Jaycee (Intro)

            What in the heck am I doing here? I questioned myself silently. I looked around the welding classroom. I was the only girl. The other students looked so tough and mean. I had no friends here.

            The trade school was high on a hill over looking downtown, Greensville. If I looked out the window I could see the entire city. But I was very terrified of what awaited me just inside this building

            The teacher, Mr. King, came into the classroom

            “Listen up, knuckleheads!” he bellowed. “I know most of you already know safety precaution but some of you,” he said stressing the ‘you’, “have been abusing the rules!” He paced the front of the room.

            “In that shop, when work is being done, you wear helmets and gloves at all times! Not just when you want!” he yelled. “Alright now,” he motioned to the shop door. “It’s time for a crash course in welding!”

            The guys all got up and went to through the door I followed. Mr. King stopped me

            “Honey, you sure you’re in the right place?” he questioned me.

            “Yes, sir.” I told him.

            “Ok sweetie, but just cause you’re a girl don’t think I’m going to be easy on you If any of these boys harass you though, that is another story.” He ushered me through.

                                                            ***

            After my first morning at trade school I was mildly horrified. Those kids were evil. They had grouped me and called me names but I still had to go. You are probably wondering why right?

            There is this girl named Madison at my school who throws a huge end of the school year party every summer. I’m a total spaz and she thinks if I was to be invited I would break something.

            So she told me if I could would go to trade school and learn how to do something without totally screwing up, I’d get an invitation in June. But this is September. We have a long way to go.