Leigh's Final Fan Fiction

“…And these children

that you spit on

as they try to change their worlds

are immune to your consultations.

They’re quite aware

of what they’re going through."

                       

                                DAVID BOWIE

KNOW ME OR JUDGE ME?

Saturday, March 24th, 2012. Howick High School. Howick, Auckland, 2016

3.00pm

"Dear Mrs Adams

We accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was that we did wrong. What we did was wrong. But we think you're crazy to make us write an entire essay telling you who we think we are. What do you care? You see us as you want to see us...in the simplest of terms and the most convenient definitions. You see us as the Asian, the Skux, the Emo, the Slut and the Gangster. Correct? That's the way we saw each other at seven o'clock this morning. We judged."

7.00am

A plump middle aged lady stands in front of the classroom with her hands on her hips, glaring at each student as they walk to their seats and sit down.

“Georgia Mayor?” she calls out, voluptuous, blonde headed girl looks at her and smiles half-heartedly and then continues texting.

“Sang Yung?” A lanky Asian boy with glasses looks up from the front row, raises his hand and quickly pulls it down.

“Samuel Miako?” A tall muscular boy raises his hand. “Yo”, he replies.

“Amber Rutherford?”  A pale girl with long dark hair timidly raises her hand from the back corner of the classroom, not looking up at all.

“And why am I not surprised…Roland Wright”, the teacher says, smirking.

Roland stands up and bows, yelling “the name’s Rock”.

He sits down laughing.

Ignoring him she exclaims “It is 7.06am you have eight hours to write me an essay telling me who you punks think you are.”

Sang looks up listening intently, the rest of them doing their own thing.

“There’s no talking allowed and no moving. In fact, don't even think about leaving this classroom.” And she walks out, slamming the door behind her.

8.30am

Everyone starts to get comfortable.

Samuel bounces his ball against the table, leaning back on his chair.

Georgia texts intensively, seeming utterly grossed at the fact that she’s stuck in a room with these people.

Sang lies quietly with his head on the desk, beginning to doze off.

Amber sits with her legs folded on her chair drawing an extraordinarily detailed picture of a dying rose.

Rock pulls out a box of cigarettes and a lighter and starts smoking, while listening to loud Rap music through his big red headphones. 

10.53am

Mrs Adams walks back into the classroom to find them all fast asleep. “GET UP if you want to go to the toilet” she yells.

They all jump up quickly rushing out the door, jolting past each other.

Georgia and Amber walk into the toilet together. Georgia answers her ringing phone.

“Hey Ash, you will never believe who's in detention.”

Amber stands in the cubical listening quietly.

“Emo Amber” she says laughing. "She's probably in here for cutting other peoples wrists."

Amber storms out the toilet. “YOU SKANKY, HOEBAG! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE GOSSIPING ABOUT PEOPLE, WHEN YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW THEM."  

Shocked at Amber’s reaction, Georgia roars “YOU WALK AROUND LIKE YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE IN THE WORLD WITH PROBLEMS.”

 “WELL AT LEAST I'M NOT A BITCH WHO PUTS OTHERS DOWN BECAUSE SHE HAS LOW SELF-ESTEEM," Amber responds.

Outraged, Georgia pushes Amber, “WELL AT LEAST I DON'T TRY AND KILL MYSELF BECAUSE OF IT”

They stare at one another in dead silence. Tears start dripping down Amber’s face.

“YOU SELF CENTERED WHORE” she yells. “WELL IF YOU WERE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY YOUR OWN FATHER, YOU WOULD WANT TO BE DEAD TOO!”

Horrified, Georgia shuts her phone. “SHIT, I never knew. My boyfriend and his uncle do the same to me, and my parents are never around to even care, they just buy me things to make it look like they do.”

Amber looks startlingly at Georgia, whose cheeks also had black streams running down. Soundlessly they walk out the bathroom amazed at how alike their situations are.

Rock pushes past Sang.

“Faggot”, he exclaims laughing loudly.

Samuel strolling behind them chuckles and walks past Sang saying “don’t listen to that douche bag”.

Sang ignores him, mumbling under his breath. 

Rock pulls out a joint in the bathroom and starts so smoke. Sang stares at him.

"Oi want a joint",

"errr no thanks" Sang replies.

"I said try one faggot, don't be a pussy"

"Leave him alone stoner" Samuel intrudes.

"You try one then tough guy"

"No thanks" Samuel says cautiously

"Bet you've never tried weed before"

"Nah, I have!" Samuel declares.

12pm

The boys wander into the room looking completely dazed, Sang almost falling over. They all sit back in their seats trying to look as normal as possible.

“You have 30 minutes for Lunch” Mrs Adams exclaims walking past the classroom pompously.

Each one pulls out a lunchbox except for Rock and Sang.

“Where’s your lunch turd” Rock says scornfully.

Sang looks down at the table, “I don’t have any” he replies."

“Why not?” Rock smirks, “Dad's sushi shop close down?”

The others giggle.

“No” Sang answers, “His company did.”

"F this" Rock says and walks out the classroom.

Samuel follows him, wobbling out the door.

"Have my lunch bro" Samuel offers, "I had the meanest breakfast before I came."

Rock ignores him, holding onto his pride and continues shooting hoops. Samuel puts the lunch on the ground and walks back to the classroom.

Rock picks up the lunch and eats the bread. He walks back to classroom.

Walking past Sang, Rock puts the rest of the lunch on his table and walks back to his seat.


2.55pm
In silence they get ready to go home, stunned at how similar they're lifestyles are. 

"Will it change their attitudes towards each other? time can only tell, but it has definitely changed their view of each other."


3pm

"Dear Mrs Adams

We accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was that we did wrong. What we did was wrong. But we think you're crazy to make us write an entire essay telling you who we think we are. What do you care? You see us as you want to see us. But what we found out is that we judged each other on what we thought we knew when really we knew nothing at all. We thought we were different, but we are exactly the same. So my question to you is… do you want to know who you've judged or do you want to know us?

Sincerely

the Asian, the Skux, the Emo, the Slut and the Gangster"