Classes Anyone?

            by Maria Parangueo

 

It was a regular morning and first period had already started.  There were two girls, one about five feet tall and the other girl a few inches taller.  They were headed toward the BHS football field, walking fast so the security guards couldn’t catch them.  But I did. I knew who they were, Jasmin and Christy. 

The first day I caught them skipping class, they told me that they were seniors and didn’t have a first period.  They’ve told me that since their sophomore year.  Of course I didn’t find this out until after I found them outside of class.  They couldn’t lie any more.  Finally they told me the truth, well sort of, and we became friends.  They couldn’t tell me what was really going on or else their little trick would be easy.

Jasmin and Christy were always making excuses like, ”we have a substitute”, or that they were going to their lockers to get something.  One day I found them again in field, sitting in the yellow bleachers, talking.  This time they told me that they were chilling because of the CAHSEE.  The exam that sophomores have to take in order to be able to walk the stage.

“It’s been a long day.  We woke up early just to take the exam,” said Jasmin.

“Yeah and it sucks ‘cuz if we don’t take it we won’t be able to graduate,” said Christy.

“Besides, it’s fifth period and we both have math this period and we just took the math section today,” Jasmin said.

Another time I found them between the new pool and the old gym near the gate at Milvia St.  They were getting ready to get out of school during third period.  The gate was open and I was walking towards it with one of the other security guards.  When I saw two girls at the gate I knew it was them.  How could anyone miss them? Everyone could see is a short girl laughing with a tall girl.  I could see them trying hard to see if I was who they thought I was. They weren’t sure if it was really me. It was really funny when they finally figured out it was me.  They quickly got inside the gate and ran so that I wouldn’t catch them.  Later that day at lunch I saw them and went to talk to them.

“ I saw you guys at the gate during third period.  You two were skipping again, huh?”

“No, Joel we weren’t.  What are you talking about?” Jasmin said trying to lie to me and pretend that it didn’t happen.

“Did you think that I didn’t see you,” I said trying to win their little lie game.

“Joel, you confused us with other people.  We don’t skip anymore,” replied Christy.

I though to myself, I am not going to get anywhere with these two, so I let them go to lunch. I followed them with my eyes to see where they would go.

 The next day, on my daily routine to check the football field for any folks that didn’t belong to the P.E classes, I found them again. It was second period.  I was walking around and stopped to talk to Mr. Fike, a sports teacher.  When would these ladies learn?  When would I stop seeing them around campus and not in class? They were walking towards Mr. Fike and me. 

“Now what are you guys doing here?” I said irritated.

“Don’t you want to see us?” Christy said while Jasmin was laughing at what I had just said.

“ Where is your class? And don’t tell me you got any more substitutes,” I said in a serious voice.  My face red as I was starring right into their eyes.

“But we do,” they both said in unison.

“What class do you have right now?” I asked them.

“We got history with Mr. Lee,” said Jasmin.

“Go to class then,” I said getting mad.

“Ok Joel we’re going to class,” Christy said.

 They started walking towards the C building “to class”. I had the feeling that they weren’t going.

A couple of weeks later I was sitting in the metal bleachers guarding the football field as usual.  I was talking to Kendra, the lady security guard who watches the girl's locker room.  Kendra and I were talking waiting for the time that we had to go and open the locker rooms.  Meanwhile, we were looking at students tackle each other while playing football or playing Frisbee and soccer.  Out of the corner of my eye I saw a Frisbee landing on the ground. Then I saw a girl that I hadn't seen during this time of third period, especially ten minutes before lunch.  I looked closely and it was Jasmin.  She was petite, with a black backpack and mad because she was the one getting the Frisbee.  I had the feeling that she wasn’t alone and Christy had to be with her.  I was right I saw her standing a few feet away from Jasmin laughing at her. As Jasmin bent down to get the Frisbee I yelled to her, "Oh my God! You again”.

 

They recognized my voice and turned to where I was with Kendra.  I saw them stare puzzled and I could only laugh.  They suddenly reacted.

"Hi Joel,” Jasmin said.

I only shook my head at her greeting and she knew I wasn’t happy.

"Have you seen them around out of class? They are always cutting,” I said to Kendra.

"Yeah I have seen them sometimes,” she replied back getting her keys.  “I’ve seen them here and inside the locker room,”

Jasmin and Christy were still laughing.  I got back to the conversation I was having with Kendra.   She was ready to go and open the girl’s locker room.  I stood up and walked the other way to now guard the boys’ locker room.

 

One day after first period they were at their lockers on the first floor.  Jasmin was talking to another friend while Christy was getting her history folder out of her locker.  A few moments later the second late bell rang. It was time for second period but they were still there like a few other students.  Their other friend walked the opposite way, waving good-bye. While walking to their second period, Jasmin and Christy were stopped by one of my colleagues patrolling the hallway.

“Were are you guys headed,” she asked them.

"We are going to class,” said Jasmin.

"You guys are often late to second period.  I‘m always standing here and I see you at your lockers late to class,” she said to them.

"But we do go to our class," replied Jasmin.

"Is this the only class that you guys go late to?"

Since they didn't respond back to her, she knew that there were more classes.

"Let's go see your attendance record at OCI."

Neither of them knew that was going to happen.  It was like a cold bucket of water thrown at them.  But they still walked behind her murmuring.  That is when I found them when they were walking in the H building.

"Where you guys going," I said.

"I am taking them to OCI to check their attendance record because they are always late to second period," she answered.

"I always see them cutting class in the football field," I said

When they arrived at OCI my colleague told them to sit down and wait for Mr. Smith, a counselor at BHS, to finish with the other students he was working with.   She watched and waited while talking in her walkie-talkie.  She had to go back and guard her position at the C building soon.

When Mr. Smith finished, she told him," Can you check their attendance record?  They are always late to second period."

            Mr. Smith went to the computer and turned it on.

            “What is your name?” he asked Christy and she answered.

“You have lots of tardies to your fifth period and second period.  Why are you always late to your classes?”

            “I am just late because there’s a lot of people in the hallway.  I don’t get that late to my class either,” Christy responded.

            “But that’s not an excuse to be late,” Mr. Smith Said to her.

            “You come here,” he said pointing at Jasmin.

            Jasmin walked from her sit to his office that was near the door.

            “What is your name?” Mr. Smith said.

            Jasmin said her name and then told him her ID number.

            “You don’t have that many tardies as her but still.  Why were you late?” he said.

            “I don’t know why I am late,” Jasmin said.

            “You don’t got an excuse to be late.  You know if you keep being late your grade is going to be lowered,” Mr. Smith said in a disturbed tone.

            “Yeah I know,” Jasmin replied.

            “Then why do you keep doing it?” he said.

            There was silence to that question.  Mr. Smith after having talked to them he sign them up in the attendance check where they have to get their teacher signature.

When they got home, their parents knew what was going on.  They wanted explanations and answers to their questions.   Jasmin and Christy got into a lot of trouble and were grounded.   Their counselors called their parents and they talked about the attendance check.  I don’t see them in the halls anymore.  But occasionally when I see them during lunch or during passing period I say hi.  It was a lesson learned.