The test results wouldn't be posted for at least another hour. While she waited for them to be plastered to the gym door for all to see, Janie made her breakfast in the nearby park.
Breakfast consisted of a paper bag, the bottom lined with raw bacon, a couple of eggs cracked on top, a stick poked through the top of the bag, and the whole thing held over hot coals in a grill. She was alone this day, the way she wanted to be. Those test results were scaring the pants off of her. If she didn't score 100 on the math final, she was going to have to actually eat a hat.
Janie had been trying to decide which hat for two days now. The smaller the better of course, but it also mattered what material! She couldn't stand the taste of cashmere - too goat-y. Cotton she thought, which would probably be least likely to upset her stomach, especially after a breakfast of bacon and eggs cooked in a paper bag over coal.
Jason had put the bet to her. The lower score would lose. If they tied, no one would have to eat a hat. Jason would likely get 100, so she had to, too.
My half...👇
As Janie ate her breakfast, she imagined eating a hat. Jason had lost the last time and eaten a tie and it wasn't a pretty sight. She fished her hat out of her backpack and held it in her hand. She grimaced and spoke to herself, "You can do this. Maybe it would be a tie...". She then threw the half-eaten breakfast into the trash can and strode to school.
She was determined to eat her hat delicately so there would only be pretty pictures on social media. She had practised her facial expressions while chewing on a cotton handkerchief. She knew Jason would get her back for posting the ugliest pictures with the tie eating.
She stared at the door, the results staring back at her. Then turned around to look at the whole school gathered in the hallway ready for the showdown.
Jason and Janie, twins and rivals and the best entertainment the little town of Wetlands had.
Jason hollered and the kids parted ways like the red sea to let him through. He had eaten his breakfast at home, the reason why she had hers to go. He winked at her and walked up to the board.
Then turned back to face the crowd, nudged his twin and proclaimed "Well, folks, there's nothing to see here - not today! But -"
He turned back to his sister, "If you would like to throw in a scrunchie with that hat, I'm placing a bet on Spanish. Same terms! What say you, sis?"
Janie knew she should decline as she failed Spanish the last time and she needed to catch up on sleep. Her head screamed "NOOO" but her hand shot out and grabbed her brother's to give it a good shake.
The crowd cheered and started dispersing, excitedly upping their bets.
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