Shawn was an average student. His grades were only decent and could be improved if only he gave a shit. He was a returning graduate, nineteen in a class with seventeen year olds. The truth was, he really didn't care. Shawn and his mother lived alone and moved around the country at least once a year. Her jobs were only temporary so he never had motivation to do well in his classes because he would not be there long. He had been at Cordell High for about two months, and found himself acting up in class in order to be noticed; he did not have time to get close enough to anybody to call a friend.
One Thursday night after dinner, Shawn's mother was clearing up the table when the telephone rang. "Hello?" she answered after a few rings. She talked softly into the phone, and after a while began to form that familiar "mother look" as she glanced disapprovingly to her son. "Okay, thank you. I will. Bye."
Shawn groaned as he watched his mother stand over him with her arms crossed- he knew he was in trouble. "Shawn... that was your teacher, Miss Donovan."
"And?" Shawn inquired. "I aced that test didn't I? What did I get? 100%?
"Try 20%, what the hell do you think you're doing?" She angrily spat out. "I work too hard to get you a good education, I have money saved up for college, and you won't even try!"
Shawn would normally brush this off and go to his room to play his new football game, but there was something about his mother's face that made him feel guilty. He knew his mom worked really hard, and it was tough for her ever since his dad walked out on her. This was obviously something that meant a lot to her, so he sat at the table and let her finish talking.
"Your teacher is giving you another chance to study for this test. She wants to see you do well and sees your potential, so you are going to stay after school tomorrow and write it over again. She is giving up her own time for you- so you had better not blow it. I will call her on Saturday morning to see your results; I think you had better study now.
"What a drag," Shawn thought as he headed up to his desk. "I have to waste my whole night studying for this stupid test, and I have to give up my Friday afternoon to write this fucking thing." He plopped down lazily on his chair, and opened up his textbook. After three hours of reading up on "The forefathers of America", Shawn decided it was good enough. He walked downstairs feeling confident about his knowledge and was extremely hungry. He made himself a quick snack and went upstairs to bed.
The next morning as Shawn walked into his classroom, he approached Miss Donovan to tell her that he was ready for the re-test. It was faint, but he swore he saw her wink at him. Thinking nothing of it, Shawn sat down at his desk and waited impatiently for the end of class to come. After hours of doing what seemed like nothing in class, the bell finally rang. The rest of his classmates walked out of the room, and Shawn stayed seated- awaiting his paper.
A few moments went by until finally Miss Donovan looked up from her notebook and put down her pen. She had long dark brown hair that was pulled up into a bun, and wore a plain grey blouse with a knee-high black skirt. Her black high heels finalized the outfit, and her red lips smiled as she walked up to Shawn, slowly.
"Are you ready for your test?" She asked. This time Shawn was sure she winked at him, and froze in his spot. "Uh ...um... yes, I think so", was all he could manage to sputter.