As the principal crackled off the loudspeaker in a panicky voice he engendered fear in us all and a thought flew through my head: We’re going to die. I had never been in a lockdown before, and I had hoped I never would be in one, but here I was, three weeks from graduating and in a lockdown. Everyone around me began talking all at once in panicked voices as our teacher, Mrs. Tanner, did her best to get us organized and calm.
Mrs. Tanner climbed on a chair and whistled with her fingers in her mouth getting everyone quiet then saying, “Everyone pick up a desk now and take them to that corner and form a wall with them. Then get …show more content…
My usually sententious self was gone as I picked up my phone and pulled out it’s camera. I pointed the camera at myself before I started filming. Around me everyone was asking me what I was doing but I just looked straight into the camera and said, “Mom, I love you and I’m really really sorry for anything bad I ever said to you, I do love you and if I don’t make it out of here I just want you to know that. And Dad, I know you and Mom don’t really get along, but please try for my sake. I love you so much and I just want you to both be happy. Um… T. You know who you are. I know I’ve never told you this and I’m sorry I procrastinated, but I love you more than anything else in this world. You were my first kiss and I really love you. I don’t know if you make it out of whatever is happening here, but if you do, please try to be happy without me. I love you guys. …show more content…
When the boy caught sight of my face he paused for a moment before pointing the gun at me. I knew though from that moment of pause that there may be a chance at capitulation. Prudently I began to talk to the young freshman boy. “Jake, what’s going on here? Why are you doing this? You’re usually such a docile person, what has you so upset?” Jake looked at me with shock and then started yelling invectively, “Why am I upset?! Think about it! Wouldn’t you be upset if you’d been picked on your entire life by various people, and never even allowed to try to do anything right! Everyone assumes that just because I come from a one parent home that I going to be wrong all the time! Well guess who’s wrong now!” I listened and realized as I did that this may be harder than I thought it would be. But I would be inexorable. As he continued to yell I began to talk very softly to him. I attempted to placate, and pander him by saying, “Jake, this isn’t going to panacea anything, you have to know that. You need to understand that not everyone assumes that you do everything wrong. I’ve seen you in gym, Jake, you’re really good when you put your feelings into the sports, and just do your best. Jake please-” At that point I was cut off by a gun