The views of JoJo McDodd on...

EDUCATION


(headesk)

I wouldn't really mind dropping out of school right about now. Cause we had this exam, right? Just HAPPENED to be one I didn't study for. And it was the only thing I didn't study but it wasn't like anyone believed me about THAT. So after that there was this lecture and I was still sulking over getting a D on the exam and wondering how I'd explain THAT, when the lecture guy (some Who-U grad who was wondering if he liked teaching or something) asked a question, and when nobody answered he asked me in specific and I had no idea and I ccan't believe this, but that's what I said aloud "I have no idea" and he laughed so everbody laughed and it was just a little... I mean, it's not fair, I never laugh at other kids when they get embarrassed but everybody still laughs at me... then after that on the way home I saw that guy Jesse again. Well, I couldv'e been brave and left my sisters and seen what he wanted, but I was a coward and kept going, trying to convince myself I was keeping Hallie and Hester safe. It didn't really work. And I also found out that typing JOJQ looks cool. Sorry yeah I sometimes just type around until I remember what I wanted to say and even now after typing that I can't remember... oh yeah... great now I wish I HADN'T remembered. Class omething or other is coming up and guess who's hosting it. Zattics. Blah blah blah. I do NOT want to go and I told Mom that the moment after I came in the door. And guess what she said? "you need to get out more and get to know people" and I was thinking "No I'm fine alone" but I decided not to argue the point... with Mom. But when Dad gets home... I don't think he'll care whether or not I go. he doesn't do stuff like that most of the time.

You know, they didn't want me today, said they need me tomorrow night and not today, well it might be a good thing because Hallie was folowing me around and she might have followed me THERE... and that would have been BAD, very bad. There was just a note on my locker and it said "Tomorrow night, Pup" I hoped nobody had seen it, but one of the older guys did and said "Who you going out with, McDodd? How sweet, shorty's got himself a puppy crush." "I do NOT..." "Where'd the girl come from, Tinyville?" THAT made me mad and I lost it and jumped on the offender and we got into a pretty good fight even though I do weigh only about 30 pounds and he must've been about 150 but somebody picked me off of him and I turned on them but they cought both of my arms and I saw who it was... Destin. I let my hands fall and he said "Okay who started it?" "He did!" The other guy said and I said "No HE did he said..." "Who REALLY started it?" He looked really mad... I wondered why he was here for a second, but then he IS a high-schooler, but I never saw him around... but the other guy was still blaming me, and I thought it would be bad for me but all the other guys were saying it was his fault... why were they so scared of Destin? Well he grabbed the other guy by the fur on his chest and said "Next time pick on somebody your own size." And dropped him. And left. Whoa that was weird. And my nose was bleeding. I went to wash the blood off and Jonas Zattic came up to me and said "If you so much as tough my sister, runt, you will be dead meat." WHAT IS IT WITH PEOPLE THINKING I LIKE MAYZIE??? And then on the way home from school Hallie was walking really close to me and I kept backing away and she'd just get closer like I wouldn't NOTICE... then I saw Destin standing over by a building, I waved to him a little, he signed "Go away" I kept walking, Hallie asked "Who's that?" Whoa I wasn't expecting her to care. I shrugged "JoJo, we both know you are just not that friendly." "Well maybe I'm working on my social skills." And she kept talking at me but I didn't answer her.
Oh yeah, Mom and Dad are leaving for the weekend in the morning and they decided NOT to hire a babysitter... which left me. So I will not be able to get on the computer for a while probably... if I was them I wouldn't leave me in charge but they did. So I will be at home and if Dr LaRue is reading this maybe she could come and help? I know you don't know anything about kids but I don't understand about girls and YOU do... just a thought.

Well, I had no other person to go to, and it actually went well... at least better than I expected it to. I walked down our street after scool and passed our house where some of the girls were playing outside. "JoJo, where ya goin'?" "This way." I said bluntly. "I bet you're going to Mayzie's house! Aren't you!" Well, yeah, I was. I knew she knows everything about everyone at school and she'd know if Jane was friends with Ket. But I wasn't about to tell the girls that. "None of your business." and they didn't say anything else but I think if girls had brains they would be thinking up some mischief. (Hehe... sorry.)
Anyway, when I got there I was really wanting to turn away, but somebody saw me out the window and opened it up- a little sister of her's. "You here to see Mayzie?" "Uhhh, yeah, kind of..." And she went away from the window yelling. Now it was kinda too late to turn back. Mayzie opened the door while brushing her hair frantically. "Hi! Come in?" I went inside and the door shut to the world outside sealing me in to my fate. "I look a mess." She said. And the quazi-polite response came out but it was all wrong for this moment "No you don't." "Really? Thanks. Come on and sit down, Mom's baking cookies." Not that I wanted any, but I followed her into the kitchen. "Oh, hello Mr. McDodd, Mayzie has talked..." Mayzie hushed her mother frantically. Now looking back it was funny, but then I didn't feel like laughing exactly. Mrs. Zattic nodded understandingly, then said "How's your mother?" Now why is it that every time I talk to an older lady the first thing they ask is how Mom's doing? I will NEVER understand that. "She's good." "And your father?" "He's... okay." "And you?" "Good..." So far this was getting nowhere except I kept lying to her. "Have a cookie. Or three, you could use them." Mayzie buried her face in her hands, I was just glad Mrs. Zattic was in there so I didn't have to be alone with Mayzie, even if she did keep saying weird stuff. "Uhhhh... no thanks." "We're good Mom." Mayzie looked at her mom like "Get out of here" and I looked at her mom like "No please stay!" But she saw Mayzie and not me and she went out.
"Well then. So what's going on?" I was about to say something like "I have a question" or "Can I ask you something" but that would give her the wrong idea. "Ummmm... I was just wondering if you knew Jane- the dean at the U's daughter." And her face kind of fell and I realized I STILL managed to give her the wrong idea. "Just because... well it's not like I care or anything, but does she like somebody or something?" AND I was STILL giving her the wrong idea, she said gloomily "I don't know." "You don't?" "No..." and she lit up "YES! Well, maybe, I don't know, but she keeps meeting this guy outside of school and he walks her home or something. She said his name before when somebody asked who it was... his name was... oh I can't rememeber right now, started with a c or a k. She also said he was..." "Was it Ket?" I interrupted. "Yeah I think it was now that you say it!" I still couldn't see Ket with a girlfriend, so I asked "Is he kinda big?" "Yeah. Bigger than... why do you want to know?" and now she was looking at my eyes and now I felt like I couldn't make something up so I looked down... kind of embarrassedly, and said "Just wondering." And I think it gave her some sort of wrong idea because after that she started going on about Jane's weaknesses and failures and junk like that and I tried to listen but I really couldn't pay attention to it. So after about 10 minutes I said "Well I have homework." "Oh, I know, we could work on it together! I'm good at science and stuff!" Science? Well it wouldn't hurt to ask her a question or two that I missed on the test (That I got an F on) so I did real quick and she kept going on about them and how it's her favorite subject and blah blah blah... so after about 5 more minutes I said "I really do have to go now." "Oh, okay. Well I'll see you tomorrow then!" And I went outside where I could breathe again. And then I had all the sisters to deal with and I let it slip where I'd been and then I had to deal with "JoJo and Mayzie sitting in a tree..." and stuff like that and no amount of protesting on my part could get their minds off that subject line. So I locked myself in my room where I am now. And I think Dad is home and I will go give him the note the nurse gave me now.

NO COMPUTER????

I read Riverdance's entire "The Wizard of Who!" and it was kinda funny... I'd be hearing a lot more than "Shut up JoJo" if I really did make those remarks.
Anyway, everything's... good. I heard in school that there was gonna be a "postponement of the opening of the new branch of Who-Foods" because "The mayor seems to have misplaced the only copy of the budget he had" he spilled coffee on the others accidentally and they were unintelligible. I feel really bad about it, but he just took and and said "Good work, Pup. Now we need something more... important? Like what the counsel is planning to do for the gymnasium. I know they didn't fix it yet. Foolishly enough, they think they're gonna get evidence- Stem is usually too careful for that." And he shook his head as if thinking. There were now about 10 guys there, it was still too dark for anybody to see who each other were. I said "Why is it so dark in here?" there were a few laughs. "You don't know anything, do you?" I was offended. "Neither do you." I said. "Turn it off, kid." He snapped. "You don't really want trouble with these guys, do you?" No, I didn't, but I didn't want him to think he was scaring me... even if he was. "Think I'm scared?" "You should be." He waved it off. You get those plans, hear? I'll give you... five days. You got it by then and..." He trailed off. "Go on now. I'm gonna try to... never mind get home and... just scram. Tomorrow, Pup." I went back and I WAS mad. He just brushed me off like he'd use me and drop me. Oh, no, I'm not gonna let them do that.
And I'm infamous, especially since Mrs. Whoovier is going around with a bandaged arm and is busy telling everyone about how I viciously attacked and bit her. In fact I heard somebody saying "Did you hear? JoJo McDodd got bit by a rabid dog and he wanted the whole school to get it too so when he dies all the teachers will too." That was at school in the hall. I think they knew I was listening. It was a couple of girls... I couldn't help myself, really I couldn't. "Grrrrr." I growled at them and bared my teeth and they screamed. I rolled my eyes. Girls. I brushed it off just like that, but on the way home from school, Hester passed me. I was surprized, she's usually staying with her friends. "JoJo I'm telling Dad!" She ran off "Telling him what?" I called. She didn't answer. But when I got home Mom was standing at the door and looking stern. "Your dad is home. He wants to see you in his office. NOW." I dropped my backpack and went over there. "JoJo, son, what has gotten into you?" "What do you mean?" I really had no idea. "I have told you and told you to be a gentleman to ladies. Haven't I?" "Ummm... yeah..." "And you... growled at somebody? That's very immature." And I knew what he was talking about. "Awww, Dad, they were making fun of me." "JoJo, you can't keep doing this stuff and expect not to be punished." I was feeling bad about stealing his paper, so I decided to accept whatever punishment he doles out. Except the one he did... "No computer for the weekend." "DAD!" "No arguing, young man. I'm sorry, you need to learn to behave yourself." "But... but..." I was not prepared for this. "No butting me this time, JoJo. I'm sorry, this kind of behavior has no excuse." I sighed. "Can I have five minutes?" "You got until tomorrow."
I went out and after jumping on Hester I came in here to write this, so I'll see you all later.

moble posting?

edit:
Okay that was funny. I borrowed Holly's Who-phone to post that, and boy was she mad at me! She chased me all around the house, and I ran to my bedroom and shut the door. And I thought it was safe to go back out and she leaped on me and toppled me and pinned me to the floor... not very nice. And dad came by then... that was really great. I was saying "Holly stop it!" I couldn't move at all and all the sudden we heard Dad say "Holly?" and she sprang off me. Dad was trying not to smile, I could tell. "What is it now?" I knew I had nothing to go for me at all, having actually taken it off the table after I saw her put it there and useing it without her permission, and she said "JoJo took my Who-phone and was using it and looking at all my contacts!" "What? No I wasn't! Yeah I used the phone but I didn't go through her contacts!" Dad tried to look stern. "Holly?" "What Dad, he did it!" "I know. Tackle him." and I didn't have any time to object because she did, but it wasn't very bad. And it really was funny, even though I got beat up.
But anyway, school was not so bad as I had been anticipating. My teachers… well, some of them berated me the MOMENT I walked into the classroom, others… my coach (we were outside so as not to mess up any other evidence in the gym) said “You think you can still run with all that weight you lost?” and I thought “Whoa” and all my class looked at me and I shrunk down. I must have looked really small when I did that. But even that wasn’t as bad as when Mrs. Fredrickfriedham from Whostory ran to the door and picked me up and hugged me and I was really, really embarrassed- considering the classroom was full at the time and everyone laughed. I think I turned red, which I don’t usually do. Yeah, it was really embarrassing. Especially that she's OLD like maybe 50, and she lifted me off the ground. If I was three maybe, but I'm not and I didn't really appreciate that.
Most of the kids were nice, if kinda distant. A couple of the guys gave me what would have been a normal pat on the back for them and almost knocked me down, the girls almost all opened their eyes really wide and said things like “You’re BACK?” and Mayzie came up and said “Hey! Glad you’re back. Missed you.” And shyly rejoined her group of friends. I tried to smile and say something polite, but all I said was “Thanks”. ERGH! Why did I do THAT? Oh, and Coach did come up to me after school and say, “Sorry about that remark, kid. But you could stand to gain a little. How heavy are you?” I’ve heard that that’s a very impolite thing to say, and I have no real idea. “I dunno, maybe 45?” I said. He whistled. I guess I looked offended, because he apologized. I don’t really mind being my height. In fact, sometimes I wonder how Whos could stand to be so tall! Isn’t it dizzying? But anyway, school was fine except those two incidents.
That's about all that happened today.

Nothing much is going on here. I am very not looking forward to going to school on Monday. I think all the teachers might have a little more to say... in front of my classes. I know I deserve it all, but I think it will be hard to face them still. I know everything we do has consequences, and what I did has really bad ones. Now I just have to live with it.

The Teachers...

So far, so good, it’s great to be home. But… well, Dad called all my teachers. I wasn’t in the room at the time. But Dad called me soon enough. I knew they’d all want to talk to me- more like scold and lecture and a few of them might want to yell at me, but I was ready. “Hello?” My Whology teacher was on the phone. “YOU ARE A VERY, VERY BAD BOY!!! Do you realize what heartache and pain you caused your parents? You ought to be ashamed of yourself!” I tried to speak, but she kept on going. “And you have not been to school Two weeks! Do you realize that? TWO weeks! Do you know how much homework piles up over two weeks?” “I thought school was canceled for most of that because of the snow!” I said quickly before she could keep talking. There was a pause on the other end of the line. “Well, that’s not an excuse for bad behavior. I should hope you’re parents are punishing you in the way they see fit.” I’m afraid this I found hilarious, and I couldn’t stop from laughing. “What? That’s not funny!” She sputtered. “No, no it’s not, I’m sorry…” “Of all the rudeness!” and she hung up. I sat down in Dad’s chair. Yeah, I’d been standing in it. “Oh, boy. Hope that’s not an indication of how class is gonna go.” I said, handing dad back the phone. He was looking at me with a sad smile. “That’s… the first time you laughed in a long time, son.” He said. I looked down. I didn’t know how to reply. But I don’t think dad wanted a reply. He looked up the next teacher’s phone number. “You might wanna stick around, JoJo. The next one will probably want to talk to you as well.”
So all the calls went a little like that- gym teacher was a little upset about the gym being destroyed partially, but he was still able to… scold. And the hardest one was my writing teacher. I really like her- that’s why I like doing this a lot, but she was… well, she sounded like she didn’t trust me anymore. I do… I think that’s fair. I don’t think anyone will completely trust me anymore. But now I have to live with it. I always will have this scar though. And it’s all my fault. But… I’ll manage. I kinda have to, now.
I really, really want to go try to fix up the symphoniphone. I know I can, but I don’t really want to go out when I’m grounded. If somebody caught me, and told my parents that I’d been out, and that I’d not stayed home when I was supposed to, that would be really, really bad. I don’t want to mess up again. So, because it’s wrong, I won’t. I don’t want to let them down… again.

Another thing...

Today I felt well enough to go to school. So I did. Mayzie wasn’t there. And something bad happened. The teacher decided someone needed to take her her homework. Funny, nobody needed to do that for me. But anyway, it had to be someone who lived pretty close to her. She lives on First Street. Guess who else lives on First Street. So I had to take her homework over to her. When I knocked on the door, there was a little girl at the door. She gasped. And ran away from the door. “Mayzie! Guess who’s here!” Oh drat. I thought. I dropped the package and called “Give that to Mayzie!” and I started to get out of there as fast as I could without being rude. But… “Hey, JoJo!” Mayzie called. I sighed and slowly turned, trying to smile, but it wasn’t working. “You want to come in?” she asked. “Uhhh… no… I gotta go home right away…” And I left fast.
The reason I didn’t post yesterday was because I went to the observatory. I shouldn’t have been out of bed, okay I admit it. Nobody missed me though. Which made me upset. But with a strange morbid feeling of satisfaction. I don’t know why though. I’m feeling the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach again though. I don’t know why. It can’t be about the baby. It’s got to be a girl. It’s like my parents can’t have boys. I just think I’m some sort of freak. So it’s okay. I know that’s weird, calling myself a freak makes me feel better, but it does.

Some more...

Lets see... Oh, sophowhos and freshwhos had a half day at school today (hooray) and so I was home early (not-so-hooray) but anyway, one of my sisters came home from school with a stomach bug... and now about forty of them have it. Anyway, my mom was really busy taking care of them all, so the rest of us had to kinda fend for ourselves. Which is a good thing, for me. I can stay in my room all day if I want. But then Dad assigned us into crews of about ten apiece to do normal stuff Mom usually does. so we have groups of us doing different household chores. One team does cooking lunch, one dinner, one cleans the girls room and so on. And they all have leaders. Haley leads the girls room team, Hanna leads the kitchen-cleanup and guess who leads the dinner making? *sigh* I guess we'll all be having cold potatoes for a while.

Whoa Bad timing

Today at school... I didn't want to go home right away. So I sat at my desk while everyone else was leaving. And I still sat there when the teacher left. But something didn't feel quite right and I only noticed when it was too late to have just ignored it. I looked up. "Whoa! Mayzie! How long have you been standing there?" Mayzie is a girl in my class. She was Miss Whoville last year, so I have to admit, she's kinda pretty. But I don't like girls. "Oh, just since class ended. Fifteen minutes ago." Whoa, I didn't realize it was that long. Mayzie continued. "Are you feeling okay, JoJo?" "Oh, yeah. I'm good." I replied and left the classroom. She followed. "Are you going home? Cause we could walk together." She said. "Uhhh... no. I'm not going home." I was, I'll admit, trying to get away. "Well, then, are you going to the observatory? I'd love to come!" Oh, boy, I thought. "No." I lied. "Oh. Well then, see you at school tomorrow." And she left. Wow. Just at the absolute wrong time for romantic troubles. I'm doing okay except for that little episode.

So, yesterday the meeting between my dad and the chairman wasn't so good- The chairman did most of the talking. And it wasn't very nice. Miss Yelp went with my dad and she told me what happened- first they discussed the original problem which I have no idea what it was, then they moved on- the Chairman says "And furthermore, CHILDREN should not be allowed to meetings of the counsel!" And my dad said "He's going to be the mayor after me, so he's got to know the works" and the chairman said some nasty stuff about my dad and THEN some nasty stuff about ME (which Miss Yelp wouldn't tell me) and booted him out of his office.
Another thing- this morning before school my mom asked me to help with the dishes because the dishwasher is broken and in a family our size we have a super who-matic dishwasher and they don't sell those everywhere so she appointed me and Harriet dishwashers! And so, we were about 30 minutes late for school. Teachers were NOT happy. So my dad's in trouble with the board of Who-middle, Who-high AND the city. I hope he gets out of trouble soon.