fiction - brigits_flame - fly
Jul. 8th, 2012 03:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
hwangoThe time had come again for the Arena of Glory and Shame. Or, as the adults called it, “Show and Tell.”
The battle was fought the first Monday of every month, and the outcome reshaped the social strata of the entire class for the next several weeks. Who would be the envy of their peers? Who would be the lame kid who brought in some stupid thing and then stuttered and mumbled about it for five minutes straight?
Edward could almost taste victory already. This month he would stand triumphant above them all, and especially that jerk Patrick Collins. Because this month he had something that could not possibly be topped. This month, Edward had a robot.
It had flashing lights. It made awesome sounds. It trundled about on tiny wheels, could pick up small objects in its padded claws, understood a variety of voice commands, and was unquestionably going to be the most awesome thing anyone had ever brought in for Show and Tell in all of history.
Edward’s smug grin widened with each other child’s meager offerings. An ant farm. A kaleidoscope. Various musical instruments, unusual rocks, crude drawings, and an initially worrisome lizard whose talents fortunately turned out to consist mostly of standing very still for long periods of time. So far, Kristen’s tarantula was probably the entry to beat, but the little glass box in which it lived was too great a barrier between it and the audience. No competition at all.
Only Patrick and Edward remained. Patrick would go first, and then Edward would swoop in and crush whatever pathetic thing Patrick had brought in with his own amazing presentation. Edward watched in eager anticipation as Patrick carried a large box to the front of the classroom. Patrick opened the top, reached inside and…
No. This could not be happening.
Patrick had also brought in a robot. Edward watched in growing horror as Patrick showed off all of its amazing features. The flashing lights. The awesome sound effects. It zoomed about on its tiny wheels and stacked some blocks into a tower all in response to Patrick’s spoken commands. This was a nightmare.
“And, best of all,” Patrick said, “it can fly! Watch this!”
Edward felt as if he’d been punched in the gut. His robot couldn’t fly.
The other children whooped in ecstatic glee as the little robot swiftly rose a few feet off the ground and then flew in circles. Edward felt his heart shrivel into a cold, withered ball as the hated contraption spun in loops and corkscrewed through the air. Patrick bowed to wild applause and retook his seat, his robot following him all the way carrying its own box.
Nothing could follow that. Certainly not a lesser version of the same thing. It had been so incredible, the teacher almost forgot to call Edward’s name for his turn. Edward wished that she had.
Edward made his way to the front of the class like a man heading to the gallows. He turned and looked at the other children. Some weren’t paying him any attention at all. Others watched him expectantly. The worst was, of course, Patrick’s gloating smile.
Edward realized he had been standing there for several moments and hadn’t yet said anything. People were starting to look at him funny or quietly giggle. Well, he may as well get this over with.
“I also have a -” he started to say, when suddenly someone screamed. It was Kristen.
“My tarantula has escaped!” she howled in despair.
She may as well have screamed “fire!” The room devolved instantly into madness as children screamed and leapt out of their seats. Even the teacher looked a bit panicked.
Realizing this was his opportunity to escape utter humiliation, Patrick returned to his seat unnoticed amidst the chaos. He was saved. But was this a stroke of luck, or a brilliant maneuver by Kristen? He snuck a look towards her and found her looking back at him. With a subtle motion she showed him that she’d had the spider concealed in one hand the whole time. So, a clever ploy after all. He nodded in acknowledgment of the debt he now owed her. Clearly, she was going to be a formidable opponent in the future.
But there would be time to worry about that later. For now, Edward was content to breathe a sigh of relief at the embarrassment he’d avoided…and savor the look of crushing despair on Patrick’s stupid face.
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Date: 2012-07-08 11:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-11 09:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-09 12:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-11 09:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-11 11:28 am (UTC)It was super-duper competitive, yes. The only difference was that for my friends, the competition and scheming revolved around writing and art rather than show-and-tell. Well, writing, art and boys. :) The teacher was incredulous and kept telling us that we should 'act our age' and go play with toys instead. I think she was in over her head a bit with us; we were pretty precocious.
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Date: 2012-07-09 03:58 pm (UTC)Oh, well done Kristen... and Edward, I think Kristen has an eye on you!!!! teehee. This was marvellous! thanks so much... oh paddy paddy Edward cool down now!
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Date: 2012-07-11 09:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-11 10:04 am (UTC)I only vaguely recall ever having to bring in something for Show and Tell. I have hazy memories of bringing in some beloved toy full of significance to me, only to have everyone just see it as another random possession. I think people also wanted to touch it, and I was horrified they'd break it. As you can see, I was scarred for life. = )
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Date: 2012-07-11 07:55 pm (UTC)