Johnny Goes to High School As a Ten-Year-Old by Malcolm Franokuski

There is a school bus making a stop around a pretty-looking house. The bus stop on it and released Johnny Barns, an awesome cool 9-year-old pumpkin-headed boy. He gets straight A’s for all of his classes in two years. Some of them think he is super-smart. He answered big numbers in a math contest. He beat everyone in challenges. Right now, Johnny is walking toward the house’s entrance. He ring the doorbell beside the door. His mom opened the door. “Hi, there Johnny, how is your last day of school?” his mom question. “Great.” Johnny answered “they have parties, games, songs, the students even want me to challenge the teachers.” “Really” (Mom) “Really” (Johnny) “Did you won or the teachers won?” Kathleen Barns is his 19-year-old sister. “I won” Johnny answered. “Wow how many games did you play with your teachers?” Kathleen asked “I don’t know, maybe a lot” Johnny answered. Many teachers around his school test him to see who is smarter, Johnny or the teachers. They think that Johnny is so smart than any student they want to challenge him either in a game or a test. They thought that they’ll outsmart him, but they are wrong. “What’s for lunch today?” (Kathleen) “There’s no lunch.” (Johnny) Kathleen looked liked Johnny must really hungry. But Johnny explained that the school had a “Last day of school” party. “Do you bring your lunch?” (Kathleen) “Bring my lunch?,” Johnny looked concern. “Sis, who say you can bring you lunch when at a time they having a big party?” “Uh, some students bring their lunch just in case if the party is cancelled.” (Kathleen) “That’s what you think.” (Johnny) “None of the students who usually bring lunch brought their lunch.” “Oh” (Kathleen) Johnny take out a pizza box from his bookbag. “Anyway I bought you some pizza” “Pizza?” Kathleen wondered. “From your stinky bookbag?” “Kathleen” Johnny called her. “My bookbag does not stink, it’s all fresh and…well still fresh. I clean my bookbag with the “Breeze” thing.” Kathleen opens the pizza box Johnny is holding. The pizza looks fresh and it smells delicious. “Johnny you right, you bookbag is fresh” Kathleen said. “Thank you” “You’re welcome” Johnny said. Kathleen takes the pizza box from him. Johnny walked to his room only to find out that his cell phone was ringing at that time he came in. He rushes to his cell phone. “Hello” he answered. It’s Mac Cody, Johnny’s best friend. He has a cool bob hair that look like one of the popular twins on TV back in the mid 2000’s. “Hi, Johnny, I was just want you to know….what you gonna do in the summer?” he asked

“Mac, I just told you I don’t know, the summer camps aren’t that fun” Johnny answered “That what…..Oh you mean that in these camp kids just make those adults get them time-outs and stuff…Ok I know what you mean.” (Mac) “You right…well this I’ll stay home read a book, watch some tv…” (Johnny) “Whoa whoa wait…” Mac interrupt him. “You can’t stay home watching TV.” “Why not?” (Johnny) “Because…I don’t know….I heard it on the TV and the radio.” (Mac) “Maybe I go to your house and play some video games.” (Johnny) “Sure..” Mac said in a worry way. “But I’m not sure this is a good idea.” Johnny sighed. “Okay what’s your suggestions?” “Well..” said Mac. “Me and My dad plain to go camping for probably one to two weeks..if you want to come.” “Oh thanks.” Johnny said. “But when?” he asked. “Probably July.” Mac answered. “Can you ask your dad I can go?” (Johnny) “Sure.” Mac answered “But if he says no, I think of something.” “Thanks you the best.” (Johnny) “You’re welcome” (Mac) “Johnny” Kathleen called. She lean the wall of the door, folding her arms. “Can I talk to you?” “Gotta go.” Johnny said. “Okay well than bye.” Mac said. “Bye”. (Johnny) They both hanged up their phones. “I have some bad news….for you.” Kathleen said. She wasn’t happy about this at that time she came in here. “What’s going on?” Johnny answered. “Well, since you got straight A’s in two years and you learn big numbers and you are smarter than any student even before the teachers learn you about it…” Kathleen paused for a moment. “You too young to go to another grade.” “Too young?” Johnny interrupt her. “What do you mean too young?” “Well, I just got a call from you school…which is wired because I don’t call schools.” The school Johnny usually went to usually call his mom but instead call his sister instead. “Anyway.” She continued. “As I’m saying…you might too young for this…but…” “But what?” Johnny asked. Kathleen was so afraid to talk to him about this but she still going to. “You not going to 4th grade this year.” Johnny was so shocked that his eyes were widen. “Does that mean I’m going to summer school to get up to 4th grade?” “No.” Kathleen answered “Am I repeating 3rd grade?” (Johnny) “No.” (Kathleen) “Well then what’s the reason?” (Johnny) “Well that’s the reason I’m afraid to answer.” © 2009 Malcolm Franokuski

Johnny was so worried when she said that. “The reason is....that you might too young for this…..is that…..” Kathleen is finely tell him about it. “You coming to my school.” “What school?” Johnny asked. “Well…you going to 9th grade….you going to high school.” Johnny was so surprised to hear it. “What is high school?” Johnny nervously asked. “Well..” Kathleen comes to his room and sit beside him, while she talk. “High school is for teenagers who graduate from middle school. Most of them think High School is a great school. But to me, I think it is not.” “What do you mean no it’s not?” Johnny asked. “High School is not a joke.” Kathleen said. “It’s a giant pain in the butt. In high school, they’ll give you a bunch of work. They’ll even give you a bunch of homework to do that you can’t even take a free time for it.” “Gosh, how many teenagers complain?” (Johnny) “Only one student, named Malcolm. He’s African-American.” (Kathleen) “Does this school have mean teachers?” (Johnny) “Well only some and some substitute teachers, but only if these students won’t keep themselves quiet.” (Kathleen) “Is there any security around there?” (Johnny) “Unfortunately there is, lots of them.” Kathleen answered. “And if you don’t get to each other of your classes…” “They’ll give me a detention?” Johnny interrupt. “Even worse.” Kathleen said. “They’ll whoop your little butt real hard. Many students complain that got their butts kicked by the security. Trust me you better not gonna get your butt kicked. Try to protect your butt by getting into class on time.” “Okay.” There was a pause for a moment. Many security officers block their classrooms and when they see any student, they just whoop their behinds real hard. Like Kathleen said, many students were complained. But the officers, along with the staff, doesn’t care. That’s what the controversial, ridiculous, school policy said. “Will many teachers challenge me, test me, kick my butt, huh?” Johnny was concern about this because in elementary school, (because of his super smart brain power) teacher challenge him in a quiz. If he is in high school and people might be discovered about him, they’ll test him to see who’s smarter than anyone. “Probably unfortunately..” Kathleen said. “They will. But here’s my advice: try to study for as long as you can.” “How long?” Johnny asked. “I don’t know” Kathleen asked. “1 hour, 2 hours, 3, 4, uhhh I don’t know.” “Look Kathleen” Johnny said. “I don’t want to be in high school, I still want to be in a elementary school. Those teenagers were kind of….don’t like me. I just want to stay with my friends, my classmates.” He stopped for a moment

“I’m sorry bro. I have nothing to do about this.” Kathleen gets up from Johnny’s bed. But before she walks away, she turns back. “Just do you best..” she said. “…in high school.” Then she walks away. It’s July. It’s a day for camping. Johnny, Mac, and Mr. Cody – Mac’s dad – who were all ready for it. Mr. Cody invited Johnny to go camping with them after his son, Mac, asked him to invite him following his earlier call with Johnny. Bags and an un-set tent are all on the hood of the van hold by a strong string. “Thanks for inviting me here.” Johnny said. “You’re welcome.” Mac said. He turned to look at his dad. “Do we need logs, matches,…marshmallows?” “Well…” Mr. Cody said. “We have a big pack of marshmallows. But not everything else.” “Where are we going?” Johnny asked. Mr. Cody turned to look at Mac. “Where are we going again?” Mac is so shocked and upset that his dad always ask me the same question after one another. “The National Park.” Mac answered. “Why did you keep ask the same question to me after a person ask you a question?” he asked. “I don’t know. I was hoping you could help me.” Mr. Cody.