$2.62
There is a room in my school that is referred to as the Activity Center. In any sane insitution, it would be referred to as the lounge or the break room or something, because its main function is to house the vending machines. What activities might take place there besides the exchange of bills for granola bars* is beyond me, and I assume the name "Activity Center" arose from the same administrative delusions of significance that led to our highly progressive "Late Start" schedule on Wednesdays. (A half-day? Really? In the middle of the week? And we get the morning off? How quaint!)
Anyway, a few weeks back, there was this boy in the AC trying to get correct change for the vending machines. There's a certain spoiled-kid whine that is employed exclusively by high school kids trying to get correct change for the vending machines, and it was in top form here. The only reason I paid him any notice in the first place was because of his specific plea; most people want change for a five or a dollar in quarters, but this guy wanted to trade his bag of three dollars in pennies for two dollars in bills. I bought my Diet Coke and left.
A while later his meandering quest brought him into the lunchroom proper, and eventually up to my table. He was still looking to trade. Now, I can be really violently curious about things, and the bag was right there - was it actually three dollars? I had to know, I was just that bored.
Imagine a noisy high-school cafeteria. Go on, it's easy. Now imagine a boy, sitting at a dirty table next to a girl wearing argyle socks.
Picture the boy singing "Blood Money" from Jesus Christ Superstar as he counts penny after penny after penny.
*Someone had an attack of conscience, and now all the candy bars have been replaced by politically correct granola bars (which happen to contain just as many calories and lack just as many nutrients).
P.S. Layer Cake is a good little film.
Anyway, a few weeks back, there was this boy in the AC trying to get correct change for the vending machines. There's a certain spoiled-kid whine that is employed exclusively by high school kids trying to get correct change for the vending machines, and it was in top form here. The only reason I paid him any notice in the first place was because of his specific plea; most people want change for a five or a dollar in quarters, but this guy wanted to trade his bag of three dollars in pennies for two dollars in bills. I bought my Diet Coke and left.
A while later his meandering quest brought him into the lunchroom proper, and eventually up to my table. He was still looking to trade. Now, I can be really violently curious about things, and the bag was right there - was it actually three dollars? I had to know, I was just that bored.
Imagine a noisy high-school cafeteria. Go on, it's easy. Now imagine a boy, sitting at a dirty table next to a girl wearing argyle socks.
Picture the boy singing "Blood Money" from Jesus Christ Superstar as he counts penny after penny after penny.
*Someone had an attack of conscience, and now all the candy bars have been replaced by politically correct granola bars (which happen to contain just as many calories and lack just as many nutrients).
P.S. Layer Cake is a good little film.