Living in the Past

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Living in the Past
Why Seeing This One Thing At School Made the Rest of the Day Worthwhile
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Why Seeing This One Thing At School Made the Rest of the Day Worthwhile

The anticipation of its reveal made it even more appreciated when it finally appeared

Samantha Kemp-Jackson's avatar
Samantha Kemp-Jackson
Apr 19, 2025
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Living in the Past
Living in the Past
Why Seeing This One Thing At School Made the Rest of the Day Worthwhile
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Teenage boy hoping, with fingers crossed.
“Please, please, please…” (Adobe Stock)

Scene: Is it Too Good to be True?

At first you’re not sure. That vague rumble down the high school hallway, echoing off the crowded lockers and concrete walls. You think you’re imagining it - this can’t be real, you think to yourself. If it were, it would be too good to be true; a reprieve considering your quickly plummeting grades and the lack of completion of the assignment that was due on this very day. The reality is that on this particular day, the dog didn’t eat your homework, nope. You were slacking, watching Welcome Back Kotter and Laverne and Shirley, and you just didn’t get it done.

In the distance the vague rumble was almost inaudible but enough to elicit a Pavlovian response within you. Even the mere inkling of that sound sets off immediate feelings of both excitement and relief at the possible divine reprieve that you have been hoping for. And then, as if time is purposely moving more slowly than it needs to, the sound increases, risin…

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