I am Joe's short story from freshman year
Snoopy Shirt
Paula knew my backpack was heavier than usual. When she asked why, I played it cool and told her I had a lot of homework.
“Did you get it all done?” she asked in that familiar motherly tone.
“Yeah, Mom,” I said after sitting down for breakfast.
I ate carefully, sure not to spill any of the syrup from my blueberry pancakes on my shirt.
“Jeez, how much did you have to do last night Stan?” Paula asked still holding my overstuffed backpack.
“Homework in every subject” I lied.
I prayed she would not feel the need to look for herself. Why would she? Either way, I had no intention of finding out. I inhaled the rest of my pancakes and rushed out the door pretending I was late for the bus.
True love seeks no one’s approval.
I waited at the bus stop for a good ten minutes before Mrs. Flowers showed up. We exchanged “Good mornings” and I went to my usual seat. I sat down at the second seat from the back on the right side next to Lauren Amour.
“Happy Valentine’s Day Stan!!” She proclaimed in a perky voice as I slid past her and took my usual seat next to the window.
With my eyes staring out of the window into the enigmatic sky, I said to her, “Today is the day Lauren. Today, I shall stand up in front of the rest of the class before recess, and I shall swear my love to Miss Beleusick. With the rest of the second graders in room 206 and God as my witnesses, I shall offer her my heart and I will ask her to be mine.”
When I turned and looked at Lauren she seemed somewhat depressed by my pledge. Had there been any time, I would have gladly made an attempt to lighten her mood, but we had just pulled up to school. My anticipation got the best of me and I slid past Lauren and tripped while running to the door. After regaining my balance, I waved goodbye to Mrs. Flowers and I sprinted past the elementary school entrance and took an immediate right. Four classrooms later, on the left, was the door to room 206. No one, including the teacher, ever came in before the five minute bell. I had a good six minute wait so I sat alone in my seat shivering with anticipation.
I lifted my back pack onto my desk and withdrew the concealed contents. I then began to walk over to Miss Beleusick’s desk to put the dozen white roses near the top left corner near the telephone. She told us all she liked white roses over red ones one recess back in September and I made a mental note of it. I was careful not to make any drastic movements to the papers on her desk so I wouldn’t disturb her organization, and after a few more seconds I was finally satisfied with the placement of the roses.
On my way back to my desk to get the chocolates, I caught my own eye in the mirror adjacent to the chalk board. The mirror was usually buried under Miss Beleusick’s Lewis Carroll books, but not today. I stood and starred into my own olive green eyes. The nervous empty expression on my face made me look uncomfortably comatose.
“This is it Stan,” I spoke to the empty room.
I examined my shirt in the mirror, my Snoopy shirt. If all else failed, how could she not notice my shirt. The only other time I wore it all year was in December on my birthday. It was ten below zero but I didn’t care. I remember Miss Beleusick’s comment and every time I wore my shirt the whole ordeal replayed in my head. We were having lunch inside on account of the harsh weather and she called me over to her desk to say Snoopy was her favorite peanuts character. The comment seemed to choke me as I could only respond with a feeble “Thanks…” Lauren liked my Snoopy shirt too I remember, but my mind wasn’t on her.
The shirt was tight fitting, but comfortable and stylish. Besides, I had been doing ten sit-ups and five push-ups before bed since January and I was hoping Miss Beleusick would notice my body’s newly acquired definition. The background of the shirt was light blue and in the middle was a small picture of Snoopy dancing to a miniature boom box. Small quarter and eight notes drifted near the dancing beagal to show that there was music playing. The picture was only about as big as a post-it, but despite the simplicity of the shirt I loved it.
I made one last check in the mirror to make sure my dirty blonde hair was still slicked back with my dad’s gel and the faint scent of his Old Spice was still on my neck and wrists.
I was good to go.
When I got back to my desk I picked up the heart shaped box of chocolates that cost me six weeks of allowance and I tried to think of a place to keep them until Miss Beleusick’s arrival. Although before my preoccupied mind conceived any ideas, the door opened.
I stood up immediately knocking over my backpack and faced the door. I closed my eyes and held out the chocolates with my two fully extended arms and screamed “Happy Valentine’s Day Miss Beleusick!”
Silence.
“Happy Valentine’s day to you to Stanley” said an elderly and familiar voice. “Miss Beleusick is out for the day.”
I opened my eyes to see Mrs. Qill, the class’s usual substitute teacher.
“Oh um, hi Mrs. Quill.”
I wanted to go away. I wanted to jump out the window. I wanted to shrivel up and die.
“Um, where exactly is Miss Beleusick?” my voice already full of defeat.
Mrs. Quill’s lips curled into a grin as she spoke. “Oh Stanley, it was so romantic. Mr. Dear, the librarian, proposed to Miss Beleusick in the morning not five minutes ago. They both have taken a personal day.”
Devastation took over my body. I felt as though I would never again see the sunrise. Mrs. Quill’s words stabbed me through the heart and my love spilled on the floor. I had lost my love to the schools male librarian. Fate is a cruel, cruel thing.
Still in shock, the bell rang and the students began to file in. I stood motionless as my peers walked past me to their seats.
“Hey Stan,” Lauren’s voice was timid and shy.
“Hey Lauren.” I replied in monotone.
“I really like your shirt today Stan.”
I never noticed how pretty Lauren was. She had pale blue eyes that reminded me of the color of the sky on Sunday mornings when the sun was too bright. A smile crept onto my face.
“I got you a valentine Stan,” she said holding out a pink envelope and staring at the floor.
I looked at the chocolates on my desk, then back at Lauren.
“I got you one too.”