Midterm rag

Adam Kozman, Opinion Editor

Quinn rose before the sun on Tuesday. Quinn needed to, in fact, because the dog had to be let out and fed, the kids had to be woken and they needed something to bring for lunch. Quinn, too, had to get ready for work. 

They have all been living the same morning for the past two months, since school started at least. The rain has been falling with the leaves, and this particular morning was humid. Quinn tried not to slip on the slick ground while getting into the car to go to work. 

Planning and then first period came and went, second came with third, fourth and then fifth. At lunch, some of the faculty talked with each other about various names, states, colors and where they were going when the work day was over. One teacher sat out from the rest in the lounge, where the conversation was happening. Another sat down with them and then got up right away after hearing what they were talking about. For the most part, Quinn just sat there and nodded along with everyone else.

Seventh and eighth periods were slow, and Quinn packed up quickly and left work to make sure the kids were going to be picked up in time. Quinn pulled into the public library parking lot, got out and entered the line with the rest of the folks from the town. Just in front was a short older man with a baseball cap and a coffee in his hand, which he got from the circulation desk. Quinn slightly recognized him as the man who was always walking in the cemetery just across the street, tossing pieces of bread to the squirrels. Following in behind was a larger man, he had a baseball cap too, a t–shirt sweated through, and was looking down at his phone. Quinn’s eyes were up, looking at the people leaving the poll booths.

Quinn continued after the older man in front to the next booth down. At that moment, Quinn thought about the kids and their day at school, about what they were learning, but also what they weren’t learning. Quinn contemplated what they didn’t know, that there are things people do that affect them and they don’t even know it. It’s up to Quinn to make the right decisions, to fill in the right boxes, so that their world can be shaped in their favor. So that they might even grow up and be able to do as Quinn did that Tuesday.