SCHIMELPFENIG2

Trace by: Celia Schimelpfenig

The bell rang and the students began to rush out the door. That is, except for Trace. Geometry was not his best subject, nothing seem to really stick in his mind. As he began to almost gallop towards the teacher to ask for help, his long, mane-like hair swished around him.

“Can you help me with this?” he asked, his voice low, yet whiney. “I’m sorry; it just takes me a few times to really understand.”

The teacher began to go over a few more problems with him, and it seemed like he was really catching on. The thing about Trace is that, well, if you over do it, he won’t learn anything. Small baby steps are what is necessary.

Once through, he galloped back to his desk and retrieved the mess of papers he had spread across his work space. He then left the room and made his way to the cafeteria.

“What would you like today?” asked the lady with the hairnet standing behind an assortment of food.

“Salad, please,” he replied. Trace was a vegetarian.

He paid for his meal and then joined his friends at the table. The only spot left was next to the captain of the wrestling team. Huge in stature, ferocious looking, surprisingly speedy, and Trace’s greatest enemy. Trace may not be beefy, but he was tall. Real tall with these giant clonking feet. But still no real match for Max.

Trace pulled out the chair, and tried to situate it pointing away from Max. He already has to pull chairs out farther than most others, due to his massive height. That made it easier to reposition himself, but it wasn’t good enough. It’s all about being sly, who goes unnoticed. It’s not usually him, he kind of clonks and makes a bunch of noise when he moves.

Max looks to his right. “What do you think you’re doing Cyrus?”

“Please Max, not right now. I’m just trying to eat lunch.”

“No, Cyrus. This will be right now. I didn’t say you could sit here.”

At this point, Max was standing looking ready to pounce. He would too, at any sudden movement, any wrong choice of words. Trace set his tray down just before Max threw a punch, which Trace dodged.

Instead of fighting back, Trace ran away as quickly as possible.