It was a different day, and everyone knew it.

While usually we would be sitting down practicing Math, Physics and English, this time our class would be making up a 50's styled dance number. The spring festival was coming--and snice we were the one of the oldest classes we would be organizing it.

As usual, my mind flew outside of the class as we tried to choose the song to one of my best friends, and ex-classmate, Blanca. She was very sick in the hospital--as far as we knew she was finally recovering, but I was still very worried. We weren't sure what it had been. Nobody had told us...it couldn't be a good sign, but I, Ani, as carefree and silly as I was, never asked.

"Okay, let's go to the schoolyard, then!"our teacher said. I blinked. I turned to my friend Judith. "What was the song?"I asked. "'We go together'. Grease...weren't you paying attention?"she asked. I shrugged--Judith already knew that I had a short attention span.

The schoolyard looked plain, boring. I never paid attention to how it really looked, I culd only see the blue ground and the old basketball rings. This time I'd have to be careful, though. Otherwise, I'd fall down while dancing--too embarrasing.

"Hey, d'you think the choreography will be easy?"I asked toward Judith. "Luckily. It's Grease, you've seen the dancers, right?"she asked.
"Well, yeah, but..."
"Then it can't be that hard."

And she was right. Surprisingly, the steps were quite easy. So I followed the instructions carefully, and during the next two hours, we spun around, jumped, clapped and danced like we were the Grease cast.

"Okay, everyone, you have ten minutes to rest!"our teacher said. I fell falt on my back once I reached the closest bench. Once I had restarted my heart I sat up strainght and watched the boys playing soccer with...a bottle?Darn, can't they just rest like normal people? I thought to myself. I ignored them and started to eat an apple--at least until the plastic bottle hit my leg.
"Sorry!"the guy who had done it said. I nodded.

Uh-oh...

The principal had seen it, and she didn't look happy.

I saw her walk toward our unsuspecting crowd and came closer to listen.

"Stop rehearsing,"she said. "For we have been informed that Blanca passed away. Please return to your classroom."

It hit me. Hard.

I let the tears roll down my face freely.

I didn't play attention while we walked back to the classroom. It was always noisy, full of laughter...and now it just seemed an empty room, surrounded by a scaringly tetrical silence.

"Well, our friend isn't gone..."the teacher said. "She's still here, listening, I'm pretty sure that she wouldn't like to see you cry. So...shall we dance in her honor?"he asked.

Everyone agreed.

The dance number had started as an obligation, just a way to have fun.

Now it was dedicated to someone special.

Like and obituary.

In memoriam.

The end*

Life: 07/09/09 | Posted By: sumirechan | 1 comment | Personal