<small>Stop and use this page as a prompt if you wish, or continue on from here. Or you could [[a mind to meander|go back to where the river begins]].</small> ---- Maya: So, this is how it ends. Me, stuck in detention with Mr. Extra Credit. Liam: I’m not “Mr. Extra Credit.” I just don’t like failing things. Maya: Same difference. Ms. Carter: Phones away, please. You’ve got 30 more minutes. Do something productive. Reflect, maybe. Maya: Reflect on what? That I got detention for talking back in class? It’s called having an opinion. Liam: You weren’t “having an opinion.” You told the sub that his tie looked like it belonged in a time capsule. Maya: It did. I’m doing the future a favor. Ms. Carter: Some truths don’t need to be said out loud, Maya. Liam: You’re always acting like you don’t care, but you stay after class more than anyone else I know. Maya: Yeah, well, my house is quieter here. That doesn't mean I care about school. Liam: You’re top of the class in English. Maya: So? Liam: So why pretend like none of this matters? Maya: Because if I start caring too much, I’ll expect people to notice. [[I will replace my others|And when they don’t it hurts more]]. *(Pause. Ms. Carter looks up from her papers, quietly listening.)* Liam: I didn’t do my presentation because I panicked. I said I forgot it, but I didn’t. I worked on it for days. Maya: What? You’re the golden boy. You don’t panic. Liam: I do. I just hide it better than you. Maya: That’s weirdly honest. Ms. Carter: Maybe you both just need to stop performing all the time. Maya: Performing? Ms. Carter: Yes. You act like nothing matters, Maya. And Liam acts like everything does. Neither one is totally true. Liam: You sound like a therapist. Ms. Carter: I’m just a teacher who’s been in enough detentions to know when students are more than they let on. Maya: So what now? We do a group hug? Liam: Please don’t. Ms. Carter: You don’t have to hug. Just... start being real, with yourselves and with each other. Maya: You’re weird, Ms. Carter. Ms. Carter: Thank you. *(They sit in silence for a moment. Not uncomfortable. Just... quieter now.)* Liam: You know, if you actually gave your opinion in a less dramatic way, people might listen. Maya: If you panicked less, maybe you wouldn’t get stuck in detention. Ms. Carter: Baby steps. <br> – *Mason Black*