Vanessa and Johnny

“I have to say,” my mother said as she jumped into the driver’s side of the car. “Your science teacher seems to be the sanest of them all. Boring, but sane,” she said, putting her seatbelt on. I shook my head, as I began to put my seatbelt on as well, but I froze when I realized that I had forgotten to grab my sweatshirt when I left Ms. Gavin’s class. “Oh Mom, I forgot my sweatshirt! I have to go get it; I’ll be back,” I said, jumping out of the car and running up the stairs to the school. I pushed past all the parents and students leaving the school and headed for Ms. Gavin’s room. When I got there, the door was shut. The last thing I needed was for it to be locked. I wanted my sweatshirt—who knew what she would do with it. I put my hand on the knob and slowly turned. I was relieved to find that it wasn’t locked. I slightly opened the door and looked inside. The room was pitch black. I couldn’t see a thing. I stepped in, careful not to make a sound. I couldn’t find the light switch in the darkness, so I decided to just feel my way to where my sweatshirt was. But I froze when I heard footsteps walking near the classroom. I don’t know why, but I panicked, and I crawled under Ms. Gavin’s desk. About a second later, I heard the door open and the footsteps walk in. I caught my breath as Ms. Gavin’s feet appeared in front of me below the desk. I was puzzled when I noticed that she hadn’t turned on the classroom lights; she seemed to be finding her way through the room with a flashlight. I watched as her feet followed the light to the back of the classroom. I laid on the ground stiffly, with the palms of my hands toward the cold, hard floor. I heard jiggling noises, as if she were fiddling with her keys, or something. After a few moments I heard a click, and then I heard the slow turning sound of one of the cabinet doors being opened. “Hello, my babies,” I heard Ms. Gavin say. My babies? I said to myself. Who was she talking to? “You’re almost ready.” Who’s almost ready? “Just a few more weeks,” I heard her say. I was completely creeped out! I had to get out of there. As she continued to talk, I began to slowly slide from under the desk. I stood up quietly and tiptoed toward the door. When I reached the knob, I slowly turned it and squeezed out of the slightly opened door. I quietly closed the door and ran like the wind, down the hall, and out of the school. My mother’s car was one of the last cars in the lot. When I reached the car, I jumped in, breathing heavily, and put on my seatbelt. “What took you so long?” my mother asked, looking at me strangely. “The door was locked; I couldn’t find anyone to open it. I’ll just get my sweatshirt tomorrow.” “Okay,” my mother said as she started up the car and left the parking lot. I didn’t relax until the school was completely out of sight.