The Highschool Fourteen

Here I tell the tale of a school like no other

Where sister turns on sister and brother turns on brother

The classrooms and lunch tables were short of warzones

Despite their proximity, each student felt alone.

Amongst these teenagers, great anguish ran amok

Time and time again the faculty was stuck.

No detention or reward could sway even one.

And so, someone knew that something must be done,

Through the power of sonnets, our story will be told

The leaders of the land had chosen someone bold.

A great man was called up to save a failing class

The power of theater had come to them at last...

“We’re doing Othello” said Mr. D. 

Through the door in June, he walked without dread.

In summer heat, a fan in the sill blew.

Day sun sweltered the fourteen “at-risk” heads. 

What made them “at-risk” was unknown to them.

Though labeled as flights, they did not know why.

The principal, Mrs. Barkley, determined 

To give the Highschool Fourteen the new guy

When seeing them, peers would gulp and swallow.

The Highschool Fourteen were known as follows:

Arthur, tall and insecure, is quite mean.

Benson’s anxiety is so wired

Alfonso reigns as the great king supreme.

Brennan is small, sad, broken, meek and tired.

Colin capers daily here at their school.  

Daniel simply does not do the dishes. 

Calvin’s a downright all together fool. 

Dolly sits around and silly wishes. 

Evan cracks his knuckles when he’s very mad.

Fran is known as a tobacco chewer.

Ellie’s certain she has another dad. 

Freddy here is the only good doer. 

Gregory does like watching teachers cry

Gretchen sneaks, thieves, and loves to weave a lie. 

Now they were supposed to put on a play. 

Mr. D had to wear them down at first.

He started at once by making them say 

Their names, their loves, their fears and how they hurt. 

“See, to be an actor is to be known.”. 

What the young Fourteen believed mattered not. 

He spoke, “Othello is best seen than read.”

That hope for the Fourteen would not be lost.

The first task was to create a true bond. 

“Yes! Trust falls!” Cried Mr. D on day two. 

Instantly, Gregory tried to prolong.

For this, the Fourteen did not want to do. 

Mr. D cares not what high schoolers thought.

Time to see what his education taught.

This question by the teacher prompted all 

To let go of all things that came before 

Standing on desks, ready for their trust falls 

Ellie got up first. Fran guarded the door.

Well, Calvin should have caught her as she flew 

But his phone rang right as she jumped midair 

Cal turned to check his texts and he soon knew

He had done wrong as the class set to stare.

“Ow! You did not catch me, fool!” Ellie cried 

And Calvin hung his head in greatest shame

“We have to be there for our friends” he sighed. 

Teach smiled, “Unlike Iago, do not blame.” 

Mr. D was the Highschool Fourteen’s friend

But that is not near when this story ends. 

It was around Christmas time came fighting 

Girls versus boys, when Mr. D arrived

Just hours before the school’s candle lighting.

Their passion, progress, gone along with drive. 

Mr. D swiftly learned it was because 

Dolly and Benson had fallen in love

What about the show? Curtain call? Applause?

He knew he could fix this with a light shove.

Mr. D sat them and asked a question

What’s the problem between each one of you?

At once, shouts roared in the room of freshman 

“They can’t be a pair!” “Their love isn’t true!”

“Not Romeo and Juliet,” he started to bellow.

“You know this play! We’re doing Othello.” 

Time slips unto itself, drags us along 

For soon spring sprang and brought with it the sun 

With the show coming, all readied their song

Arthur and Freddy thought to have some fun 

A quick scheme to prank Mr. D Monday

They put a Fireball shooter in his drink

By class he was sloppy but stood to say

“We have come far as a class, doncha think?

Soon after he realized his drunken state 

The class began to whisper and snicker 

He erupted, “you have all sealed your fate!”

Ten years living sober gone with liquor 

From then no more was he the nice, kind guy

He only wished to drill their lines. “You there!”

At Colin, pointed he, “look in my eye!”

“Speak now, before the class, and do beware.”

A cough then Colin spoke, “Reputation!”

And though Colin’s rendition was superb

Mr. D still weighed the situation

The student’s behavior left him perturbed. 

Post class each day, Teach left without a word 

The Fourteen called him, but he had not heard.

When the weekend of the show had arrived 

And the Fourteen prepared to wow each guest

Every character, each word memorized. 

To apologize, they would do their best.

Backstage, Mr. Dr looked so deeply glum

But he knew a speech was necessary 

“Go out there, do your best, have all your fun.”

Expecting nothing, he was deeply wary. 

After Mr. D had sat, Greg stood up.

“Hey! Listen up folks, it’s our time to shine. 

To Mr. Donahue!” each cheersed a cup. 

“We must show Mr. D we turned out fine.”

Spotlight check, curtain raised, the show began.

“Who are they talking about here?” spoke Dan. 

After all, Mr. Donahue wept tears 

To them, “You did it kids! You stole the show.

That was the finest play I’ve seen in years!” 

They said: “Think of all the theater we know!” 

The Highschool Fourteen are no longer ‘risks’

They have faced their fears, and gained such knowledge 

Calvin and Ellie don’t goof off for kicks

After three years, many went off to college.

So, the theater department does Shakespeare 

The Highschool Fourteen have long since left school 

But people come far and wide just to hear 

Black box productions of heroes and fools.

The sole downside to the fun and frolic 

Mr. D is now an alcoholic.