ORIENTATION I

As I turned to leave, I almost collided with the rude jerk. Ignoring him, I tried walking the other way but he side stepped blocking my path.

"Not only are you deaf but also blind," he said with irritation.

I glared at him, almost lashing out but again I held my tongue walking pass him.

He chuckled, "I'm guessing you are going to get your seat now. Run along now or else you will be late but even if you do, you will still be late."

I clenched my fist tightly in anger. What the heck is his problem? I turned back to reply but he was already sitted at the far end of the classroom. He winked at me and I turned away disgusted, leaving the classroom. Seeing him seated there, I'm guessing we are in the same class. This only means I will keep seeing that stupid face of his. Argh! So annoying.

At the entrance, I saw my seat tied to a pole. What was with the rope? Was this why Mr rude said I would be late? I tried to untie the rope but to my great discomfort, it was firmly tied. I continued but all my effort seemed fruitless. At this rate, I would surely be late for the first class.

After an excruciatingly fifteen minutes, I finally untied my seat and then I was left with the next phase of how am I going to carry the heavy desk back to class. I can't drag it all the way back because it will spoil the floor and also make loud screeching noises that are a discomfort to the ear. My only option was to carry the heavy seat and that took another fifteen minutes because I had to pause now and then to catch my breath.

When I arrived at the classroom, the teacher had already started the class. "Excuse me, what is your name?" The teacher spoke up startling me and stopping me abruptly from entering the class.

"Sydney Raymond," I answered.

"Miss Raymond where do you think you are going with that desk? If am correct, you are supposed to be here about thirty minutes ago," she said with a frown.

"I'm sorry..." I paused, thinking of a name to address her with.

"Mrs Ruth Stanley," she filled in.

"I'm sorry, Mrs Stanley. I didn't mean to be late for the class. I..."

"I don't care for an explanation," she caught me off. "Stand at front of the class. I would have sent you out but I don't like my student missing out on any lesson."

The students started snickering as I went to stand where she had ordered. "That's enough amusement for the day. Now, where were we?"

As I stood there like a lost sheep, I noticed most of the questions asked during the course of the class was answered by Mr rude. He seemed intelligent or maybe English was his favorite subject. Surprisingly, I just noted one good aspect about him.

"Now class, what do you understand by the word collocation?" Mrs Stanley asked.

I watched Mr rude expecting him to raise his hands but he didn't. From the look on his face, I could tell he was busy ransacking his brain for the answer.

"Yes, miss Raymond. Can I hear your answer?" I heard Mrs Stanley ask.

"What?" I looked at her confused.

"You raised your hand so I'm thinking you know the answer, " she replied.

While I was lost in thought, I had unknowningly raised my hand. I looked at my raised hand as if it betrayed me. I felt nervous, I could tell all eyes were on me and I was right. Mr rude had this ugly smirk on his face depicting I didn't know the answer.

"Miss Raymond," Mrs Stanley called again with her hands akimbo. She was running out of patience waiting for my answer.

"Collocation refers to the way in which particular words tend to occur or belong together. Simply put, it's the grouping of words. For example, payback, give out etc," I ended with a smug face.

"Bravo! That was a marvelous reply. You can have your sit," she said, really impressed.

I was glad I can finally sit down since my leg was hurting. Lily smiled at me as I brought my sit next to hers. She went as far as to give me double thumbs up. I felt proud and right now I was the one with a smirk on my lips.

It wasn't long, the class came to an end not after beating Mr rude to answer some more questions.

"Wow! I didn't know you were intelligent," Lily grinned from ear to ear.

I only smiled. "You needed to see Rex's face when the teacher asked you to sit down."

"I didn't miss it. He was so angry and I could have sworn I saw smoke fuming out from his ears and nostrils."

Lily giggled. "Oh no! He is coming over here," Lily whispered as she tried to straighten none existing rumples from her uniform.

I rolled my eyes at her. What was the fuse about? Mr rude came up to me and then sat at the edge of my desk with an angry face.

I looked at him with spite before asking, "what do you want?"

"Well, well, I see you are quite happy with yourself for answering a few questions," he said as he grabbed my English textbook, gazing through the pages. "I'm here to wipe off that triumphant look you had earlier."

Saying those words, he then tore my text book into two equal halves. I gasped. What has he done?

He threw the textbook at me. "Now, that's the kind of expression I like to see." He walked out of the classroom with two other boys.

I sat there in shock. Lily came towards me, "oh my goodness! Are you okay, Sydney?'

I collected myself very quickly when I felt her concerned hands on me. "Yeah, I'm okay."

"Are you sure?" I could tell she was surprised at my calmness which was a sharp contrast to all my earlier outburst.

"Of course, I'm sure," I shrugged.

"How could he do something like this? We should find a way to glue that back," she suggested.

I shook my head. "No need, I will do that at home. Besides, I didn't come with glue."

"Okay," she nodded.

Lily kept looking at me expecting me to act rashly but much to her surprise, I didn't. I have already resolved within me that I have had enough of his bullying. I'm not so weak that he could pick on me whenever he wants.