New readers start here: Let it Rock Chapters 1 & 2 or listen to the soundtrack here: Spotify Playlist
All my story posts start with nature pics, just because I like them. The above is from my tiny deck garden.
Happy reading!
Janet
LYNN
My book bag was heavy and the strap dug into my shoulder, but I ignored it. I couldn't stop grinning as I walked out with Angie. My new friend. So...awesome.
The room was now nearly empty and we could have gone out any of the sets of doors, but instead I led us to the exit that was directly behind the TA group. Most of them looked stunned, or were starting to gather their things. One tall guy was being really loud as he stood there, and argued with an older woman wearing square glasses.
We slowed down as we got close. Angie was saying to me, "This class has been really interesting, right? I mean, there's so much more to music than just what's on the radio." Then we had to stop, since the assistants were blocking the exit. Nobody looked our way, so we just stood there, and listened.
The tall TA whined, "I..I don't care what you think. This is just, this just wrong. I need the money from teaching these classes, so the school needs to fix this. It's not ...it's not fair!" He was now nearly shouting at her. "We're in the graduate program, the school supports us. If this class is canceled for the rest of the term then they need to get us assigned another class right away. Otherwise we'll lose our stipend." He waved to the group looking for encouragement. "Am I right?"
The other TAs gave him barely a glance, but the woman with glasses gave him a look down her nose that could melt steel. She said, "Well, well. I'm sure we're all worried JUST as much as you." She sounded just like my 10th grade teacher, Ms. Dirch, when she'd had enough of dealing with us kids. She even looked like her a little, making me shiver. "But how about you calm down, okay? And stop overreacting. We can let the administration handle it. It will be fine." She reached up and patted him on the shoulder like a puppy. "This will all work out, you'll see, really, and who said the class was canceled, anyway? It's just no class for today, that's all."
His voice got louder in response. "Really, is that so? Well I tried to go visit the music library and they wouldn't even let me inside! Then I heard Mr. Lee talking about how this would be the end of the music program! That's what he said just before..." Suddenly, he noticed us, staring at him.
"Uh," he said, and dropped his voice, "Sorry, do you need to get by? We can move out of the way." He moved to the side, so we could get to the door, then gave us an irritated look. "Just get out of here, now."
The glasses-TA nodded and said more calmly, "Yes, please go now." She smiled and shooed us with her hands, forcing us out of the doors.
The hallway was empty now, and I could hear the other classes in session as we walked along. When we got outside, Angie zippered up her jacket, and I started buttoning up mine, but I didn't feel the cold at all. I was giddy.
"How about that TA, huh, can you believe it? What he said, I mean. Something is definitely going on here!" I pointed at the Sociology tower, where the music library was. "Whatever it was, it happened in there. And I'm going to find out what it is." Okay, maybe I was a little cold. I put my hands in my pockets.
Angie nodded, but then frowned. "What do you mean, 'you are going to to find out'? Are you a detective?"
A detective, huh? Yeah right...although maybe I could do that, someday. I shook my head. "Nope. But back at home, my nickname was Indiana Lynn. Before you get any thoughts, it's not because I looked like him! My friends called me that because I was always getting into trouble. Music and trouble, are my two favorite things. And if we're going to be friends," I hooked one arm into Angie's, "Then you need to know that about me. I'm trouble with a capital T." I gave her my biggest, silliest ear-to-ear grin.
She silly-grinned me right back. "We're friends? Great! Then I'll be trouble with a capital T, too. Or an A, in my case."
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