Once again I participated in the fabulous Indie Ink Challenge. I had a really hard time with this one so it took me until almost the last minute. As usual, I’d appreciate any constructive criticism. The challenge is listed at the end of the post.
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I did what was expected of me. That was always the case. My parents decided and I did. They were the choreographers of my life, I was merely the dancer.
So, it was determined I would attend law school and go to work in the family business, the law firm that started with my grandfather and employed my father, my uncle, my aunt and my older brother.
There was an office with my name on the door. Not literally, figuratively. All I had to do was get through law school.
And so it began.
I filed into my Business Law class, along with around 35 other wide-eyed lawyer wanna-bes.
Grabbing a seat by the window, in front of a spunky looking girl with sassy red hair, I sat my things down and then thunked myself down into the stiff seat. I smiled tightly at her, she responded by texting.
It was so quiet in the room. I looked around and took note of all the different types of people that were inhabiting the uncomfortable seats along with me for the next 3 hours. There was a combination of young and middle aged. Pretty equal in the male-female balance.
Everyone stared straight ahead at the whiteboard. Red and blue dry erase markers leaving traces of the teachers name and daily notes, haphazardly erased from earlier but still legible enough to get a good idea that the class was going to be boring.
The professor walked in loudly, “Greetings and salutations, Business Law 101 class.”
He was dressed in jeans and cowboy boots, articles of clothing I didn’t expect a law professor to wear. I expected stiff and suits. But, as he spoke more to the class, explaining what was expected of us, I realized he was a stiff suit, it didn’t matter that he wasn’t wearing them.
Looking around the room, he mentioned that the class was filled to capacity and then some. He let us know that even though there weren’t enough seats for us today, by next week enough would be scared and drop out, leaving free seats. “So, not to worry.” he was addressing those who had come late and were sitting on the floor underneath the chalkboard in the back of the room, “You won’t have to sit on the floor next week. Guar. An. Teed.”
I rolled my eyes because this dude reminded me of my dad. Only, my dad wore Armani or Hugo Boss. Never Kohl’s and cowboy boots. He was far too metro for that.
For the first 3/4 of an hour, he went over the course syllabus. 3 people left.
For the next hour, he went over the intro to Business Law and we began taking notes on what he wrote on the whiteboard. Another person left midway into the first chapter of our text book
After class break, which was fifteen minutes and if we were late, we’d be marked absent for the day, I noticed that there were hardly any bodies under the chalkboard anymore.
Well, the teacher knew what he was talking about. I just didn’t think it would happen that fast.
The professor began his lecture and I started yawning and staring out the window. How did my family like this stuff? So. Boring.
My butt started getting numb in my seat and I kept shifting to find comfort. There wasn’t any to be had. The teacher kept droning on. I stopped taking notes, figuring it was all in my text book.
I looked around the room, one guy had fallen asleep with his mouth open. A girl was trying to discreetly text, her phone on her lap. This type of teacher would for sure catch her and then she’d be marked absent for the day.
Law school. Really, how’d this happen? I’m such a wimp, I thought to myself. Why couldn’t I ever stand up to my family? They didn’t care that I wanted to move to California and try to break into acting. My dad laughed at me, calling me a silly girl with head in the cloud silly notions.
I yawned again and looked at the clock. One hour left. How was I going to live through this class? Through law school. Through the rest of my life if I kept on this path that I didn’t choose.
My foot fell asleep. I started stomping it, quietly so I didn’t call attention to myself, to wake it up. The needles were attacking the pins.
I started getting anxious. Stomping my foot and looking at the clock, I felt like running.
This isn’t what I want. I didn’t want to be here. I wanted my own life, one not controlled by my parents. And law school wasn’t part of my own life.
Picking up my bag, I got up.
As I was walking toward my car, I realized I had left my textbook and notebooks sitting on my desk.
I smiled, got in my car and decided to head west.
My challenge came from K.Syrah. Write about the first day of law school, sights, sounds etc, without sounding too Scott Turnow. Well, this way WAY different from what I usually write about. Hope it turned out ok!
I thought it was great, and I loved the twist at the end. It made me smile.
Jennifer´s last blog post ..SeniorHottie
When I first saw your challenge, I thought ‘how perfect for you,’ and wondered how much was autobiographical. I like your ending… headed west.
Tara R.´s last blog post ..Chilly
Pretty cool! Who knew?!
Props to you! 😀 ^^ *applause*
Dili´s last blog post ..Independence Day
I can totally relate to this story, except for the law school part–mine was bible college to become a pastor… (Shudders)
Wonderful story about embracing your freedom!
Jason Hughes´s last blog post ..Four Horsemen- Three Gods- a Transgendered Devil- and Lazarus Under a Pear Tree