Monday, April 11, 2011
Lane's Worst Class Ever
Sigh…it’s just another day in AP English. No one ever seems to listen to what I say. Everyone always focuses on Chris Lange, the most popular kid in the class. He thinks he is so cool when he says things like, “High Stile is definitely going to be my new street name.” I begin to talk and bring up a brilliant point, but again Chris interrupts me. “Shut up, Lane” he barks at me. “Yes, sir” is all I can manage in return (4). I cannot exactly argue with the most popular kid in the class. He continues on about how he and Carolyn will form a rap group together. Carolyn just smiles and laughs. I find myself drifting into a slow sleep and I mumble under my breath, “[this] is not a very interesting subject” (2). Then, suddenly, everyone stops talking. I open my eyes to see what happened, Jillian and Lizzy probably threw a pen into the middle of the circle again, I think. However, when I open my eyes, I find everyone staring at me- especially High Stile. In fact, he is giving me quite the dirty look. Even Carolyn’s smile has disappeared. “What did you say?” she asks through her teeth. Wait-did I say that out loud before? Oh, no. By the look on Mariel’s face, I know I said it aloud. Now I have made myself the enemy of the most popular kid in the class. I try to think of a way to save myself; I quickly mutter, “That was in consequence of a misunderstanding between myself and a young person” (1). I add in a quick “sorry” for good measure, but when I glance towards Chris and see him shaking his head and punching his fist into his palm, I know I am done for. I slump down in my seat and eventually the discussion starts back up. I suddenly wish everyone ignored me again. Worst English class ever.
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Finally someone standing up for poor Lane. I happen to play both Lane and Merriman, the other servant, in the first class and I feel my character constantly experiences this same sort of discrimination. Everyone pays attention to Algernon with his funny accent and the constant tension between the Cecily and Miss Prism, but all my characters can do is just fit in a couple "Yes, sir"s or "Yes, Miss"s here and there as everyone else just tunes them out.
ReplyDeleteKelly (and Sam), as I have spent the last few days acting my heart out in the roles of Lane and Merriman, I can completely relate. I remember the moment you discuss and the anxiety entailed. As soon as I muttered my line and saw Chris intimidating me from across the circle, I feel I looked very similar to the visual on your blog.
ReplyDeleteI feel bad for Lane. He is the doormat who Algernon wipes his dirty feet on. After his many repeated responses of, "Yes sir" , I hope that one day he just blows up and refuses to do whatever he is ordered to do. Unfortunately in our class, poor Sam plays the part of the two servants. I think it is just because of his laid-back and quiet nature, but I have seen Sam rage before. Maybe this rage will parallel Lane's personality at some point in the novel. I hope..
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