“What do you think you are doing?” asked a voice behind me. I turned around and came face-to-face with the school’s janitor, Mr. Clover. He looked as though he was about to shred me into pieces.
“I-I-I-I am just trying to go to the bathroom.” I replied as I stood frozen right in front of the janitor’s workplace. I refused to look at his eyes because I know they would be glaring at me. My hear t was pounding as though it would explode in my chest. I have never seen a man that looked like him.
“The bathroom is that way, young lady. I don’t think it was a coincidence finding you here. What are you trying to do? Steal something?” Mr. Clover accused. I could feel his stare burning a hole on my forehead.
“I wasn’t trying to steal anything!” I replied with disbelief and shock staring right into Mr. Clover’s eyes. They were ice blue, it felt as though they were piercing a hole right through me.
“Then what were you trying to do?” Mr. Clover demanded as he stared right back at me.
“I-I-I-I was actually searching for you.” I replied quietly looking down at me feet.
“Me? What do you mean?” Mr. Clover asked with surprise and I could feel his gaze soften.
“Um… I was actually wondering if you could do an interview for the newspaper… and everyone was sure you won’t… so I made a bet against them…” I trailed off with embarrassment.
“I see. Well, let me tell you one thing. They won’t win.” Mr. Clover replied with a chuckle. I stared at him with surprise.
“Wh-what do you mean? You mean… you will do an interview for me?” I asked with disbelief. I could feel the atmosphere lightening into a calm and relaxing feeling.
“Of course, I would. Not everyone is brave like you. They wouldn’t even come ten feet near me.” He said with a smile. I could see he was telling the truth.
“Yea. I guess. When do you have time?” I asked as my face broke into a smile.
“How about right now? I have plenty of time.” He suggested.
“Okay. Fine by me. Where would you like to do the interview?” I asked as I took out me notebook, a pencil and a recorder.
“How about in the library? There’s plenty of room in there.”
“Sure.” I said and we headed towards the library.
As the interview went on, I realized that Mr. Clover isn’t as mean and cold as I imagined him to be. He was pretty friendly and easy going. He displays the stern side because he doesn’t have much friends and don’t exactly know how to act around people. I told him that by behaving like that he is scaring off people and makes people not want to be friends with him.
A few days after the interview, the whole school was buzzing about the dramatic change in Mr. Clover’s personality. A lot of my friends think I had something to do with that, but I didn’t deny it or confirm it. I finally realized that sometimes a person’s look and how he or she acts doesn’t represent the real him or her.