Failing school system heroine

“Can you be the fun sister for once and let me skip school.” Reggie sulked as he stared at the huge building he called a prison.

“You want to miss the trip?” I said shoving him towards the entrance.

“Everyone knows that a day trip at Rocklin High is like community service.’ He deadpanned. Nevertheless he walked to his first class and I went to mine. I hated school too but ever since dad was involved in a tragic accident that left him in a coma and mom got imprisoned, I couldn’t leave the school system as I had planned.

‘I had a whole plan.’ I thought miserably. From eight to four, I sat through the most excruciating part of my day. Throughout school hours my head was spinning wheels non-stop; not for the academics but a way to change the dying school system.

I hated the fact that school started at 7:30 when science says that a child’s brain is more active hours later. I despised the fact that they expected me a visual learner to understand content only by read-write type of learning. Additionally, it irked me that most of the students had no self actualization as they were forced to study a strict already made syllabus that hindered creativity.

School wasn’t only affecting me but my little brother too. On our ride home, Reggie always had something new to complain about. He wasn’t particularly a sulky kid but he was a victim of bullying, he was in classes he never wanted to take and the teachers refused to recognize his sporting talent because he had been failing classes.

I hated school to the point where I wished I could pass a law to close all schools and start a real learning academy. One where children’s love for learning is actually realized. It would be an innovation so great that secular school would be a joke in the history books. I had a whole plan but all I needed was a window of opportunity as well as the adequate funding.  

As if the powers above had heard of my supplication, Reggie returned from a school trip with a pamphlet that he eagerly handed to me. “This is your opportunity sis.” He said resting his arm on my shoulder. The small booklet contained information about an organization named Futuristic Teens.

“If you’re between the ages of 13 and 19, this is your chance to let the world hear your voice. At Futuristic Teens we realize all futuristic ideas, inventions and innovations with potential to improve our world. The admission dates are between the 1^st and 5^th of July.” I read. A smile formed on my chapped lips as the words began to resonate with me. To dampen the mood was the ruthless realization that the date then was 7^th of July.

“Shoot. It closed two days ago.” I groaned at the verge of tears.

“Get in the car.” Reggie shouted dragging me into the driver’s seat. He fastened himself and coaxed me to start driving. My hands took over the wheel as I sped to Futuristic Teens building. There to worsen the case was the fact that I had no clue of where the company’s site was.

I was still driving when I saw an aged man rolling himself across the road in a wheelchair. The other cars sped past him at each sides of him threatening to throw him off the wheelchair. I couldn’t help but think of how my father ended up in a coma. Not willing to let that happen to someone else, I skid across the road so that I was blocking all two lanes to allow him to cross safely. The other cars honked restlessly at me but my morals had already won the fight.

Reggie abandoned the passenger’s seat and wheeled the old man onto the sidewalk. The man smiled at him as he ran back to the car and I drove off. “I taught you right.” I bragged with a proud smile to which he simply scoffed.

It took us hours until we navigated our way to Futuristic Teens. Upon entering, I only got as far as the reception as they refused to let me in. “I have a plan; a plan to improve our school system.” I tried to reason with the receptionist which obviously backfired when she called the guards to escort us out.  

I sat outside the hefty building devising a mission impossible plan to enter. By hook or by crook, the spinning wheels in my head would be implemented into our failing world of learning. “I have a plan.” Reggie’s eyes lit as they always did when he had a genius but realistically impossible idea. I groaned. “Before you criticize, here me out.”

“Wow you actually have a brain.” I spoke elated at his first ever good idea.

"I’m a schemer like mommy dearest.” He joked.

“Loving that dark humor.” I said sarcastically.

Reggie and I were on our feet ready to execute the genius plan to break into Futuristic Teens. We looked like amateur teenage super spies as Reggie stood on my shoulders trying to reach a window.

‘Window of opportunity.’ I thought and began to laugh out loud. My shoulders vibrated with laughter almost toppling Reggie.

“I’m trying to help you so don’t kill me in the process, okay?”

“What do you think you’re doing?” I heard a voice that didn’t belong to my clean-limbed little brother. It was a deep and raspy voice reeking off authority. I turned to take a look at him which made Reggie fall off landing with a loud painful thud.

“Take these kids to my office.” The man instructed the guards who not so gracefully dragged us in. When we got to his office, the man began to interrogate us. I tried to inform him of my idea but he wouldn’t hear a single word of it.

“I’m tired.” I sighed. “If you refuse to hear my idea then please let us go.” I told the man who I had figured must’ve been the CEO of FT. “Do you think I’ll just let you go after you tried to break into my company?” He scowled at us.

“Yes, precisely.” Reggie replied stupidly to which I slapped my forehead.

“Shut up.” I chastised.

“I still have to think of a punishment. Maybe you can work as volunteers to repair for all the damage.” He told us. Void of any fear, I walked towards him and leaned against the desk. “We never scratched a single wall so stop being a stuck up business man and let the little kids go.” I surprised myself. “You go girl!” Reggie hollered behind me.

Up close the man looked much younger and handsome which made my cheeks glow a crimson color as a result of my little outburst.  

He slowly stood up from his chair towering over me; with every inch he straightened to his full 6 foot something self. I gulped intimidated by his tall and bulk nature. If he meant to scare me then his job was executed flawlessly and if he meant to send my teenage hormones into overdrive, he was succeeding at everything.

‘I’m 19 years and 6 months so basically rounded off I’m 20 meaning I’m not a hormonal teenager…but an adult with hormones…steady hormones.’ Is the gibberish that conspired in my head as I stared into his frosty eyes.

“Cat got your tongue.” He smirked. And he was nowhere close to a lie for I was surely left breathless by my current dilemma.

“Ouff the tension in here is too thick.” An elderly man walked in waving his arm as if the thick air was obstructing him. I chuckled at his antics. When he had stopped waving back and forth, he revealed his face and I couldn’t help to think of the similarities he had with the old man Reggie and I had helped on the road.

“Son, go easy on the lady and gentleman, I assure you they have everyone’s best interest at heart.” He said looking at us with a proud smile. Almost reminded me of the dad I had for a few years before time and chance worked against him.

The elderly man who introduced himself as the senior Mr. McCall lovingly offered me a drawing board to draw out my innovative idea. I sketched it all out in a mind map to illustrate every flaw of the current school system and how my plan would change it.

After a few side glances and awkward stares with the junior Mr. McCall, I was done writing out my plan. Reggie who sat beside the two gentlemen nodded his head fascinated. He dramatically crossed his legs as if to feel like a businessman and I smiled at my comedian little brother.   

“Sold. Welcome to Futuristic Teens, I’m sure we’ll enjoy working with you. Is that right Chaz?” Senior McCall side eyed his son knowing that he had caught him off guard staring at me.

Upon hearing those words, my smile stretched from ear to ear. Knowing that I could finally share my innovations with the world brought a different type a glow I’d never experienced. 

‘I could finally change this school system.’ I smiled at myself stupidly.