My Middle School Life—The Toxic Avenger at Lunch

There was an EXTREMELY long lunch line at school today. The line went all the way to the other side of the cafeteria and back around the side and back further. So one of my friends named Dewitt said, and I quote, "1 buck to cut in back of me, 2 to cut in front." Surprisingly, he made $5 in the 10 minutes it took for him to actually get his food. He actually got on the line again just to get more money and he made a dollar before he was caught. He had to go to the principal's office for bribery, when maybe he should be rewarded for entrepreneurship.

After we eat now, we have wait on another line to throw out everything.  Everything has to be separated and put into different garbage cans: Styrofoam, bottles, food. Someone had the great idea to invite a recycling expert to "Albert Young" at lunch. The absolute worst thing about it was the big garbage can where you have to empty your beverage. It looked like a vat of poison where kids dumped unfinished juice and milk into a black garbage bag. It was absolutely disgusting. Kids would bump into it, and the liquid would move. The security guards are supposed to supervise us, until kids take the job. I still can see (and smell) that vat of liquid. Absolutely awful!

If you ever find yourself in the situation of needing to apply to get into a private high school, you can ask me. First you have to take a test called TACHS. My parents made me study for it back during the hurricane, which was dark and cold.  I got a 99 on the test, though. So I guess it was okay. Next you have to get interviewed for scholarships. You have to get a suit. All the forms say "jacket optional," but all the kids wore jackets. You have to wear shoes, ties and a shirt with a collar. It is not necessary to get your haircut, but your parents may try to force you. Check the dinner invitation. Dinner is at 7:00, but the test and interview are at 4:00. We arrived at 7:00 and had to scramble. 

I thought I made a good impression by not cutting my hair. It was a conversation topic with the judges. Being late worked out in one respect. The interviewers kept me in the room for 20 minutes, which was twice as long as the others. One man asked me my favorite TV show. As an answer I gave my sister's favorite show where kids compete for prizes by jumping over barrels, walls and run through water. The man asked if I watched The Simpsons.  We don't watch The Simpsons here, and my parents thought it was a trick question.  It turns out that the man actually does run The Simpsons club at school, is a big fan and quotes from the show all the time. Other questions were "What do you think is a successful life?" and "Where do you see yourself in four years?" One person asked me for examples of how I showed leadership. I was prepared, late, but prepared.

On the scholarship test, you should try to learn all the artists of famous religious paintings, the names of the last 10 popes, a few saints, and what each president is famous for. We waited for the envelopes to see how I did. I was given a few scholarships, and had to go to schools for "shadow days." At one school, they called me "J.L.," which stands for "Just Looking." I actually learned a lot on those days. I learned a clever way to solve equations that came in handy on a recent test. And I learned more in one day of Latin that I learned in a year before. Stay tuned for more details on this.

A Red Mango restaurant is due to open soon near school. One of my teacher's has already told the class that when it opens, she will no longer be having extra help on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Is that right?

Did you know that if you say "gullible" REALLY slowly it sounds like "orange"?

Thanks for reading! :)