Tommy Collison

“...and because he’d made so many unsuccessful voyages, the king and queen of Spain eventually withdrew Columbus’s title of Governor” the teacher finished reading.

There was a a small silence as the teacher finished reading from the book. No-one spoke, but there was a low hum of tapping feet and clicking pens. The feeling of yearning for the lunch bell was so strong it was tangible.

23 pairs of eyes drifted from the teacher to the clock above the white board. As if aware of the new found attention it was receiving, the ticking began to get louder. Imperceivable at first, but growing steadily louder as the second hand approached that glorious 12.

Like a sprinter having crossed the line, the second hand seemed to grow slower after crossing its target, but nobody noticed this, because at that moment there was a shrill, three-toned, electronic noise from the intercom and the deafening silence was broken. The class breathed a collective sigh and the room was filled with the sound of 23 chairs being drawn back. A babble of talk filled the room. The students with lockers halfway across the school were halfway to the door already.

“Your homework is…!’ the teacher called, trying unsuccessfully to capture his audience. ‘Oh forget it..’ he finished, resignedly.

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This is fictional, and not based on anyone or anything. The only relation to real life in any way is that we are studying Columbus in history :) If any classmates are reading is, this is not our homework