted into a slight frown as she heard Christopher's exclamation. Displeasure flashed across her features briefly before she composed herself and continued, "I have taught some of your older brothers and sisters and, sadly, some of your parents." As she finished her sentence, she plastered on a smile. However, there was a hint of underlying condescension in her expression.

She continued, "Not much I haven't seen until today. I'm sure you're well aware that we have a student with us who, despite his young age," she paused, leaning over to Sheldon's height as he sat in front of her, "is remarkably gifted and I expect yall to make him feel welcomed."

Her eyes next briefly scanned the classroom, a hint of confusion in her gaze. "However, he isn't the only exceptional student this year. There is supposed to be another, but he may not be here today."

Christopher immediately interjected, his voice filled with earnestness, "Actually, I am here." Ms. McElroy turned her gaze towards him, a hint of sarcasm lacing her words, "Ah, looks like we know who the class clown is, don't we?" Sensing the misunderstanding, Christopher hurriedly clarified, "No, I'm telling the truth. I am actually the same age as him, eight years old. It's just that I happen to be very tall."

Christopher's revelation left his classmates in stunned silence, their eyes widening with astonishment. Even Ms. McElroy couldn't hide her surprise, her mouth slightly agape as she tried to process the unexpected truth.