Chương 9: Book 1 - Chapter 8

After lunch, I found the Woodshop classroom. It was in a separate building just outside the hallway exit next to Home Ec. I arrived early, but found the building locked. I stood and waited, knowing what came next. When the bell rang, the door opened, and a gruff older man stood there.

"Well come in. Normally I'd be over in the equipment shed working, but for the rest of the year they have me here babysitting you. I'm Coach," he said, not sounding very happy.

"I'm John Cook, sir. Very nice to meet you."

"Not sure why you're even here," he said as he moved his large bulk out of the doorway so I could enter.

"It's my mother's doing, sir. My grandfather was a woodworker and farmer his entire life, but my Dad took up metalworking instead, welding and such. She was hoping I'd learn the skills my grandfather would have passed on if he were still alive."

"Do you know anything about woodworking?" he asked, taken a bit aback by my story.

"I'm an avid fan of 'The Woodwright's Shop' on PBS, sir, I've seen every episode."

"Well that's something at least, and just call me Coach, not Sir. Everybody calls me Coach. Now we've all been told that you're very good at tests, but safety is the most important thing, so you have to read the safety manual and take a test before I can let you loose on the equipment. The safety book is on the workbench. Let me know when you're ready for the test."

"Yes Coach!" I said smiling. I opened the safety manual to find some pretty gruesome pictures.

"These pictures get the boys attention don't they coach."

"They do, but they aren't fake, so pay attention," he said as he moved towards the big desk that sat in the corner of the building. I finished reading, and announced: "Ready for the test, Coach."

"Here it is," he said, putting the single sheet test on the table.

"Ten minutes to read the manual. They weren't kidding me when they said you have a photographic memory, were they, son?"

"No, Coach, I don't forget what I read."

"You have until the end of the period to finish the test." I went through the test in blinding speed. Five minutes later, I was done.

"Done, Coach!"

"They told me you were quick, but I didn't believe that either. I'll grade the test later, for now, name off all the equipment on the walls. You can't pass this class without knowing all of them. Anything you don't know, ask, and I'll tell you. Will you need to be told what something is more than once?"

"No, Coach. Once is enough." He gave a grunt of acknowledgment as he settled behind his desk. The items were displayed on a pegboard where each tool had a painted outline around it to show where that tool belonged. It was very well organized. My ability gave me lifetimes of woodworking knowledge. Mad skills Coach wouldn't believe. But I was supposed to be new at this. I started at the top, naming off items. He gave me the name of the few I chose to not know.

"Well, you certainly know the names and locations. Where did you pick up 80% of the equipment names? Most new kids can barely name the handsaw," he said when we finished the wall.

"I haven't done this before, Coach, but I have watched a lot of PBS shows like 'This Old House.' It seems they have used most of what's in here."

"Hmph. Just because you know the name doesn't mean you know how to use it. Let's go over the other class requirements.

"Other than the two knowledge tests, passing this class requires three projects: a sign, a box, and a project of your own choosing. Once you have the first two, we will discuss what the third will be. That's Woodworking 1.

"Woodworking 2 also has three projects: a birdhouse, a stool, and a project of your choosing. There are a dozen different project books, but the required projects are on the posters on that wall," he said pointing.

"You may modify the project as you choose, but I have to pass each project as complete before you go onto the next, so check with me on modifications first. Are there any questions?"

"Any tests on types of wood, or identifying materials?"

"No, we only have pine boards in use here. If you want something extra, you have to bring it yourself." I glanced at the clock. The period was just barely half over.

"Can I get started?"

"Go to it. If you have a problem holler, I'll go ahead and grade your test," he said.

"Yes Coach!" I acknowledged. As he settled back down behind his desk I could hear him mutter to himself, "Lot more extra time today than I expected." He sounded pleased. It took a few moments to decide what to do after looking at the posters.

"Coach? Do you need a written plan or can I just tell what I'm going to do for my sign?"

"Just tell me," he said from his corner desk overlooking the room.

"I'm going to make a name plate sign for a desk. I'll do my name. I'm going to cut out letters, and create a holder with a slot for the letters to sit in, so they stand vertical."

"Interesting. What tools are you going to use?"

"Band saw to cut out the letters, but with the drill press to start holes on the interiors of letters like O. Then the Dremel tool to complete the interior cuts." Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!

"Sounds good. Don't lose a finger on your first day with the band saw," he replied. I got to work. Some time later his voice caught my attention from right behind me, where he had been watching.

"Five minutes till the bell, time to clean up. I don't know if I've ever seen anyone work as quickly and methodically as you have. If you finish Woodworking 1 and 2 early, I'll let you either do your own projects or use this time as study hall."

"Thanks, Coach. I should have project number one done tomorrow. Will I need to stain it?"

"If you want to stain or varnish the projects you'll have to do it at home. I like your sign letters so far, what's next?"

"The base will need to have a slot for the letters to sit into, to hold them upright."

"That will be a nice sign and meet the requirements. What stencils did you use on the letters?"

"I drew them freehand. I didn't like any of the available stencils."

"If you can do that freehand then Archer's going to love having you in his class. You're going there next right?"

"Yes, he's 5th period."

"His classroom is exactly opposite the Home Ec room, on the other side of the building. Don't try to go down the hallway, you'll never make it on time, just walk outside and around the building. There are doors on the other end of the hallway you can use to come back in."

"Thanks, Coach!"

"You're welcome. You got a perfect score on my safety test too. I have a feeling that watching you work will be a bit more fun than I expected. I'm looking forward to it." The bell rang, so I offered a goodbye.

"See you tomorrow, Coach." I got a grunt and a wave in return. There were several guys outside, headed in the opposite direction I was going. They were headed either to Woodworking or to the Gym building next to it.

"Hey kid, what are you doing out here?" one of them called out, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

"Coach said to go this way to get to Mr Archer's class." They nodded and kept going. Mr Archer looked at me with a genuinely cheerful expression as I stepped into the classroom. He was a short, round, happy man.

"Welcome to Art Appreciation!" he chirped, gesturing enthusiastically around the classroom.

"We don't have tests in here, John, just a deep exploration of art itself! Each day, we'll go over a specific art style—we'll discuss it, and then you'll take out your pencil and paper and make an outline copy of a piece in that style." I picked up my pencil, feeling slightly confused.

"An outline copy? Sir, we discuss the art, and then I just copy the lines?"

"Precisely!" he said. I objected to this waste of time.

"Mr Archer, if the whole class is just discussion and outline copying, I should be able to do it through self study, just like English or Geometry."

"That is because this is not the class," he replied, his tone sharpening just a little.

"This is the beginning of the class. I'm watching you copy, seeing what lines in the painting you choose to draw as you outline your copy.

"I'm learning your style, where your eye goes. Next, we use color to fill in these outlines, and I see what your eye sees. I understand you have a photographic memory, but art is not photographs made by painting.

"Shall we continue?"

"Yes, sir," I conceded, realizing I would have to really work at making this class enjoyable. The class seemed to drag on, and I saw little point to the assignment. The period felt like it would go on forever. The happy, giggly Mr Archer just made it worse. Next door at 6th period I met Mr Hanson. After introductions, he began: "Normally this is a Sophomore or Junior class.

After reviewing your test scores from 7th and 8th grade science, I'm comfortable jumping you past a Freshman Physical Science class directly into Biology. You will still need Physical Science, but as long as you finish it via self study before we begin Chemistry, you will be fine.

"For this class, it will be important that you complete 25 percent of the book work prior to Monday. I have prepared for a full week of class work starting on Monday. By the end of next week you will need to be finished with all the book work for this class, and ready for the final. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir. I'm self guided on my book work, so I can put this class before the others. I'll have the work done on time."

"Very good. Let's look at the big picture now," Mr Hanson said, turning to the whiteboard and drawing a vertical progression.

"Your track is aggressive. After this, you need Chemistry, then Physics, and then we might consider Organic Chemistry—a Senior AP class and definitely not for the faint of heart. That means you'll be doing AP level work for college credit the whole time."

"Understood, sir."

"Now, two prerequisites are critical. First: Math. You will need to have completed Algebra 2 before we begin Physics. You're taking Geometry now?"

"Yes, sir. I haven't actually started any of them yet."

"No one expected you to do so today. Tomorrow will be soon enough. Your Math teacher is also your first period study hall monitor, so you will have him there to answer questions. I've seen your math scores. I have no worries." He tapped the whiteboard again.

"Second: This course load will be difficult. English and Social Studies will feel less important by comparison, but they are absolutely critical graduation courses. Without the equivalent of four years of both, you don't get a diploma. The science requirement is only two years, for some, that's just two years of Physical Science. But, enough about the football team," he joked.

"It's amazing enough that the PE requirement was waived for you." I waved at my small body.

"A judicious use of the disability clause, I believe. I am sufficiently differently abled that it is credible," I said, smiling. He laughed.

"You do have an exercise program?"

"Yes, sir. I do a bike ride every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It's two hours of exercise before dinner."

"That will be fine. Now, get started on that Biology book work, I've included all five tests that accompany each of the first five chapters."

"Yes, sir. Um, I don't have my biology book."

"Well, go get it. There's time today to get started." When the final bell rang, I went back to my locker for the second time since that morning. I collected my backpack, and added my Geometry textbook, and my Physical Sciences textbook to my Biology textbook. Then it was a press into the much larger bodies also heading out to the school buses. I sat up front in the kid's section so Mattie could see me. The bus driver looked at me at my assigned spot, an nodded.

When we got to the Grade School Mattie excitedly sat next to me.

"John, tell me, tell me! What is high school like? Is it super interesting?" Mattie asked, her eyes wide.

"It is interesting, Mattie, but it's a lot of school work," I told her.

"You get a new teacher for almost every subject, and the school is enormous. We have to move between the classrooms all day long."

"All day? Wow!" Mattie breathed.

"Do you have to run fast like in races? Do you get lost? Is it like a maze with big lockers? And do you have a backpack that's super heavy from all the homework they give you?"

"My backpack is pretty heavy," I conceded with a smile.

"But no running, and so far, no getting lost."

"Guess what happened in my class today?" Mattie leaned in, her voice dropping conspiratorially.

"My teacher said we had to learn about sharing for the whole morning. And then, Danny took my pink crayon! My favorite pink crayon! I told Mrs Davis, and she made him give it back, but then we had to hold hands for five minutes so we could learn to be friends again."

"Holding hands for five minutes, huh?" I chuckled.

"That sounds like a very important lesson."

"It was so long," Mattie sighed dramatically.

"But then Mrs Davis let us all have extra cookies at snack time, and Danny let me use his blue marker! So that was the best part of the day. Did your teachers give you cookies for being good?"

"No, Mattie," I said, shaking my head.

"No cookies for us."