What I Heard the Principal Say

I heard the principal

Say the word

We all heard it

He said it over--

He said it over

The announcements

Over the loudspeaker

And during the--

During the announcements

And I looked around

To see if anybody else heard it

And nobody else was--

I thought maybe

They weren’t paying attention

So I kind of scoffed real loud

To be like--

To try to get everyone

To, I don’t know--

Acknowledge that he said the word

And he didn’t say it

Under his breath

It wasn’t an accident

It wasn’t like some kind of mistake

He said the word

And then he kept talking

And nobody--

Even the people who looked like

They were listening

Didn’t do anything

One looked at me

All concerned

Because they could see

I was upset

But I could see

I could tell

That they hadn’t heard

What I heard

I had to speak up

And say--

Did anybody just hear that?

And the teacher looked at me

And motioned for me

To stop talking

And listen to the announcements

I felt that thing happen

When I get anxious

Where I start chattering my teeth on purpose

And the announcements were going on

And then I hear it again

The word

I hear it again

Now, I’m up on my chair

I’m yelling

I’m going--

I know you all heard that!

I know you all heard that too!

The teacher is telling me

To sit down

And when I won’t

All the other kids are taking out

Their phones

And pointing them at me

But I don’t care

Because I know what I heard

The security guard comes in

And escorts me down to the office

Which is just fine with me

Because I want to see the principal

I want to let him know

I heard what he said

On the announcements

There I am, sitting in his office

Texting my Mom

Telling her she needs to come get me soon

Because I’m about to tell this principal

That I know exactly what he said

Over the loudspeaker

The bell rings and I hear kids

Going to their next class

But nobody comes into the office

The next bell ring

Then the lunch bell

My mom doesn’t text me back

And then my phone dies

I’m still sitting in the chair

When the afternoon announcements come on

And by now I’m hungry

I’m nervous

I’m mad

My teeth won’t stop chattering

And I don’t even have to try

To make them anymore

The principal is doing the afternoon announcements

But now he’s just laughing

He’s just laughing his way through them

Behind his voice

I hear other people laughing

And from out in the halls

I hear people stomping their feet

And laughing

And banging on lockers

I’m looking out the window

In the principal’s office

And it’s getting dark

And no lights are coming on

And the light in the principal’s office

Won’t come on

And when I try to leave

The door is locked

And then it happens--

The principal says

My name

And I hear it

I hear my name

And that’s when

He stops laughing