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The Missing Muffins

By: Austin Beck & Alisa Fayne

The car shrieked to a stop, I peered out the window at all my fellow students. I slowly
opened the door and grabbed my new periodic table backpack; it had the entire table strewn
across it. I closed the door, and watched the silver mini van drive off. Today was going to be
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great, the sun was shinning, and I just finished the whole harry potter series for the 6 time last
night, but then I remembered that I left something in the backseat. I took off after the car,
screaming and hollering for my mom to stop, unaware that I was causing a scene. I heard
everyone laughing at me, so I turned to look, still running I ran straight into the van, and fell
straight back on my butt. Everyone was laughing extra loud now; I tried not to look at them.
When I got up, there was my mom checking my body to see if I was injured, like all mothers do.
I guess I fall a lot, because she didn’t look very long. I opened the van door and searched for the
item. I could sense everyone wanted to know what I was looking for, and where anxious to find
out. I turned out, holding the large basket of assorted muffins, and made my way to the door. I
could feel everyone’s eyes starring at me, questioning the basket of muffins.
As I made my way, I saw the multiple groups or cliques. The jocks, or as I know them as
the monsters, were first. They scare me, and every time I look at them it seems like they want to
hurt me. Next were the cheerleaders, and that means you get “The Witch”, also known as Lorens,
the head cheerleader. She also is scary, commenting on your clothes, you hair, even your parents
clothes, she is just mean. After them was the Goths/ Emos, you know them dark clothes, barley
smile, it looks like they want to eat me. They’re kind of like the monsters (jocks). But after them
is the best group of all, my fellow nerds! I could see them all with the same periodic backpack,
same braces, glasses, and books. It felt like home. Of coarse there are other groups, like the tree
love’ in freaks, the bad to the bone kids, the drama kings and queens, the loud mouth singers, and
many more, but I like to stick to my own. We stand by the door, the first ones to get to all of our
classes, the ones to help the teacher; we always have our homework done in class and check it
ten times, and always have 100s. That’s me and my nerds.
“So McGregor what’s up with the large basket with muffins?” Nathan asked, he is a good
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friend of mine, I’ve know him since the 5 grade. That kid is one smart cookie.
“Yeah, you look kind of weird, but still good looking, just the basket is weird, not you,
the basket, ok I’m going to be quiet now.” Molly is a good friend of mine, and she is so good
looking. I want to ask her out; because I know she likes me too I’m just nervous. I think she is
too.
“Oh this is so people will like me. See my mom took them to her work and then she got a
promotion, so I thought it would work here. I mean come on who doesn’t like muffins?” I was
sure that everyone would like them, then I started again, “Can you believe where are about to be
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in the 7 grade? I’m so scared, passing periods, and teachers, eight of them, and not just that
there is gym, and lunch and oh my I need my inhaler!” I through down my bag and searched till I
finally found it. As I sucked the fresh air out of it, I walked over to the wide double doors. They
look like once you walk through you grow older, wiser; I couldn’t wait to go in. I peered inside,
looking at the wide hallways, long staircases, and then suddenly I heard a loud bell ring. The
door swung open, striking me to the ground. Everyone ran in, unaware that I was lying on the
floor, be crushed by their feet. After everyone was gone I slowly got up, grabbed my bag, and
walked through. I didn’t feel anything, not one thing, just pain. I tried going in and out a couple
times, closing my eyes, walking backwards, nothing. Then another bell rang, which meant one
thing, I was late on my first day. I made my way to my first period class, when something hit me,
where are my muffins, I never put them down. I guess when I fell my muffins scattered, but who
picked them up? Today was looking out to be one bad day.
On my way around the school I had to think, either go to class, make no friends, and
forget about the muffins, or skip my classes and look for them. It took me forever to figure out
which one. I walked up and down the hallways, and then I did the thing that I really never do. I
decided to skip the classes and look for the muffins. It was a bad way to start the year, but I need
some more friends, bad. I made my way to the first door on my right, it read in bright green
letters, “Green Team, Mrs. Deeds.” I turned away; there was no way I was going in there. The
green team people are crazy. That is like the wilderness in there, no rules, they just run wild! But
then I thought about my muffins being stolen and destroyed, so I maned up, and went in.
The walls where green, there were no desks, all I saw was trees, rocks, and plants. It
looked like a forest. I looked for the teacher, but she wasn’t there, neither were the kids. I started
to walk around the room, questioning everything. I didn’t see my muffins so I was about to leave
when I heard a strange noise coming from above, I looked up, but it was just a tree. I kept going
through the room, then another noise from above, and still it was a just a tree above me. Then for
the third time, I jumped up and hit the tree, which wasn’t a good idea, especially in this room.
All of a sudden the teacher jumps out of the tree, and then one by one the kids do the same. I was
so freaked out, I ran out of the room screaming! As I ran through the hallways the bell rang,
which meant passing period. I watched as each kid found their way through the hallway; it was
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like a flow of time. I reached into my bag to find out what class it was. 2 period was English, a
class I can skip.
I walked now on the second floor hoping there was something, anything, a clue or the
basket itself. But with my luck, there was nothing, but then I had an idea, the trash cans. They
must have eaten them, and then thrown them away. I ran to the nearest trash can and started
digging. After throwing everything out, there was nothing. So I went to the next one, but as I
looked up, there was about ten more trash cans just on this hallway, how was I going to go
through all of them? Then it hit me, I need Nathan. I tried to remember what his classes were
when he told me last night on the phone. It was science, then what? Oh yeah P.E. Oh my! P.E. a
nerd’s worst nightmare! But I needed these muffins, so I got up and ran downstairs to the locker
room door. I examined the dull colored door, I did not want to go in, but I had to if I wanted
those muffins. So I gulped down my fear and opened the door. As I walked through, a burst of
smell smacked me in the face, it reeked in here. I called out for Nathan, but no one answered. So
that only meant one thing, they were in the gym, even worse than the locker room. This room
just made me feel lonely and despair, I hated it but I was safe here, but in there it’s horrible! I
walked through, onto the wooden floors of the gym. I searched for my fellow nerd, which didn’t
take very long. He was the only one standing on the opposite side of the gym. I walked towards
him, and soon figured out what they were doing. They were playing dodge ball, everyone against
Nathan. I could see the fear in his eyes. I quickly ran over to him.
“Oh! McGregor! What are you doing here?” Nathan yelled in fear.
“I need your help, I lost my muffins. Can you come with me to look for them?” I quickly
got out; hoping the coaches and kids wouldn’t start the game yet.
“Sure as long as you get me out of here!”
“I will, just run out as fast as you can when they say go!”
And as soon as I said it, the coach yelled with all his might
“GO!” Everyone ran for the balls, while Nathan and I ran for the locker room. I went
first, running and dodging every ball that came my way until I was safe. I looked back at Nathan;
he had almost made it, when suddenly he got knocked straight to the ground. His glasses flung
straight in the air, I reached out to grab them but they crashed right in front of me, and broke.
Without thinking I ran out and grabbed him up, and dragged him in the locker room.
“My glasses! Where are they?” he hollered
“Umm sorry but your glasses broke, you know I can’t catch, but I tried, sorry.”
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“It’s ok, Ill just get a new pair for the 8 time this month. But anyways lets go get your
muffins”, Nathan got up and walked straight into a wall. I quickly grabbed him and headed him
in the straight direction.
“But you can’t see”
“So I can feel them, and I’m pretty sure I know what they feel and smell like”, he
hollered as I opened the door for him, “Besides I hear a lot better, and smell better without my
vision. Its cool, I have super powers like Captain 4.0, he fights crime and math. He’s the best
hero ever!” Nathan tried to act like a superhero but he ended up falling. As we made our way up
stairs and to our first trashcan I had to help Nathan find his way. We dug in the first one, all the
way down all of the hallways. Emptying them and searching, but we found nothing.
“Did you find anything?”
“Nope”, I replied. There was no sign of any of the muffins. Who ever has them is really
neat and tidy.
“Stop! I hear something, someone is coming.” Nathan whispered, “I smell cheap cologne,
and essence of cream cheese.” I quickly got up and looked around the corner, when I ran into a
giant man. As I looked up to see his face, he looked down till our eyes met.
“Why aren’t you two in class? And what is up with this mess? Did you two make this
mess?” The large man questioned.
“Umm…we were….umm on our way? And nnn…no sir…we didn’t” I got out very
nervously.
“Well then, get to class, and you sir”, pointing at Nathan, “Why are you squinting?”
“My glasses broke sir”, Nathan spewed out as he stood up.
“Well then, go to the nurse and go home, we do not want you to end up blind. Now both
of you go now!”
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As I made my way to my class, the bell rang for 3 period, and I didn’t have to look for
this one, because this class was Honors Math. Plus I had it with Molly; I hope I get to sit by her. I
could see her right ahead of me about to enter the room when Tevin came right up and put his
arm around her. I couldn’t believe him. This was my worst enemy, we hated each other all
through elementary. He was always good at sports while I was good at math. Every time he was
picked first and I was picked last, for everything. But not this time, I was going to be picked first
by molly. I ran as fast as I could, hoping I would get to sit next to her. As I came busting in the
door I searched for molly, but she was talking to the king of the monsters, and no seat next to her.
So I looked for a seat, but the only one that was open was right next to the teacher, which was ok
with me.
The bell rang and for once I didn’t think about the muffins, I didn’t worry now. I was now
worried about molly and the freak over there. But other than that, I felt peaceful, the total
opposite of P.E. There was harmony here, and I liked it. The teacher started to take roll, one by
one the names where called. Mine was close to the top; Badshackle, but the last name on the list
ruined it all, it was like a poison the ruined everything, Tevin Zegster. The teacher then moved
onto what we were going to cover in the year, I knew all of it, which made me feel great. As she
kept going it just got better, but then something came up that was totally unclear. Thinking she
would flip on me, she just helped me and I got it so easily. I loved this teacher, she was able to
help me and she seemed so wise. But as she kept going I peered onto her desk, there was a
muffin, and all of a sudden it came to me. My muffins! My hand quickly shot up.
“Mrs. Mosley, where did you get that muffin?”
She gave me a peculiar look, “It just was here when I got to work, and it’s good”.
As I thought about what I should do, I looked at molly; she looked at me with her
beautiful brown eyes. I wanted to stay, but I had to get out there and look.
“Excuse me; may I go to the bathroom?” I asked, feeling sorry I had to leave. The teacher
excused me, and I quickly retuned to my search.
The day wasn’t going how I wanted it to go, and by the looks of it, it’s not getting better.
I made my way downstairs, and as I a turned around the corner there I ran straight into the
“Giant” for now the second time. This time I didn’t even have time to look up; he grabbed my
arm and dragged me away. I tired to squirm free, but his grip was tight. I couldn’t see where I
was going, but I knew it had to be somewhere bad. I heard a door open, and then I see it close
behind me with a sign on it “OFFICE”. He through me down on a chair, and told me to sit tight. I
couldn’t believe it, me, in the office! I started to panic, thinking about me record and everything,
I felt light headed. The large man soon came back and called me into a dark room, but he didn’t
go in, he just closed the door behind me. I searched for a seat and quickly sat down, and as soon
as I did, a woman turned around in a large black chair.
“Mr. Badshackle is it?” I nodded, “It says you skipped classes, ran in the hallway, went
through the garbage, and broke a boys glasses” she said in a tone the frightened me to my bones.
“We have a place for you and that’s ISS.” And without anymore, the man came back picked me
up, dragged me outside, through me in a small dark cubical room, and was gone.
I didn’t do anything; I just sat there still hoping whatever was in this room, would destroy
me. I’ve never gotten in trouble, I never cheated, and I’m not supposed to be in here right now.
Then a light came on, one by one light came on in the room. I soon saw who else I was with, the
bad to the bone group, some Goths, but in the midst of them was a bright pink shirt. Worse than
any of those groups, the witch herself, Lorens. I searched for the teacher but he was no were to
be found, it was just them and me. There was dead silence in the room, and then as Lorens
noticed I was here, she got up and started it, the same thing every time, that I hate!
“Oh my Gosh! Look at those pants, come on grandpa. And that shirt, did your mom pick
that out? Oh nice shoes, did those come from your grandma? Ha-ha!” She pranced around the
room laughing, soon everyone was laughing at me.
“STOP!” I yelled, “I’m so tired of you and your stupid remarks, no more! No more
laughing at me, no more making jokes, no more stealing from me! Ok?” the room was dead
silence; everyone looked at me with a dropped jaws, and even The Witch stood still. “Now I
need to get out of here, because some guy is all over my girl, and I’m not letting him steal her,
and I need to find some muffins!”Everyone was still shocked because of my behavior. I looked at
one of the bad to the bone’s hoping he would have an idea. He gave me a look of uncertainty, and
then he realized I meant business. They drew out a plan, we were going to one by one run into
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the building and go straight to our 6 period class. I couldn’t believe so much time had passed,
and that I was about to break out of ISS.
One of the Goths went first, and made it in without trouble, next was a bad to the bone
girl, she made it. After her was Lorens, she ran in did a couple cartwheels to show off, and she
made it just fine. Lastly was me and the bad to the bone guy. We decided to go together, he went
first and I went right after. The minute we stepped outside the small building, Mr. Giant came
out. I followed the guy ahead of me behind a bush. Could this day get any worse I thought? As
soon as he went into the building we made a run for it, and knowing me I can’t run as fast as the
others, plus with asthma I was a goner. But luckily I made it. I quickly ran to history, before I
could sit down the bell rang. I was so worried about Molly and Mr. Giant and getting in trouble,
oh and my dear muffins! Oh my! At least I wasn’t in that scary dark office or shunned from
everyone in ISS. I was with my fellow students. I looked around to see if I knew anyone, as I
turned to my left there was the girl that escaped with us, she was actually really nice when we
started to talk, and not as scary as I thought. So my day started to look up a bit.
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The bell rang, now 7 period. Two more classes and I’m gone! Luckily my next class was
with Molly and Nathan, Spanish. I thought it would be easy, and since Nathan and Molly already
knew it they could help me. Boy was I wrong, it was so long and hard, I knew nothing and the
whole time you couldn’t talk any English. So I couldn’t tell molly that I liked her, or ask Nathan
for help. I wanted the bell to ring so badly, and it finally did after twenty minutes of nonstop
Spanish!
Now the last period of the day, was with Molly and sadly Tevin. I made sure she sat next
to me, and not the creep. Since it was science only two people per table. This would be the time
to tell her everything. When I saw her come through the door, the teacher pulled her aside to talk,
and as soon as the bell rang Tevin came busting through and jumped in the seat right next to me.
Molly turned to sit, but saw him there and found another seat. Tevin and I both looked at each
other with displeased looks. This day just kept getting worse, but as long as Mr. Giant didn’t
come by I was ok. Besides this is one of my favorite classes, it the end of the day, and I can look
at molly. Very faintly and gradually getting louder I heard a radio the teacher searched for the
noise. I looked out the door in front of my desk, and saw a janitor with my muffins, all of them,
except one, just walking around. All day I was searching for them, and the whole time he had
them. I almost jumped out of my seat, when I thought. Leave Molly and Tevin alone again, or get
the muffins. I was tired of looking for those muffins, and I hated Tevin! So I finally gave up on
the muffins. Then I heard the teacher tell us to get in partners. I quickly jumped up and headed
for Molly, but at the same time Tevin. Since he was faster, he got there sooner. I turned and
walked away and sadly looked for a partner to find out that I had to work on my own. As the
class kept going, I kept hearing molly telling tevin to stop, over and over again.
“She said to stop, so stop’, I said as I got out of my seat. At this time I wasn’t thinking
about my fate, I was just thinking about molly.
“What nerd? Do you know who you’re talking to?” Tevin also got up. He started to walk
towards me, when molly stopped him, grabbed a bottle of the desk and poured it on him.
“What? Oh my gosh! What did you put on me?” Tevin ran out of the room freaking out.
She held up the bottle and the label read water. I quickly without thinking ran up and gave her
the biggest hug. I told her I liked her, she said the same. Then the bell rang for the last time
today. I grabbed her hand and we walked out together.
On my way out the bad to the bone couple waved at me, Lorens gave me a wink, the
Goth looked happy when she saw me, and for the rest of the groups, sensed a change. So I guess
the front door works on your way out. As for the muffins, they did help me gain more friends,
and help me grow a little too. So if you were to ask if they work, I would happily tell you, yes!