"He's in a bad mood, Patty. I bet he didn't get any from that ugly thing he calls a wife," Patty's friend, Jessica, told her. "You'll do good enough."

"But I want an A!" Patty whispered. "I get all A's this semester and daddy said I get to take riding lessons."

A loud voice interrupted them. "Miss Payne," the low, gruff voice of Mr Rogers boomed out. "Is there something you have to say to the class that has relevance to the Battle of the Sommne? Something that might reveal your intuitive grasp of the factors involved in the slaughter and so-called victory?"

He was right beside her as he went on. "You are not using your smarts to the best extent to which you are able and now you are a disturbance to my class. You are not the only student here. Having a keen mind, you should already know that. Detention for one hour."

"But Mr Rogers, I have soccer practice today. You can't make me stay after."

"I have little concern for your personal problems, Miss Payne. I only have concern that you do not waste my and everyone else's time by gossiping in class. Another word and it's two detentions," he growled at the girl. He liked the way she cringed, just a little, as he stood over her.

"Nothing to say, Miss Payne?" he asked snidely. "Good. See you after class then. Bring your books," he said and turned his back.

Patty was near to tears at the prospect of missing soccer practice. Coach was going to choose a new starting lineup and she wanted, she deserved to be a starter for Friday's game. She was first string for the last two months! It was just so unfair.

"You have something else you wish to share, Miss Payne?" the teacher asked.

Patty looked up with fear then hung her head. "No Mr Rogers."

With a slight smile he retorted, "I thought not. It would be so .... unfair ... to have more detention, now wouldn't it?"

Patty hung her head further, if that were possible. She'd let her thoughts out with her voice and that horrid Mr Rogers had heard her. Things just couldn't get any worse than this. Not making the team, staying after school with that man, getting embarrassed in front of the whole class, having to take guff from him and not able to say anything back. It truly was a terrible start to the day.

For the rest of school, all Patty could think about was having to spend an hour in the same room with her first period teacher. A whole hour. Nothing could be worse than that, nothing in the world could be worse. She fidgeted through her last class and joined her friends at the lockers, grabbing her books then turning to see the others on the soccer team head toward the gym to change, knowing she wasn't going with them, knowing someone else was going to be on first string and not her, it was a fate worse than death! That suck-up Stephanie would probably make it and then she'd get an in on Scott Jenson instead of her. He was just so good looking he was meant only for her to be seen with, not hanging off that Stephanie witch. The Thanksgiving dance was so soon, too. ......(cont)