Thanks for the compliments, guys...

But, um. I think I missed something in the writing of it, because I wanted to convey more a feeling of defiance and satire. Sorrow and regret were the furthest things from my mind when I was writing it, and at the time I was living through it.

Frankly, I'm thankful that I was spared the compulsory competition, and only regretted that the grown-ups in charge wouldn't let me spend the period in the library instead (I mean, it's not like I was asking to leave school and go hang out on Main Street).

The biggest lesson I took away from elementary school: Grown-ups are idiots.

Maybe if I change that first line to:

She watches from the edge