Dear Room 306
Title: Dear Room 306
Author: Kelly G. Prace
Genre: Autobiographical... somewhat
Length: Short story/1 1/2 pgs/645 words
Summary: A letter to my sixth grade class
LJ-Cut:
Dear Room 306:
Thank-you for showing up as requested in Melanie's invitation. She wants me to thank-you all for letting her be a part of your jokes and your laughter. She would like you all to remember the times you showed her and hold them with you for the rest of your life.
Well, I'm sure that's what Melanie would like me to say, but the truth is she's gone because of you.
I tried to put it in the nicest way, because all your jokes were about her, all your pranks were on her, and all of your immature acts were against her. That's right, Tuesday she took her life because of the display of immaturity her sixth grade class showed her.
It was twenty-one degrees that morning when the bell rang at 8:30 am. And, as usual, everyone pushed her out of the way so they could push into the warm school first. Melanie stood in the corner and waited, not even walking in after her class, but waited for the fifth and fourth graders to pile in because they would push her too. After trudging up two flights of stairs, she found that her locker partner put their science project in Melanie's slot, and as a result, green goop slipped everywhere. Melanie put her coat on the dusty floor and took her seat to find out somebody spilled small spots of fruit juice on it. Alan accidentally brushed against her sweater and made a big deal about having "Melanie Germs" and soon the whole class was suffering.
By lunch Melanie was the core of five jokes and two pranks, it was worse that day then any other day. But Melanie sat quietly and ate her squished peanut butter and jelly sandwich in the corner during lunch. While everyone else was laughing with friends or swamping apples for cookies Melanie sat and read her books. "She's reading again. She's so stupid, and that smell, she's overdue for her yearly shower!" Yes, she did hear you. She always heard you.
I see you, Katie, sitting in your perfect black dress twirling your perfect blonde hair, wondering where Bill is and when you can leave to go shopping. When, in reality, you should be thinking about the science project that day. You should be thinking about the time you let Sammy, the class gerbil, loose in Melanie's desk. Caesar and Robbie, I see you glancing at your watches wondering if you could still make the hockey game in time. Do you remember the hockey game you made up? The one that you could only make a score when you slammed the hockey puck against Melanie's head? And Kenneth your sitting in corner making farting sounds to get a laugh. Do remember when we covered dodge ball in P.E.? You should be thinking about the time you knocked Melanie unconscious instead of looking for an immature laugh. Lisa should be remembering the time you tripped her during the obstacle course and she needed knee surgery instead of picking at your nails. And for those who I don't see, you should forever remember that you didn't show up for Melanie's funeral.
Was it because she was tall? Or because her family wasn't as rich as yours? Maybe it was because she never fought back. Or maybe when you were shopping, playing hockey, hanging out with your friends, or impressing everyone else, Melanie was studying. Perhaps it was because Melanie was smart. I'll tell you why you hated her. Because she was everything you wanted to be. Smart, patient, talented and friendly enough not to get any of you in trouble. You guys don't deserve to be at her funeral. You might have lost half your jokes and a subject to laugh at, but I lost a sister, my twin sister. That's something I could never get back.
Author: Kelly G. Prace
Genre: Autobiographical... somewhat
Length: Short story/1 1/2 pgs/645 words
Summary: A letter to my sixth grade class
LJ-Cut:
Dear Room 306:
Thank-you for showing up as requested in Melanie's invitation. She wants me to thank-you all for letting her be a part of your jokes and your laughter. She would like you all to remember the times you showed her and hold them with you for the rest of your life.
Well, I'm sure that's what Melanie would like me to say, but the truth is she's gone because of you.
I tried to put it in the nicest way, because all your jokes were about her, all your pranks were on her, and all of your immature acts were against her. That's right, Tuesday she took her life because of the display of immaturity her sixth grade class showed her.
It was twenty-one degrees that morning when the bell rang at 8:30 am. And, as usual, everyone pushed her out of the way so they could push into the warm school first. Melanie stood in the corner and waited, not even walking in after her class, but waited for the fifth and fourth graders to pile in because they would push her too. After trudging up two flights of stairs, she found that her locker partner put their science project in Melanie's slot, and as a result, green goop slipped everywhere. Melanie put her coat on the dusty floor and took her seat to find out somebody spilled small spots of fruit juice on it. Alan accidentally brushed against her sweater and made a big deal about having "Melanie Germs" and soon the whole class was suffering.
By lunch Melanie was the core of five jokes and two pranks, it was worse that day then any other day. But Melanie sat quietly and ate her squished peanut butter and jelly sandwich in the corner during lunch. While everyone else was laughing with friends or swamping apples for cookies Melanie sat and read her books. "She's reading again. She's so stupid, and that smell, she's overdue for her yearly shower!" Yes, she did hear you. She always heard you.
I see you, Katie, sitting in your perfect black dress twirling your perfect blonde hair, wondering where Bill is and when you can leave to go shopping. When, in reality, you should be thinking about the science project that day. You should be thinking about the time you let Sammy, the class gerbil, loose in Melanie's desk. Caesar and Robbie, I see you glancing at your watches wondering if you could still make the hockey game in time. Do you remember the hockey game you made up? The one that you could only make a score when you slammed the hockey puck against Melanie's head? And Kenneth your sitting in corner making farting sounds to get a laugh. Do remember when we covered dodge ball in P.E.? You should be thinking about the time you knocked Melanie unconscious instead of looking for an immature laugh. Lisa should be remembering the time you tripped her during the obstacle course and she needed knee surgery instead of picking at your nails. And for those who I don't see, you should forever remember that you didn't show up for Melanie's funeral.
Was it because she was tall? Or because her family wasn't as rich as yours? Maybe it was because she never fought back. Or maybe when you were shopping, playing hockey, hanging out with your friends, or impressing everyone else, Melanie was studying. Perhaps it was because Melanie was smart. I'll tell you why you hated her. Because she was everything you wanted to be. Smart, patient, talented and friendly enough not to get any of you in trouble. You guys don't deserve to be at her funeral. You might have lost half your jokes and a subject to laugh at, but I lost a sister, my twin sister. That's something I could never get back.