The Red Oak Tree
There I was, sitting in the most boring class of the semester: Science. I didn’t understand anything the teacher taught me, and I had some pretty low moments in that class. The thing that kept me strong was the red oak tree that I could clearly see from the big, clean, glass window behind my seat. Its leaves we’re perfectly lighted by the sun’s rays and made them look like jewels on a strong, sturdy stand. The tree was surrounded by many green trees, but the red tree was right in the middle; it stood out from the other trees.
I sat by myself in all my classes and at lunch. This tree was my symbol for hope, change; it gave me purpose. I would think, “Wow, this tree is just like me. It stands out from the other trees, even though the other trees are surrounding it.” It made me feel good about myself, and I felt more confident in class and talked a little bit more.
Ringggg! The bell rang as usual, meaning that class was starting.
“Ok class,” said the teacher. The teacher had frail, gray hair and wide glasses. “It’s the start of the third semester, so you know what that means...”
Oh no. Please no.
“I’m changing the seating chart. Everyone pack everything up and stand by the SmartBoard until I call your name.”
I looked back at the tree before I obeyed my teacher’s command.
“Abby...Bryan...William...Jake!”
I sat away from the big window. I tried looking through it. I tried looking back at the tree. However, when I did, a big, green tree blocked most of the tree. Then I began to think...and think...and think. The teacher kept calling kids one-by-one, but I was stuck in a personal limbo. “That tree is just like me” I thought. “Nobody notices it because the green trees prevent people from seeing the red tree. The ONLY red tree.”
I cried in my seat. Behind me, a girl named Leia walked up to me and said, “Jake? Are you alright?”
“No...” I said quietly.
“What’s wrong?”
“...I can’t see it.”
“Can’t see what?”
“...I can’t see the red tree.”
She looked at me like I was crazy. It was enough to make me cry harder. I couldn’t stop; it felt like an Alice in Wonderland scene. However, nobody really cared.
Nobody cares about me.