PG1: School Freedom

Hamper Avery Guide Schools…

One quiet Afternoon…

“The solar system consists of the sun and other planets surrounding its orbit, that, including the eight planets-“ Mr Owen, the social science teacher explains to his students the science of the planets and the cosmos of space. Among the kids listening attentively, there was a peculiar student whose attention was far from the class. She listened only halfway and drifted as boredom took over. Every time there was a science subject, she would fantasize about places she wished to go, someplace that was out of this boring class she referred to as a prison hole.

But the door that separates them from the outside world beckons freedom “my exodus” as she calls it, and it calls anxiously at her. Ella knew the last bell for the day would grant her the wish of freedom from Mr Owen’s oppression, it gives her hope to count down the remaining seconds to closing time.

Ella eagerly tapped her favorite Tinkerbell pen on the small brown wooden desk, waiting for the class to be over.

Her eyes would constantly sweep at the Mickey Mouse clock hanging on the wall, waiting- looking- prepared.

'oh come on!' she whined. Now was the time things were supposed to speed up and then…

5…

Tap

4…  

tap

3…  

tap

2…  

tap

1…  

RING!!!

The final bell for the day rang so loud everyone heard it, alerting teachers and students it was the closing period.

‘Yes!’ Ella exclaimed in pure excitement and tossed all her books into her bag. She quickly snatched her ready bag and the writing materials from her small desk and dashed out of the classroom before Mr Owen could give extra comments about his subject.

Ella did notice that whenever he was having a class with them, especially when it unfortunately became the last subject of the day, Mr Owen would make irrelevant talks, teachings, and advice nobody wanted to hear, intentionally ignoring the student's protest thus delaying them.

The sicko enjoys depriving students the ability to function like proper humans, he does not allow them the freedom they deserved and he happened to do something that is against the school rules ‘holding back students after school hours and changing period subjects for every class he took’ if the authorities were to find out Mr Owen would be in serious trouble.

Ella swore internally that if this continued the school authorities were the next to know. The school rules state that students are not to be delayed immediately after the closing bells, but not Mr Owen, he thinks he can change the rules whenever he wants, but guess what? He’s got a higher superior that can fire him.

'Free!- I am free from that hell!' Ella rejoiced silently and jogged out of the school building. She dramatically fell to the ground and rolled on the green grass. Ella was unbothered about walking home or taking the bus alone because getting out of school was her priority.

After the whole drama, she walked down to the school gate and found someone familiar waiting outside, then a big smile formed on her lips.

“Mom!” She yelled joyfully and ran outside the gates to hug Thelma.

Thelma was startled for a second and jerked back, she spun around to see the source of the voice and when Ella came running towards her, she spread her arms to embrace her little princess.

Ella's little hands encircle her mother’s waist, and she breathes in her familiar Jasmine perfume while still hanging on.

“Starlight!” Thelma praised her little girl. “Now, how’s my fruity princess doing?” She cooed her ten-year-old daughter and ruffled her wild curly hair, making it a bit messy.

“Mom! You are ruining my hair…“ Ella whined with a cute pout, and she tried to pat her hair back to normal.

For a ten-year-old she’s quite mature than most adults and sometimes can be manipulative with her knowledge to get what she wants. At school, most of the students avoided Ella because of her exceptional IQ and previous intelligent students declared war on her because she served as a strong challenge for getting good grades.

“Alright- alright- I know you want to be a big girl, but I want you to enjoy being a child too.” Thelma comments and Ella invisibly roll her eyes.

“To be honest, being a child is more stressful.” Ella responded, and Thelma let out a hearty laugh.

“Whatever you say darling, now! Tell me, how was school today?” She asked as they walked down the flat pavement.

"Sooooooooo… boooorrrrring…” Ella did not fail to emphasize the reality of the hell she escaped from.

“Awwn, my angel thinks school was bad, huh- but come on, I don’t think it was that bad." Thelma frowned playfully at her daughter.

Ella looked up at her mother with disbelieving eyes. "Yes, it was! And I wished you were there to see how boring it was."

“Young lady- you have to loosen out that adult look on your face, so stop whining, face it! You have to go through the schooling process to be educated it cannot be avoided.”

“But there is a chance for homeschooling, right?”

Ella’s question caused Thelma’s skin to crawl but she masked the feeling away.

“No child of mine will be home-schooled. This is the best I can afford and you are going no matter what.” Thelma spoke definitely, thus ending the conversation.

“Fine-” Ella grumbled and stopped walking. Thelma noticed her daughter had stopped walking and she turned back to comfort her, even when her heart wanted to discipline her.

"Ookay- baby, I’m sorry. You, you know all I do, I do for you and I want the best for you, right?” She asks and Ella nods. “Don’t be angry at mommy, mommy just wants you to have the things she never had.” After this brief explanation, Ella understood and softened up. “So… what does the princess want that will make her happy?” Thelma tries to lighten her mood.

“Ice cream!” Ella cheered.

“Good choice starlight, ice cream it is.” Thelma said and carried Ella, balancing her on one hip.

“Mom! Please put me down I am not a baby anymore.” Ella complained because she didn’t like her mother treating her like a baby.

So many times Ella would confront her mother and challenge her on certain occasions, speaking beyond her child-like manners which sometimes concerns Thelma.

“You are my child, my daughter and my baby and I have the right to treat you as my baby because you are my baby.” Thelma expressed her motherly love and planted a kiss on Ella’s forehead, but she placed her back on the ground to make her less twitchy