Moment of Urgency 

Billy C.  
10 - 26 - 18 
 
*Ring Ring Ring*. 
I get out of bed still half asleep,  
I pick up the phone “Hello?”   
My friend Harry says, “Dude, where are you?”  
“What do you mean?” I reply  
There is mumbling over the phone.  
Still half asleep, not being able to pay attention to Harry over the phone, I rub my eyes and look at 
the clock. 
10:00 am 
“OMG i’m late!” I drop the phone, quickly dress myself, slap water on my face and dart out the 
door. 
I rush over to my Tuesday class,;before I enter the building I take a moment to look at the beautiful 
scenery around the campus.  
I attend University of California, San Diego: it’s always nice outside. I take a deep breath as I enter 
the class and I put my head down hoping the professor won’t see me. I see that I put two different 
colored shoes on.  
I go to sit next to Harry, take my notebook out, and begin copying his notes.  
While I’m writing I tell Harry, “Thank you for calling this morning, I would have missed class” 
“Dude what’s going on with you?, says Harry 
“I've been really busy with this new internship. I’ve been up all night collecting samples on the 
beach” I whisper back. 
“You need to hang in there.” Harry says quietly as my professor shoots a look our way.  
After a 2 hour lecture class is over as everyone started leaving. I start to walk out when I hear my 
name being called.  
“Mr. Campos will you please stay a minute”. 
My heart freezes. 
I turn around and take a seat in front of my teacher.  
“Yes Mr.Q”  
“You have been late to a couple of my classes lately what’s going on?” He stares at me with a 
disappointed look. 
“Mr.Q sorry it won’t happen again, I promise.” I feel nervous as I respond. 
“Mr. Campos, in the syllabus you signed the beginning of the year, it states for every time you're late 
you’re docked points; if you’re late one more time, I will have to fail you.”  
At that moment everything that I've been doing outside of this class flashes before my eyes; my hard 
work and effort I put into this class is going to be thrown away for an internship.  
“Mr.Q, I understand. I will work on my attendance.”  
Walking out the building I can’t stop thinking, 
“How can this day get any worse!” I mumble to myself.  
I need to go talk to my internship provider Mr.Tom when I go to internship tonight. My work site is 
a big dock that common fisherman used to use for fishing but now we use it for research purposes. 
When I get there I walk up to Mr.Tom. “Hey Mr.Tom can I speak to you for a minute?” 
Mr. Tom turns around, “Hi Billy, nice work last night you did some good work!” 
Eager but kinda timid I say “Thank you, but that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I need to 
move my shifts earlier in the day.” 
Confused he says “But why, you seem to work great in the night shift.” 
“I love working night shifts but It’s hurting my grade. I’m unable to wake up on time for class,;I 
have to put school first ” 
He agrees quickly. “Well okay then; you can change shifts if you need to”  
“Thank you Mr.Tom” 
“Just keep up the good work” 
Relieved not having to worry about my attendance anymore I go for a swim to clear my head.