Everyone has the Moment in their lives - a Moment of pure clarity, where one realizes exactly where their lives are headed. Their previous existence of directionless meaninglessness finally comes to a halt, and a Path is provided. The latter sounds like an inspirational poster, I realize. But it isn't lame and cheesy when it actually happens to you.
My big Moment was in high school. It was senior year, second semester. Senioritis had set in, and I sat in AP Macro Economics, the last period of the day. I aimlessly stared at the chalkboard while I waited for Mr. Keefer to stroll in from flirting with cute blond girls. At the front of the classroom, I watched with boredom as Jenna, my bff and neighbor, flirt with Hunter, a popular soccer player who didn't speak much beyond a few monosyllabic grunts.
Hunter, in a hormonal haze, pretended to strangle Jenna in a general display of boyish tomfoolery. All of a sudden, Jenna turned blue, but Hunter didn't notice. She lost consciousness and collapsed onto the floor. I guess Hunter underestimated his own strength and realized that flirting can have a dangerous side.
What I remember most about the Moment is how all 19 students in AP Econ became quiet. Everyone stopped their after-lunch chatter and merely stared at Jenna in gaping, uncomprehending silence. Then, I heard Elizabeth say, "Wow, I don't think she's kidding." I got up and yelled, "OMG!" I sprung to action and ran into the hall.
"Mr. Keefer - Jenna! Jenna!" Mr. Keefer looked at me with distaste as he always did when I spoke, probably because I was disrupting his mood of frat boy complacency. He took his time walking into the classroom to tend to Jenna, who was slowly regaining consciousness. "Go get the nurse!"
Eliz. B and I ran to the middle school to find Mrs. Wagner. I rarely ran as I hated physical exertion, but yhe adrenaline had kicked in. Jenna was ultimately okay, and I saw Hunter leaning against some lockers, crying - the entire incident had an emo, after school special-ish vibe.
I was just proud of my quick reflexes in an emergency. As all my classmates watched the scene unfold in stunned silence, I heroically jumped from my seat to find help for my friend Jenna. And that is when I realized I'd make a great doctor.*
You may be wondering about Jenna and Hunter. Well, after that weekend, they started dating for the rest of senior year. I guess almost killing someone with your bare hands can lead to an inexplicable attraction.
--By Mariam, who seriously hates Duke fans who don't go to Duke. Lame!
*= Facetious statement of self-aggrandizement
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11 comments:
You are so calm under pressure. And wasn't today the perfect day to watch a Duke basketball game? It made me so happy to see them not just lose, but get annihilated.
ohmigod. in seventh grade there a boy named Mitch who i had a HUGE crush on. and in the process of my ridiculously inept junior high flirting, I slapped him across the face. Hard. And he hated me forever. Oh, poor Mitch. He had such beautiful red hair.
Just out of curiosity, did the nurse do anything to help once she had arrived on the scene?
It's this kind of kind hearted action that would make you a great peer mentor!
Shiraz, I think she just gave her some ice! Our school nice was very inadequate. Once, I went to her with major stomach cramps and she gave me EXPIRED advil!
mariam- this is so unbelieveable! did she seriously turn blue before falling?
Well that sucks, I remember the first time I broke my arm about 12 years ago my mate said the huge bulge was "just swelling" but our nurse was pretty awesome, she knew what was going on and called Daddy to come get me.
Another question... what happened to the guy who strangled her? Did he get in trouble?
I don't think anything happened to Hunter bec. he felt so bad about what happened. They did end up dating, so I don't think Jenna was too torn up about it!
I am a total Anglophile btw, Shiraz so feel free to share experiences of growing up in England. I love Buddha of Suburbia by Hanif Kureishi!!! I might name my kid Karim.
I sometimes don't consider how my actions would be perceived by others, and I'm a bit oblivious to thier opinions of me, and I'm not a big thinker so any experiences I share would be quite anecdotal and superficial - nothing too insightful I'm afraid.
It's not a great story, but it made me laugh at the time... when we were about 15 we went on a camping trip as part of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme. We were all soaked from the rain and walking through fields of cow excrement, but spirits were high. As we progressed along our route one of my buddies (who incidentally was the guy that all the annoying stuff would happen to) grabbed hold of an electric fence without realising what it was. Oh man, the way he yelped and jumped back, it was awesome! We didn't let him forget that too quickly!
That's the kind of experience I can share, sorry! I'm not so great at telling stories as you can probably guess.
Awww! England seems dangerous with their electrical fences and lack of guns.
Well it's funny you mention guns, cos on another camping trip as part of the same scheme a farmer approached us with his rifle in hand and 2 dogs accompanying him, and had a massive go at us for walking along a PUBLIC path that went through his field. How messed up is that?! We were like 15!
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