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The Hawkins middle school auditorium was extra crowded today. Not only were all of the sixth through eighth graders required to attend, but they had invited the three elementary schools fifth graders. It was grossly hot, smelly, humid, sweaty. You know, all the bad hot stuff you want to avoid in life.
The fifth graders would be attending this school in a few months. Once summer was gone and done with, they would no longer be children. They'd be "adolescents". It's such a weird word and always comes from a long string of adults that used to probably also get called this. It's too bad they don't remember how stupid it sounds.
Robin's idea of a field trip was a completely different breed. Weren't they supposed to have fun outdoorsy adventures? Looking at butterflies, moths, and wildflowers? Maybe walk around a canyon, forest, jungle, or.... a museum? If only her mother hadn't sign the bus consent form, she could be laying around at home reading her favorite alien book series instead.
A man has suddenly walked onto the platform they set up in the middle of the auditorium. Is it an auditorium, or a gymnasium? Can it be... Both?
"Welcome to Hawkins Middle! I'm the Second Assistant Principal for this here school, but next semester, I will be the Vice Principal. You can call me Mr. Russell, either way."
As he spoke with (far too much) gusto to the large crowd, three tall boys stepped up onto the platform and stood next to him. They didn't look that much older. At least, the two of them closest to the Principal. The other guy, the one in a red jersey looks like he needs a haircut. For his face.
"I'd like to introduce three exceptional students to welcome the fifth graders today. The rest of you know them quite well, I'm sure." the Principal laughed and a majority of the students groaned. Some cheered, some booed. It was a confusing place to be.
"This eighth grader is our number one track star. A beast of a runner, he's broken every record on file, along with many from the high school. If you put your mind to it and work hard, you might just be able to get to Sammy's level!" the Principal was waving his arms around, probably hoping people would cheer. Some kids clapped half-heartedly. Some girls were screaming when the guy waved at them. Ugh, is this what we have to look forward to for the next three years?
"Now, this young man is our football team's captain. He has led our team to victory for two years running and I just know that he'll continue it next semester! His grades are exceptional and he works hard to maintain good morale for all the losing teams. We should all hope to be just like Kevin, here!"
Great. Another sports guy. At least everyone is cheering for him without any booing, though. Perhaps he's not that bad of a guy. He's not really reacting to the cheers, just kind of looking around like he isn't sure why they're cheering.
"Finally, I'd like to introduce you to our outstanding sixth grader. He comes in at number one on three different teams, if you can believe that! We've never had a triple team player like him and maybe he'll inspire all of you to try joining a team, or perhaps, even a new team. If he can handle the pressure, surely there are more of you out there with the same disposition. Let's give it up for our basketball, baseball, and swim team captain, Steve!"
Ugh. Yup. All guys. All sports players. This school will be a nightmare for someone like me. There was a roar of applause as the Steve guy smiled. He looked too self assured to be a nice guy, but I guess we'll find out considering we'll be sharing the same school for two years.
"Now that you've met a small piece of the future of Hawkins Middle, I'd like everyone except the eighth graders to walk around the auditorium and familiarize themselves with all of our clubs, teams, and teachers. If you see something that interests you, please introduce yourself and take a flyer. As for you eighth graders, you're dismissed for the rest of the afternoon and can head to the cafeteria for snacks and refreshments." he waved a hand over his shoulder at the older students to head on out.
Robin sat on the bench for as long as she could. It was hard as a rock and still felt pre-person-sat-here-sweaty. Getting up meant she had to go down the benches. She didn't want to step down the horrifically inclined benches until it was clear. She was terrified of falling all the way to the bottom. Ohhh my goddd. Why on earth did she climb all the way to the top? Oh, right, she thought the girl sitting next to her looked adorable in her giant glasses and ear length bob. She desperately wishes to be her friend.
Wait, when did she get up and leave? Ugh. She forgot to ask her name.... Maybe she's interested in the same things, and they can join the same club when school starts up.
She stood up and carefully, wobblily, walked onto each bench until she made it to the bottom. She then made a dash for the book club. There was a small line compared to the other clubs. She looked around, but didn't see the girl anywhere near. She sighed and waited her turn for a flyer. The book club members didn't have any type of hierarchy it seems. They just liked to sit together and talk about a new book every month... She has a lot of opinions about books when she finishes them. She can't wait to join, so much so, that she can feel a slight flutter in her heart.
As she's folding the flyer to keep it safe in her skort's pocket, she notices that the swim team doesn't have a line, but there are a few other fifth graders crowded around the sixth grader, asking questions. She's not much for sports, but swimming can be fun, so she heads on over to see what they're asking.
There's a boy she recognizes from her school asking the swim captain if he knows how to dive from high places. He laughs and says that it's a whole different other sport, but he can probably do it.
Robin rolls her eyes.
A girl she doesn't know, from some other school, asks him if she can join the team next year. She mentions that she's very good at swimming backwards.
The guy looks confused. Or does he look annoyed? Maybe he's thinking. It's hard to tell.
"Uh, hate to break it to you, but girls can't join the swim team." he says with a shrug and then crosses his arms.
"Any of you guys have any other questions?" he says, looking kind of bored.
This lights a fire under Robin. She doesn't even want to join this stupid swim team, but it's the principal of it that makes her lash out.
"Wait a minute! You can't just say that to her and move on like it's nothing! What do you mean girls aren't allowed to join! What's wrong with you?!" she yells as loud as she can and now everyone near her is staring straight at her.
"Hey, don't get mad at me, I don't make the rules." he says this calmly, like it doesn't even bother him one bit, and it only infuriates her even more.
"Alright, listen up Bluto, (she sees him furrow his brows at this and it makes her feel a little victorious) you might have fun and do whatever you want all of the time, but it shouldn't be against the rules for anyone to join anything they want! How can you support that? Wouldn't you care if I told you that boys aren't allowed to join the piano class, or the drama club, or any of the drawing classes?!"
She was on fire, she could feel it under the skin in her face, all along the length of her arms and inside of her stomach. She knew everyone was staring at her, but she refused to stop her dead-on-eye contact with this guy.
"My name is Steve, and no, I wouldn't, because I don't wanna join any of those nerd-filled classes." he said, somewhat annoyed as he stared right back at her, but now his arms were uncrossed and on his hips.
She mirrored his pose and huffed loudly.
"Then there is something deeply, stupidly, wrong with you! Because! It's! Not! Right!"
She then turned and walked away towards the auditorium's door. She was stomping her hiking boots loudly against the shiny, echo-ey floor with her hands balled into fists. The door opened loudly, but it was on a piston, so it didn't slam shut like she dramatically envisioned. Oh well. He hopefully, got the picture.
Steve stood there for a second, staring as the door slowly clicked itself shut. He then turned to the crowd of fifth graders and without looking at any of them in the face, waved his arm at the stack of papers on the table next to him.
"Alright, no more questions. Just take a flyer, and get out of here already." he said, rudely, but not with anger.
As they started to walk up to the table, he looked up with only his eyes, for a second, then back down again.
"Even the girls."