TEST DRIVE MEME

[bibliofilo]

TEST DRIVE MEME

> The Park. Man, what a nice day out. Why not enjoy it? I'm sure -- shit, yep, there's some echo monsters.
> The Mall. Exactly what it says on the tin! Dodge the hordes of teenage mallrats or take part, whichever suits your tastes.
> Rainy Day. Agh, it's fucking awful out. And is it raining those vermilion things?? Now you've got an Echo to contend with on top of everything else. Find some shelter, quick!
> PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, HOW FUN
> The most horribly kitschy Arts and Crafts Fair you can imagine.
> NEW YEARS. What better way to start out the new year than to learn that everything you know is a lie? Or if you are already acquainted with the network pass out some resolutions.
> A food fight has just broken out in the cafeteria. Join? Flee? The choice is yours alone.
> Wild Card! Make up your own.

Comments

A; arrives 15 minutes late with starbucks

[escarabajo]

[Like Jaime's really gonna let his cousin sit around and mope if he can help it. He and his lunch tray slide neatly into the seat across from Chuck with a sympathetic smile.]

You okay, Chucho? The cafeteria food's kinda gross, but you should still probably eat something.

A; it's never too late as long as you've got starbucks

[third_alternative]

[Hearing his cousin's voice shakes him out of his funk momentarily as he looks up to see Jaime sit down across from him. He sighs, sets down the papers, and picks up his fork to shovel a few bites of whatever lunch today is into his mouth.]

It's not the food, it's my grades. Just got my test back--didn't do too hot.

[escarabajo]

That bad, huh.

[A thoughtful nibble at the straw poking out of his juice carton.]

It's not the new history teacher, is it? Everybody says he's a really tough grader, so it's not just you.

[third_alternative]

Not even. I can handle history--it's German that's screwing me up.

[He flips the paper upside down and slides it over to Jaime.]

They offer two foreign languages in this school, and my parents just had to make me take the one I don't already know.

[escarabajo]

What the-- [Jaime takes the test, takes a couple stabs at quietly mouthing some of the words to himself, and ultimately gives up completely with a look of distaste.]

Well, we both know your folks weren't ever gonna let you have it easy. [A huff. He hands the paper back.] At least your grades are justified: I don't even know how Paco still managed to flunk Spanish.

[third_alternative]

[Chuck raises an eyebrow.]

Are we talkin' like, AP Spanish, or remedial Spanish?

[escarabajo]

[snrk.]

Do you really think Paco would take AP Spanish, dude?

[third_alternative]

...okay, good point.

So wait--you're telling me Paco flunked out of remedial Spanish?

[escarabajo]

He will if he doesn't get his act together. He's flunking, present tense-- so there's still a glimmer of hope.

I think. [oh does he hope.]

What're you gonna do about your German, though?

[third_alternative]

What do you even do once you flunk remedial Spanish?

[He looks back at his paper and sighs.] Dunno. Guess I'll have to beef up on the studying even more. Did you know German has a neutral gender? Because I didn't!

[escarabajo]

Dunno. But it's gotta take some skill. [And excessive Spanglish, apparently.]

Man, don't talk to me about grammar. I'm having enough trouble in English class as is.

[third_alternative]

English, I can deal with. At least I've got experience with that. But German? I've never even been to Germany!

Your parents are letting you take Spanish for your foreign language, right?

[escarabajo]

Wait. You haven't? I would've expected you to have...

Yeah. [poking at the mashed potato monstrosity on his plate.] There's a separate class for native speakers, because they totally expected people like Paco trying to take the easy way out.

[third_alternative]

Nope. Been to practically every country in Europe but Germany, actually. We just never found a really good time to go.

[Chuck tosses down his fork at the mention of the native speakers' class.] Augh, seriously?! Man, I should be taking that one! It's probably not that easy anyway, but at least I know the playing field when it comes to Spanish.

...Is that the one that Paco's failing?

[escarabajo]

Guess that means I have to beat you to it. Uh, if I can figure out how to get to Germany.

[PFFF.] Sorry, Chuck, that one's on you.

Thank God, yeah. I don't know what I'd do if that wasn't the case.

[third_alternative]

Well it's like a 9 or 10 hour flight to France, so it's probably like 11 hours to Germany. Plus some major jet lag.

I wonder if I can try and convince my parents to switch me out. They'll probably say something about how I need to be "well-learned in as many languages as possible," but it's worth a try anyway, right?

Pffft--they'll probably bump him down to the usual level Spanish class. He can learn to ask puedo ir al baño with everyone else.