Hallway

Photo Credit: Richard S. Sherman Great Neck North Middle School

By Sadie, Grade 6

The loud drone of words in the hall

Muffled and muddy and never ending

I step out of my social studies classroom

Shuffling shoes, squeaky floor

Clogged hallway

Pushing, shoving, yelling, running

Just let me pass

I've got to get to class

Untied shoelaces, trip and fall

Bang your head against the wall

Laughing, jeering, scoffing

Wheezing, sneezing coughing

The window panes are wet from rain

Dark clouds shade the sunlight

I’m tired, cold, and wet

Just let me pass

I’ve got to get to class

Teachers yelling

Gym clothes smelling

Like moldy cheese

And rotten eggs

Why is my locker so small?

I can’t fit my backpack,

My lunch box,

My books,

I can’t fit my binder,

Computer, or even my hand

Just give me a locker like the other kids have

BO hanging in the air

Lockers banging shut

So loud I can’t hear myself think

Carrying so much stuff my arms have gone numb

Just let me pass

I’ve got to get to class

Pale lights overhead

This is the place I’ll always dread

Paper and pencils covering the ground

Confusion and panic

Seizing me slowly

I’m gonna be late, gonna be late

Hair in my face

Brush it away

Stomach growling

Like an angry bear

Wait, is this the right way?

Where am I again?

Just 8 more months of this

This smelly torture

Just look at the ground

Don’t make eye contact--

Papers flying

Feel like crying

They walk past quickly

As if they didn’t just push you

Quickly, before they start to laugh

Speed walk past

Shoulders brushing

And I’m rushing

Just let me pass

I’ve got to get to class

Moisture in the air

Clammy and cold

Just hold out till lunchtime

One period away

I can’t go on another day

I want to go home

I want some food

I want a shower

I’m in a bad mood

I want good grades

I don’t want to be late

I want more time

I want to go to bed

I want to finish my homework

I want to go outside

I want to try

To escape this place

Just let me pass

I’ve got to get to class

I’m almost there

I see the light

Of the science room

Warm and bright

I’m almost there

Just one more step...

“Sadie, how hard is it to walk across the hall?”

The science teacher says.

I look behind me and see my social studies classroom about six feet away.

“Hard.” I say.