My name is Steve. I live in a village with my mom and dad in a small, tidy house. Every day, I go to school, do homework, and hang out with friends. Overall, life is pretty good, most of the time.

    Today is Friday, which means I'm in school. This is the absolute worst part of my week: sitting in the last half of Algebra 2 class, with the weekend right around the corner. If I could speed up time, time travel, or remove math from the universe altogether, I would.

    But I can't. 

    So here I am. I'm watching the clock slowly turn, while the teacher lectures on about stocks, bonds, distance, and numbers. 

    Come on you little clock! Move already!  I think to myself as the time slowly goes on and on. The ticking of the clock fills my mind as I drift away from the world, helplessly trapped in a swirl of my own daydreaming thoughts.

    For a second, I almost forget where I am. Then, all of a sudden, I hear a familiar voice call my name. 

    "Steve!"

Steve! 

    I'm suddenly tossed back into reality, as if spat out by my own brain. I get up with a start, look around, and realize where I am and who called my name. It was my algebra teacher. 

    "Are you falling asleep in class, Steve?" she asks. 

    I pause, almost unsure of what to say. 

    "No ma'am." 

    "Good, now would you like to come to the front of the class and solve this math equation?"

    I walk to the front of the class, and pick up a piece of chalk. My hand shakes with it in my hand. I have no idea how to solve this problem. 

*****

    The school bell rang at exactly 3:00 sharp. 

    Ignoring my previous embarrassment at the white board, I jumped out of my seat and grabbed my backpack. I ran out of the classroom, through the hall, and out the door. 

    I sprinted home. The sooner I got home, the better. 

    I tried out a new shortcut. Instead of heading along the main path, I ran in the alleyway next to the blacksmith's shop, and then climbed over a wall. I landed firmly on the ground and then continued running home. I turned left, then ran straight at a large hole in the ground.