The Comedy Of Masonville High

Lewis was the single person in the cafeteria. Excluding the lunch ladies whose quickened bustle and noises of work and normal excitement of a school day were the only things heard in the cafeteria. It didn’t bother Lewis though, he was used to it. No one really cared much for him, but that was another thing he was ok with also. It had been that way ever since he could remember. There didn’t seem to be a reason for it, people just didn’t like him. But once again, that was ok with Lewis. He sat and read his book. He was early, and as he glanced up at the clock, he realized how early he was.1

“7:14” he stated to no one in particular, “Eight hours and a minute to go before I’m outta this place.” He stated it subconsciously and went back to reading his book.2

He was always early. Lewis’s foster father never really took time out for him, but even this was ok with Lewis. He was 18 and had been living in foster homes since he was 13, so it was not something that was new to him. His “Dad” as he called his foster father, lived to far out for bus transportation, and instead of doing anything else, insisted on driving Lewis to school on his way to work, which left Lewis about an hour early everyday.3

The doors of the empty cafeteria burst open and the first stragglers ventured into the school. They were half asleep and only barely able to trudge into a seat that they could fall into and doze off on. “Hmm…” Lewis thought as he let his eyes find the script in his book that he was reading.4

Reading was something that Lewis used to get away. He wasn’t unhappy with his life, but there wasn’t much to be happy with. He had no friends, no siblings and spent next to no time with his “Dad”. He knew who his parents had been but their memory brought up experiences that Lewis would rather forget. He shuddered at the thought of his father, who beat him to within an inch of his life several times. He began to get teary over the memory of his mother, who had tried so lovingly to protect him.5

“Hey idiot, watcha doin’? Readin’ more of that nerd crap?”6

Lewis looked up, realized the tears were still in his eyes, and wiped them quickly, hoping that the jock, whoever he may have been, wouldn’t see. It was to no prevail.7

“HA! What are you doing over there? Crying!?” 8

Lewis looked at him waving and making pointing gestures, but paid him no mind and went back to reading. The jocks were really the jerks of the school. How they got to be “cool” in everyone’s mind, Lewis wasn’t sure. The only thing that he could be completely sure of was that the only person in the school that would talk to him without using some type of insult and was some sort of friend was a jock. Chris Bryant was a good guy. He was liked by everyone and didn’t have a bad bone in his body. He was really the only person that would talk to Lewis on any occasion and stay somewhat docile. He never insulted him like anyone else that decided to talk to him. 9

“Wow,” Lewis thought, amazed “look who just decided to show up!” Lewis set his book down and watched as an abnormally large crowd walked into the cafeteria, and in their midst, Chris Bryant, Lewis’s one and only “friend”. Today was an odd day though, He wasn’t flashing that charming smile left and right, he was more serious, looking at his feet with all but the slightest frown. He carried a large bulky duffle bag and walked solemnly towards the outside doors. He passed Lewis and looked up at him. He actually smiled. 10

“Hey man, today’s gonna be a good day for ya’” he said and he winked before turning to run towards the outside door. 11

“I wonder what that was about” Lewis wondered before turning back to his book.12