Sick of Circles (Tock)
Salin stared at the first geometry question of the test.
A straight line is… some degrees. So if that angle is 70 degrees, and the other is X degrees. Then, X is some degrees minus 70. What is a degree even for? I don’t want a math degree so why do I have to do it now? Was a decade of math not enough already? Why do they put a circle instead of just writing the word? Why does everyone want to hurt me? I hate circles. I hate all circles from now on.
“What did Karina say? Just put in a random number until it works. But there’s two empty spaces. I’ll never be able to test enough numbers.”
She felt a pain in her eyes and looked away from the test packet.
She watched Karina turn in her test and leave the class early.
Salin raised her hand.
“Can I go to the bathroom?”
“No, Ms. Qin.”
Salin stared at the empty whiteboard.
“Ms. Qin?”
Salin wrote her name and date on the test and brought the packet to Mr. Franz’s desk.
“Your score will be a zero, Ms. Qin.”
“K.” she said, walking out.
That night, Salin snuck into the geometry classroom and forged a new seating chart with Karina at the front.
Dorian snuck in as well, shortly thereafter, and replaced the teacher’s badge with one that looked similar but failed to grant access to the teachers’ lounge. Alan would later ask him what the point was. “At least he gets paid to be here. If anyone is entitled to free coffee, it’s me.”
▫ ▪ → ∞
“Mrs. Seville?”
The school librarian, Julia Seville, who was childless, took great pride in treating each student as if they were her own son or daughter. She had a bright, smiling expression that made her look half her age, revealed only by her gray hair, tinged with electric blue dye. She dressed professionally but made no attempt to cover her tattoos.
“Oh, Qín Sǎlín! Good to see you! Your friend told me about you, she couldn’t help bragging about how happy she was to have you as a study partner.”
Salin smiled. “You knew my surname comes first.”
“Of course, dear! It’s the library! Every student should feel right at home here.”
“It’s actually Qín Sàlìn.”
“Qín Sàlín?”
“Qín Sàlìn.”
“Qīn Sálìn?”
Salin’s eye twitched, but she held her smile in place. “You got it!”
“Oh wonderful!” said Julia excitedly.
What about yours?” asked Salin.
“Hm?”
“Is it pronounced Julia or Hulia?”
“Oh, either is fine dear,” she said waving her hands. “Don’t worry about me. What brings you in today?”
“Well, it’s about my friend.”
“Oh?”
“But you can’t tell her I said it anything! Or anyone.”
“What is it, dear?”
“She didn't want to make a big deal about it, but she's feeling a little bit not-at-home because of some of the books. I'm sure it's nothing that anyone did on purpose, but I'm sure you understand why she might feel unwelcome,
"You know," said Julia, "I've been trying to warn the administration about this very issue. This school has always had a habit of platforming whatever happens to show up, just because there's so much space, but then we end up with a situation like this, where everyone has to sift through junk before they can find the kinds of books that move society forward instead of back. Now, exactly which ones are troubling her?"
"I have a list actually." WHUMP Salin dropped a thick packet on Julia's desk. "Just so the administration understands, I included a brief explanation for why each book's problematic themes outweighs its educational value."
Julia smiled. "Thank you Salin. You're just the kind of person this school would like to see succeed and thrive out in the world. I know you're doing this out of the goodness of your heart, but I'm going to put a word in with your English teacher for extra credit. Don't worry, I'll keep it vague and say that you helped out vacuuming the library floors or something like that."
▫ ▪ → ∞
“HEY!”
Karina, steaming with rage from sitting at the front of geometry class for two hours with no book except the same textbook she had already been forced to read last year, stomped towards Salin, who gave her a droll look as she approached.
“What happened to my books?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You’re the only one who knew about my list. Every book on the list is gone from the library."
"And?"
"Put them back."
"Not up to me."
"Apparently it is. Put them back."
"Ugh. You Americans always think you can just... read whatever you want."
"YES!"
“That's not sustainable. Educate yourself.”
“I can’t! I’m busy wasting my time at this stupid school. I don’t want to be here.”
“Everyone has to be here.”
“Literally all I want to do is read stories that don’t even exist in the real world. That’s what you took from me. Why? For what?”
“We live in a society. These are the rules. Get used to it.”
“I trusted you! I thought we were friends.”
“Then you’re dumber than I thought.”
“This wasn’t my plan! Tell the librarian to put my books back.”
“No. Your list was stupid. Just read something else.”
“Tell the librarian to put my stories back, or I will read something else.”
Salin laughed. “You can tell her.”
“No. I’m giving you a chance to fix it. And if every book on my list isn’t back in the library by October 10, I’ll give you a whole new ‘society’ that you don’t want. And it’ll last a lot longer than four years.”
Salin scoffed. “October 10? Really?”
“You're the one that said educate yourself. Remember that. I'll educate myself so hard your head will spin.”
Salin rolled her eyes. “You’re so cringe. I don’t even have your stupid list anymore.”
“Then it’s over. Have fun with high school while it lasts.”
“I will.”
“So will I.”
“Good for you.”
“It is.”