Erasmuse Academy
“Karen?”
“Here!”
“Lawrence?”
“Here!”
“Zachariah?”
“Present!”
“Is that everyone?”
“No, actually. You missed me again Mrs. Disto.”
“Sorry about that Mike. I don't know why I always skip past your name.”
“You say this every time and it’s Machaelion, not Mike.”
“I’m sorry Monte. I will remember next time. Now that everyone is here, we can start the lesson! Everyone turn to page 717 and look at section 14 in your books. This week we will dissect the poem The Road Less Traveled by Robert Frost.”
“Mrs. Disto I think you mean The Road Not Taken and it’s Machaelion not Monte.”
“Alright Micah.”
At dis point, I have given up. This lady always gets my name wrong yo. I have been here 2 whole weeks and I am on week 3. Why don’t you know my name? I was told I should have not come here. I’m beginning to think that the fam was right. I came here seeking a better opportunity for my schooling, but it just seems like no one here relates to me. Call me ungrateful but when I got accepted into “The” Erasmuse Academy I thought I was making the best decision for me and my fam. Going to this school seemed like a sure way for me to get into a good college. The more I go here the more I notice a lot of strange things. There isn't a single black person here. I knew this school was on the uppity side of town, but I at least expected to see at least one person that looked like me. It's 2020, where they at tho? I can’t be the only black person goin' here. The only thing that comforts me is knowing at least I have a better future going here. At least I have that. It makes sitting through another dissection of another obscure white person’s writing and this teacher getting my name wrong bearable. Well at least sort of.
“Now that we have read the poem as a class. What are some of your thoughts on this work of art? Marion since you gave us a correction to the title earlier, would you mind sharing your thoughts?”
“Mrs. Disto, again, it's Machaelion. I personally do not care for the poem. I think it glorifies the narrative that hardship in life is a choice that can be made for leisure. Not everyone has that luxury. During the entire poem, he talks of two different paths and insinuates that he is going to take the harsher one as if it will give him a different result. Both paths are going to the same place from my interpretation. Why glorify intentionally putting yourself through hard times?”
“Thank you Mars…well, anyone one else want to share?”
I know she didn't just dismiss me. In the back of my head I am rolling my eyes because I think this poem is trash. He literally is ranting about how he took the rough road on purpose. To prove what point? As someone who has struggled throughout my life, tell me why anyone would want to struggle on purpose? That's privilege for ya.
“It's Machaelion, and you're welcome.”
“Adam, I see your hand is up. Would you like to share?”
I am so ready for this class to be over. This place sucks. I will say it is weird that she doesn't remember my name. At first, I thought it was just because she was old but now it just seems like she is doing it on purpose.
“Alright class, we will call it quits today. Mitch, please see me after class. I want to discuss something with you.”
I am gonna assume she is talking about me. My name is the only name on the roster that begins with a “M”.
“You wanted to see me Mrs. Disto?”
“Yes, I wanted to touch base with you on your enrollment here at the academy. I see you just started and wanted to give you a warm welcome. We typically only get new students towards the beginning of the school year. We have been getting new students every day it seems. I can't seem to keep track.”
This lady is clearly trippin' considering how I haven't seen any new students here since I started. I also started 2 weeks ago. Why are you just now trying to welcome me? Did you not expect me to last this long? Imma need this oompa loompa, sequoia shaped, no memory having ass bitch to stop testing me. Call me paranoid but I’m feeling like she is doin’ this to annoy me. Also, where is my apology for getting my name wrong 5 times?
“Thanks for the welcome. I have enjoyed being here and look forward to you being my teacher Mrs. Disto. I appreciate you taking the time out to talk to me. I also would like to say again my name is Machaelion. I noticed you got my name wrong.”
“Give me time and I will get it right. See you Monday!”
Will ya? I mean actually see me. Ion wan’ come back, but I guess I don’t have a choice, do I? It just seems the more I go to this place the more I feel unseen. The more I feel like I have to dial back into myself and withhold my actual thoughts.This shit ain’t cool. If this is what it takes to be successful, then I guess I gotta do what I gotta do.
“See you Monday Mrs. Disto!”
“Karen?”
“Here!”
“Lawrence?”
“Here!”
“Manning?”
...I’m tired of fighting for her to get my name right. I give up.
“Here”
“Zachariah?”
“Present!”
“Is that everyone? Great! Class turn your textbook to page 89 and skip to line 14. Today we will read Oedipus Rex. Manning, will you read the first sentence?”
At this point, I will just go with it. At least I am being acknowledged to read and not for my opinion...Hold on wait. I could have sworn that my shoes were black with blue shoelaces. When did they turn white? Maybe I switched them out and don’t remember.
“Karen?”
“Here!”
“Lawrence?”
“Here!”
“Manning?”
“Here”
“Zachariah?”
“Present!”
“Is that everyone? Great! Class turn your textbook to page 1122 and start on section 14. Today we will read a chapter from Little Women. Manning, will you read the first paragraph?”
“Sure!
I despise this book. It's so skewed towards the perspective of...wait, I don't recall wearing white pants. I put on my red ones this morning. I guess I didn't.
“Karen?”
“Here!”
“Lawrence?”
“Here!”
“Manning?”
“Here”
“Zachariah?”
“Present!”
“Is that everyone? Great! Class turn your textbook to page 75 section 16. Today we will read A Dollhouse by Henrik Ibsen. Manning, will you read the first line?”
I actually like this story because it empowers wome...Hold up...I hate white shirts. Why am I wearing one? I put on a pink shirt today. Did I? Guess not.
“Karen?”
“Here!”
“Lawrence?”
“Here!”
“Manning?”
“Here”
“Zachariah?”
“Present!”
“Is that everyone? Great! Class turn your textbook to page 76 section 16. Today we read The Crucible. You all are gonna love this one. Manning, please read.”
Lets read! I’m pumped for this one. I used to hate this story, but today I feel way different! Let's do this!
“Now that we have completed the story, does anyone have any thoughts?”
My hand has been raised for five minutes. Why hasn't she called on me. I see she is back at it again.
“Anyone?”
Wait...where is my hand? I'm looking dead at it and all I see is air.
“May I be excused Mrs. Disto? I have to use the restroom.”
“Sure thing Machaelion. Go ahead and go.”
Let me run to the restroom real quick. I got my hands in my pockets. I am too afraid to look. I know I said I felt unseen here but this is a bit much. Maybe I am just trippin'. Maybe it's some just psychological shit manifesting. I didn't sleep much last night. Maybe that's what it is.
“Anyone in here?”
Great, the restroom is empty. Let me go into one of these stalls and try and snap back to reality. Wait, now my other hand is gone. I can't even see my watch. What the fuck is going on?! Is this why I haven’t seen any black people here? Did they disappear too? I'm not leaving this stall. There is no way anyone is gonna see me like this. Yo, what's happening to me?! Am I being eras...
