Saturday, March 12, 2011

Flying under the Radar


Another day of good, old-fashioned fun with Jenny Matlock's Saturday Centus! As is the custom, I have added my hundred words to a prompt that is highlighted in a lovely shade of red, below. The result? Sure 'n 'tis nothin' but a wee little story for ye. (Yep, I'm warming up for St. Patrick's Day.)

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Flying Under the Radar
©2011 Susan Noyes Anderson

His eyes were drawn past the wide, empty window by circumstances beyond his control. It began with the seductive angle of sky meeting hardtop, the waves of heat coming off the blackened surface against the cloudless blue. Questions filled his mind, and not the ones the teacher was asking. His pencil moved as if to answer, tapping out a rhythm against the well-used desk, an unconscious protest against the boredom that consumed him.

“Braden,” the voice spoke sharply. “Braden, are you with us?”

His head dipped slightly, a grudging acknowledgment.

He had never been accused of being intelligent. Too bad, because the evidence was written all over him.

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{I am grateful for teachers who recognize a gifted child,
even when he isn't performing well.}

32 comments:

Judie said...

He was probably just daydreaming about the approach of summer--I know I am! Good take on the prompt, Sue!

noexcuses said...

Nicely written! As a school employee, I am seeing more and more of this behavior!

Deborah said...

Very good ... and wonderfully written!

Nonna said...

Great job Sue ! I love the way you set up the scene with such vivid imagery and the daydreaming student...I was dreaming with him very often too !

yaya said...

Ahhh...to capture daydreams..to be outside with the blue sky..I feel his pain because many times that's me...now! Good story Sue!

Bookie said...

Aren't we all peering out windows right now, longing for the great outdoors? We all are this student in March!

Brian Miller said...

smiles. i often went somewhere else in class...i dont know...i feel kinda sorry for him as the teacher is probably just lecturing which not all kids will get...

Ames said...

Loved this Sue! My grandson is a handful but a straight A student. I can appreciate your views on this matter. Great use of the prompt!~Ames

karen said...

I could relate to this one. Great job!

Jess said...

I love how you put real pictures in my little head with your stories, this one's a good one.
And for the record- that was me every day of school in May and June every single school year- I just couldn't help myself.

Dazee Dreamer said...

Beautiful. I was seeing the picture of everything I was reading.

Darlene said...

That was so good, Sue. I could totally relate. Also, I really do appreciate good teachers. We need more of them. Really intelligent kids often get bored.

I also liked the way you set it up, very descriptive.

Kat said...

This was beautifully descriptive Sue. I can see the classroom, hear the rat a tat tat of the pencil. I can even smell the chalk dust (do they still use chalkboards?) Love your use of the prompt, and especially love your shout out to teachers! Thanks for your sweet comments. Just got back and am pooped! But it was well worth it. Kat

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

I love how you bring us into his mind. I think we can all relate. Beautifully worded, as always, Sue.
xoRobyn

Unknown said...

Hey, I resemble this young man! I was the biggest daydreamer of all. I have gaps several years long of school because I was somewhere else in my mind.
I don't think I ever was thought of as intelligent though. A therapist once told me that I was remarkable because I had spent so many years "thinking" things through pondering on my circumstances. So, it paid off in that it helped me through my reality...which wasn't so good. But my grades suffered.

Kim Lehnhoff said...

I wanted to be outside with his dream...who wants to sit in a boring classroom when the world is waiting to be explored?

Great job!

Donna said...

Reminds me of a srtory my husband like to tell baout his childhood days. he was in the 6th grade and the art class was asked to draw a spring picture. He drew water and a blue sky...then he was done ahead of the class. He looked out the window and daydreamed so added a plane...then he added a boat to the water. He looked out the window again and added guns to theplane...shooting at the boat. Then he added bloody men to the boat. By now the teacher walked around the class to see the drawings...saw his and kicked him out of the class for not doing the assignment! He was NOT accused of being intelligent and the guilt was written all over him!!

Jo said...

wonderful take and wonderfully written ...

cj Schlottman said...

Sue, As usual, you have painted a beautiful word picture. This is so concrete and real, I felt as though I were in the picture!
Thanks for another great centus.

Namaste..........cj

Amy said...

I felt lilke I was back in school. Lovely!

jeff campbell said...

This is soooo good...so much felt and said in so few words...Peace and blessings

Grandma Honey said...

I was the biggest day dreamer ever in school. Especially if we were talking about math or geography.

That was really good Sue!

Tonya said...

No one better accuse me of being intelligent either! I just realized I wasn't even following your blog yet! I kept having to click on your comments to find you. Yep, I think I need to go back to school with Braden!
Good teachers are the most amazing people though, aren't they!!?

e said...

Great imagery and well written. I spend a lot of time daydreaming so I could relate to this one too!

Maria said...

Some kids are just too intelligent.

Karen Sue said...

My very smart boy is quick to tell me that homework is a waste of his time and he'd much rather was the History channel and he remembers all that stuff....

Tracy said...

wonderful I loved it

Tgoette said...

Really awesome job, Sue! Loved your imagery and clever use of the prompt!

gautami tripathy said...

Good one...I liked it!

coloured perspective

jabblog said...

A gifted teacher is a rare blessing so most children know the allure of daydreaming, I think:-)

Rek Sesh said...

Gifted or not...day dreaming was something resorted to at school hell even college.....very visual and beautifully worded tale.

Jenny said...

This sounds exactly like my daughter in school. Although when she would get bored she would 'encourage' the other kids to color their hair in rainbows with magic markers and stuff like that.

I had more than a few calls from the school on that girl!

Sue, this was so well written. Someday I'm gonna have to challenge you to write something using your worst grammar and writing skills.

Now THAT would be an interesting Centus.