Stolen 

It was early into the school year and I was heading to bio. It was the period before English, what a coincidence! Strangely, Ms…Mrs…? Hmmm. Ms. Williams stopped me right as I put my phone in the pocket. 

“I have something I need you to do, ” she said, “Take this and follow the directions okay? It’s optional though.” 

“Of course!”, I nodded, taking the paper she handed me. Or did I say alright? I probably said of course. 

The paper was for an experiment for the forensics class. It required me to fill out some information about myself and then head to Mrs…Ms. Brown’s room down the hall, hand her the paper and tell her I need supplies. When she didn’t look, I would take a blue pumpkin from her desk and leave. It’s to see if the person would notice and if they could figure out who took it. Simple enough, I was bored and caught up with my work too. 

I took a breath and headed over to the room, double, triple checking if it was the right class. Would’ve been embarrassing if not huh. I politely asked her for supplies while giving the paper as instructed. I was pretty excited because stealing from a teacher usually isn’t allowed! She turned back, I grabbed the sparkly blue pumpkin, and walked out of there – I mean ran out of there. Nobody said a word! It all went as expected after all. 

Happily I gave the pumpkin back to Ms. Williams. I was feeling pretty good about myself. But my mind started racing and something was just wrong. How often have I been truly looking at and seeing things? Has someone stolen the blue pumpkin from me yet? Would I notice either? Stolen…I don’t want my things stolen. I’ll make sure to keep my eyes peeled and protect my pumpkin. 

Invalid

ERROR 23439208590. The code is invalid. Invalid? What? But I’ve been good all my life, there’s nothing wrong with my brain. 

ERROR 23439208951. The code is invalid. No, I’m not like that. I know myself.

ERROR 23439208592. The code is invalid. You’re so loud. EVERYTHING IS SO LOUD.

ERROR 2349308593.  The code is invalid. I don’t want to get up. But people feel a little lazy sometimes, right? 

ERROR 2349308594. The code is invalid. Didn’t mean to say all that, my emotions got big. Sorry. 

ERROR 2349308595. The code is invalid. Can everything go quiet? Can the lights turn off? 

ERROR 2349308596. The code is invalid. It’s okay. I’m just sensitive. You didn’t do anything. 

ERROR 2349308597. The code is invalid. Why don’t you understand me? 

ERROR 2349308598. The code is invalid. I forgot again. 

ERROR 2349308599. The code is invalid. What’s wrong with me…?

ERROR 2349308600. The code is invalid. What’s the code then?