BOOK TO CLASS PART TWO (The End)

“THIRTY SECONDS!”

At the front of the single roomed Duck County Community College, a tobacco-ravaged voice continued, her wrinkled face glancing up from the latest local Racing Form. “In this class, we write quick...and good!”

Jimmy Sweeny, wiped sweat from his acne scarred forehead, sloppily arranged the cramped handwritten manuscript before him and wrote frantically.

“That evening, giant ants attacked New York City. Millions of lives were lost, including those of Jimmy, Wendy, Hermey, Miss Rivas and Golda Goldwyn, er Fish. The next morning, at the University of Bermuda Bookstore, Irene, the manager, pulled thumbtacks from the globe on her desk, and cackled “No one would ever question the Bermuda Curse...again!”

“TIME!”

Edna Mueller, newspaper publisher and teacher of creative writing at Duck Counties only community college, stubbed out her ever present Pall Mall butt. “Pencils down!”

A moment later, Edna shuffled through the classroom, collecting tests. In front of Jimmy, Mollie Curran from Piney Fork handed in one sheet of paper, filled with neatly written O's,

“Nice O's” Edna weakly complimented, resetting her dentures with her tongue. “You may want to look into the calligraphy class next semester.” She then moved to the desk of Donna Glotz, her recently rehired society columnist for the local Town Tooter. “Donna! This had better be good! I’m paying for you to be here!” Donna nodded lifelessly, ink staining her left hand.

Edna strolled to Jimmy’s desk and took his sheaf of papers. ”Jimmy Sweeney, please tell me you didn't write another play about Customer Service in New York...the last one, It made me fall asleep during Barnaby Jones!”

Jimmy sighed heavily and bit on his already chewed pencil “Miss Mueller, will I ever become a famous writer? On the front page of a newspaper?” In front of him, Donna snapped her head back, and burped. Edna covered her nose. “Donna? I told you no more cat food for lunch!”

And Jimmy wondered if he would ever get out of Duck County, Ohio.

The End