Before class started the other day, I was, as usual, hurrying around, preparing for class before the bell rang, when I overheard the following conversation amongst a few students in my room:
Girl A: How long have you guys been together?
Girl B: Like, 7 months.
A: No WAY! I just can't do relationships.
Me: (in my own private thoughts, of course) You don't "do" relationships? Dear heaven, help us all!
B: NOT me! I don't know why but I just have to be in a relationship. Like HAVE to.
Me: (private thoughts, once again) Isn't that the mantra of 99% of women in an abusive relationship?
A: I just feel smothered, like leave me alone if I'm a relationship. Mark, what about you? Aren't you and Jamie together? Like, haven't you been together for like ever?
Me: (thoughts) How long, exactly, is "for like ever"?
Mark: We broke up last week.
Me: (thoughts) Apparently not too long.
A: But I thought you guys hung out this weekend?
Me: (thoughts) No way. Did she even pause to acknowledge what he said?
Mark: We did, but just as friends.
A: Oh, that's another thing I just cannot do. If I dated you and then we broke up, it is so over. Like, permanently.
Me: (thoughts) Is "like, permanently" related to "for like ever"?
Mark: Well, we still like each other, just, we think we should date around, you know.
B: Oh, if my boyfriend broke up with me, I would so be like don't talk to me.
Me: Because you, like, HAVE to be in a relationship, right?
A: (noticing my amused eavesdropping) Miss Rookie, what about you? Are you a relationship kind of girl?
Me: Oh, honey, if only.
Me: (to Girl B) Seven months, huh? So are you in lo-o-o-ve? (because if I can't tease my students, who can I tease?)
Girl B: (shocked at the audacity/stupidity of my statement) NO! Miss Rookie that's, like, totally serious! We're just together.
Me: (some mumble that sounds like "I see.")
Forgive me, dear student, for my absolute ignorance in such matters. I am unhip in the worst possible way.
2 comments:
This is like, so funny. ;)
Oh to be 15 again, and be like so serious about my world.
Except I don't remember being quite as intense or dramatic. But I probably was. I did slap someone across the face at girls camp after all? But I was 12 then. I was like so much more mature by 15.
ok, I need to be done.
You're use of the word "like" is as eloquent as your writing darling. You capture your students words brilliantly.
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