SCHOOL

Bam! Bam! Bam! the TV blared, James was in his room up-strairs playing video games; his
backpack left behind in the midst of all of the blankets, sheets, and pillows. For a second, he stopped
playing, paused his game and pulled out his report card from his backpack. He looked over the card
and still saw that he had an N in writing, he refused to show this to his mom, so he hid it under his
mattress and went back to playing. Suddenly, a voice exploded from beneath James come down
here and do your homework! It was his mom from downstairs.
No! came the reply.
James quickly turned off his Play station, then found his backpack and pulled it downstairs,
bouncing right behind him. His feet stomped on the floor on every step. He dropped his backpack
on to the couch, and took all of his homework out. He lied all of it on the table, and saw his brother,
Charlie, studying for a test. First, James took out his math homework, he thought it was easy, but he
got stuck on the first problem. He asked his mom for help, but she said that it was his responsibility
and that he should be able to do all of his school and homework alone without anybodys help. He
went on to the next problem and finished that one with ease, thats basically how his home work
went.
One he was done with the home work, he ran upstairs to his room and started playing
games again, when suddenly his brother called, James cant you clean this mess up, you know that
we are going to eat dinner soon! James didnt want to disappoint his brother, so he went
downstairs again and cleaned up al of his school things from the dining table so that they could eat
dinner.
After dinner, James went into a deep sleep.
Aaaahhhhhhh! yawned James as he punched his alarm clock to get out of bed. He headed
towards the bathroom, where he changed, brushed his teeth, and took a shower, and came out,
ready for school. James went downstairs to eat breakfast. When he was just about done, his dad
came down and told Charlie and him that he was ready. Charlie is James older brother who is in 5
th

grade, and he thinks that he is the smartest person in the family. That day was like every other day
because like every other day, James didnt want to go to school. So as usual, he expressed his
feelings, I dont wanna go to school today! And as always, the reply came from his dad,
Youre not sick or anything, but whats troubling you, you never want to go to school, is
there some problem? James didnt answer to that question, he never answered to that question.
Once he reached school, he knew that today he had a math test and that he didnt study for
it for the past few days. He walked slowly to his classroom, not talking to anyone. He sat on his desk
quietly and was silent for the rest of the period until social studies. James loved social studies and
science.
Finally, lunch and recess came, James hated this period because of Davidson, a school bully.
Davidson bullied James during recess like he was a punching bag, James tried o ignore him, but he
was too strong. When recess finally arrived, there he was, Davidson, waiting for him. James went
over to him and asked with some confidence, Why do you tease me so much and ruin my free
times?
The answer came Because you get low grades

When James boarded the bus home that day, he felt confident, he felt good for himself. His
brain kept fighting over the two topics 1.Dont study and get the same grades, let Davidson keep
teasing you. Keep play video games, and 2.Stop playing video games, keep on studying, get better
grades, and put an end to this. But then it hit him How did Davidson know his grades? Then James
realized that his dad and Davidsons dad work in the same company and the same office; his dad
had once told him that, but it all got left behind inn the teasing mess. Tomorrow was report card
day and he was expecting better grades than that N he got last time for writing. As he walked home
today, he thought about what Davidson had said.
* * *
Finally it was the time of the day that James was waiting for, report cards. When Mrs. Roberts called
his name, he was springing with enthusiasm. You look pretty sure that youre going to get good
grades today on this report card.
Aye thats what I know!
He got his report card, which was in and envelope. Students were not allowed to open their
report cards in school because teachers think they might share their grades with other people. As
soon as the bell rang, James sprang up from his seat, grabbed his backpack and then slipped the
envelope inside. Then he rand out of school as fast as he could
Once he was out of the schools range, he slipped his hand into his backpack and pulled out
the envelope which contained his report card. He slipped open the envelope and the report card
was exposed to him. The velvety paper shone against the bright yellow sun and reflected the light
on the big oak tree that James was standing next to. Suddenly, the air felt dull, and nothing mattered
to him anymore. He put his envelope back into his backpack, but left his report card out, stretched
into his arms. He had gotten another N in writing. He stared at the N, picked up his backpack,
swung it onto his shoulder, and waked home very slowly
Once he got to his house, James tried to hide the velvety paper from his mom, but she knew
that something was wrong and that she had to find everything out. Whats that paper Jamey? his
mom asked as he walked into the house.
Nothing, Mom, nothing. sighed James. As he walked past the window, the laminated paper
shone the light onto the walls of the house.
Give that paper right now! replied his mom with anger in her voice. James finally gave up,
he gave the paper to his mom and his mom was flabbergasted. Sit on the couch right now, no video
games for two whole weeks, that includes not going to anyones house, and you have to study for
every single test that comes up, grounded!








The next day at school, James really didnt want to do any work, even with his favorite
subjects, social studies and science. Recess came and went like a tick of a clock. When recess was
over, it was math time and today he was going to get his math test back. When he reached class, his
teacher handed out the test first thing in the class. He took a look at all of the red crosses, and he
knew that he ad a really bad score coming up, when he flipped his test over, he found a really bad
grade, and his face melted into a puddle on the floor and his body grew weak with fear and anger,
he got scared that Davidson might never leave him. He was very dependable on his willpower now
and then, but when he gets a really bad score on his math test like this, his power really melts. He
slid the paper into his backpack, and when the ball rang for the next class, he walked slowly, with
his head down, now he really hated school. He had gotten a 30% on his math test and he didnt
know how to hide this expression and the test from his parents forever, they were going to know
someday. Another storm of sorrow came and flushed his face with sadness. He was almost there,
almost about to cry. His blood was straight up to his head and he was headed straight for home.
When he reached home, he threw his backpack on the couch and then sat next to it, he could
only think of one place to hide the test, under his mattress. He rand upstairs with his test flapping
behind him, his slipped the piece of paper under the mattress and then headed downstairs call for
his mom.
What do you want? asked his mom as she came out of the laundry room. James wanted to
tell his mom the truth, she needed to know it, anyways, and she was the one who cared about him
so much. After a long silence, James told the whole story, starting from the hidden report card that
he refused to show his mom, every thing about Davidson, how he troubled him, how he wasted his
recess, and then about the math test right now. He went upstairs and got the test, Here, you need
to see this, said James.
Im so proud of you James; you showed me all of this, now I know whats going on
That night, James really worked hard on his home work and he wrote a poem explaining
how he felt about school.
The next day he showed that poem to that teacher, and she liked it so much, she gave him a
new report card with a G+ as his writing grade. He showed this to his mom, and she was very
pleased. Now that all of this is solved, only one question is left: How did Davidson know his grades?














James called his dad up at work and then he asked him Dad, do you and Davidsons dad discuss our
grades in the office?
Yeah came from the other side Why whats the problem?
This is the problem, then James told his dad about Davidson and how he wastes his free
time. I hate you Dad, really
Well sorry said Dad.
Just dont do it again
Okay James, love you, see you at home and he put the phone down.
Well now that this problem is solved, this is amazing! said James These are the best day
of my life, all because of that one poem!