Tardiness 101

I sat in the backseat of the car, my sisters beside me. I pressed my face on the window, looking out and gazing down the long line of cars ahead of us and the other long line behind us. Stuck. How the hell am I going to get to school now? No, that's wrong. The real question is, WHEN will I ever get to school?

It was a nightmare being crammed like sardines in the backseat while I knew the clock was ticking away. You know that feeling when you're in a bad (terrible, in this case) situation but you can't do anything so you stay there helpless, watching and waiting for a miracle? That was how I felt. I kept grinding my teeth, clenching and unclenching my fists, crossing my fingers, taking deep breaths, jiggling my foot impatiently, clearing my throat, praying for a miracle, and practically wanting to bang my head on the window and burst out of the car and march straight to school. Forget getting hit by a car.

"They're not letting us pass!" wailed my youngest sister. She looked at our driver. "Mang Claro, please...blow the horn now! It's so unfair!" Then she went, "What's the time now? I'm late, I'm late! My teacher will get mad!"

I wished she would stop complaining. It didn't help. It made everything more nightmarish.

Heck. How long still am I supposed to wait? I absolutely cannot be late. When I was in the 1st and 2nd year a typical day for me would be half-running, half-walking to class, with barely a minute left. Now that I'm in 3rd year, I had made a resolution: never, ever be late, even once. For the last couple of weeks, ever since the first day of school, I hadn't been late, not even once. It could have been a world record if it had gone on for a month.

But sadly, no record for me. I was going to be late, no matter how much I do tons of positive thinking and crossing of fingers.

I am so dead.

Finally, after what seemed like a million years, we were in school. And so continued my race against time. After almost two years of nearly being late (and really being late), I was no stranger to the rigors of beating the dreaded ringing of the school bell. Run (it's okay to trip at times) and still be able to keep your composure. Smile and show the the world you don't care at all. (Okay, that's not what I do. But still...)Make sure at least one foot, or any other part of the body is already inside the classroom when the bell rings.

Ah, the joys of tardiness! Hey, at least you get some exercise.

So I was running, stumbling, panting. I walked past the classrooms and saw all the students lined up already outside for the flag ceremony. It was about to start.

And I was late. Again.

My new resolution now: Never ever be late TWICE. Once is okay, but not twice. Maybe that could be my world record instead.