“5…”

    Bernice, in a moment of embarrassment, didn’t realize that her homeroom teacher had begun counting. “Okay, okay! I’ll take off my headphones. Just … don’t freak out.”

    “Now, Bernice. I’ve been a teacher for 40 years, I don’t think there’s anything that can -“ The teacher was interrupted by her gasping from shock, and then collapsed to the floor unconscious.

    To take off her headphones, Bernice had moved her head on to her desk, and placed them into her backpack. Bernice’s cheeks reddened as the rest of her classmate’s mouths popped open. Bernice, quickly grabbed her head by her hair, muttered an impersonal, “Excuse me, I have to go to the restroom and quickly rushed out the door.

    Bernice was in tears as she ran through the halls to the nearest restroom. Entering the nearest stall and slamming the door shut. She clutched her head to her chest, muffling her sobs in her own warm embrace. She was especially glad she had forgotten her make-up this morning, as any mascara would be running.

   The stall door started jiggling. Bernice managed a muffled “Occupied.”

   “Bernice, get out. We want to talk,” a girl said.

   “Yah, hurry up,” a second voice commanded.