High school’s bell rang deafeningly through the silent room. No more than an annoyed glance came from the teacher as he flipped shut the magazine he had been reading to look up at all the students arranged out at various desks in neat orderly rows. Few eyes reaching up to his, before quickly slipping back down to the papers in front of them.
  Those same papers had been crisp and white at the beginning of the day. Now the Teacher, in some hidden part of his mind, mourned their loss for they now promised the work of grading soon to come. The room was dead silent except for the constant buzz of the heater as it blasted the unneeded warm air into the room. As if it wasn't warm enough already. He sat their pondering on whether or not to actually turn off the thing when he noticed the continuing presence of more and more eyes popping up from the ruined papers.
  Giving into their unspoken pleadings he sighed. A loss of paradise that had settled over the room. It pained him to swing his legs down over the desk, from their former lotus position to swing childishly back and forth in front.
  "Alright now. Test over. If you haven't finished, write and 'NF' at the top of the page and you can do it tomorrow. For those that did finish, bring a book tomorrow or I'll have to pull out the worksheets and make you look like you're actually doing something."   
  He was glad to see some chuckles and smiles come from the kids that normally looked so disheartened by this time of day. He didn't really blame them. He'd hated school. And here he was- teaching it. "No homework tonight either."
  This statement even rose a cheer from some and he smiled to himself as he watched them file passed his desk with their tests, placing them in a neat pile before filing out the door. Finally, the last student shut the door behind her and he was left with the classroom to himself.
  Abruptly the heater gave sort of coughing sound before beginning a low buzzing that easily grated at the nerves. Giving it an annoyed look, the teacher decided that he would officially talk to one of the janitors after school. Although he wouldn't enjoy it. The staff, most of them at least, were older people who fit right in with anyone who liked strict discipline and little fun.
  Gathering the papers in one hand he spun around on the top of the desk, glad that he kept relatively nothing on top of it to account for his love of crawling around on it. His bag, much like a normal school back with his initials 'E.H.' on it and in a deep blue that was almost black, was the only occupant of his seat. Most of the time it was. With his feet placed on either armrest, he bent and unzipped it, slipping the papers inside and praying that they wouldn't be crumpled without a folder to hold them.
   On the old black board was sketched out the English curriculum he was supposed to teach. He wrote it up everyday according to what the school recommended book said. Although he seldom paid it any mind at all. The kids learned the same stuff so who cared how? Zipping up the backpack and for the first time since handing out the test, getting off the desk, he thought of the principle. So up tight, so old fashion. If he received colored chalk for Christmas, he would be utterly appalled at the action. Even more appalled if someone used them in the school.
  The Teacher chuckled to himself at this. Maybe he'd try that someday.