Are You Sure?

Posted on 23 Aug 2021
Category: Short-Stories
Author: Steve Vail

This short story is a work of fiction. It was inspired by a true story that a friend shared with me. The names and places have been changed to protect the innocent. (I stole that line form the introduction of the old 1951 TV series "Dragnet")

Just Another Day

"It was one of those days at Pleasantville Jr. High." John Dozer thought to himself as the bell rang signifying that it was time to change classes again. He was glad to be leaving math class. Nothing seemed to put him to sleep faster than pre-algebra. Next stop - World History with Miss Chronicle. As usual, the hallway was crowded and loud. Vice-Principal Shouter was attempting to shout over the noise, "Move along, and let's try to keep this noise down."

A Sign of Things to Come

As John approached Miss Chronicle's class, his heart sank as he took note of the students from the previous period leaving her classroom. They didn't look happy. Some looked bewildered, while others appeared to be sad or flat-out depressed.

By the time the second (tardy) bell rang, everyone in Miss Chronicle's 3rd-period History class, including John Dozer, had taken their seats. Seated across the aisle from John was Glenn Wild, who was heralding out to everyone, "It's movie day! Yes!" he exclaimed as he pointed to the projector in the back of the room.

Miss Chronicle stood and walked around from behind her desk to the front of the classroom. She appeared to be every bit as excited about the film as Glen. "That's right!" she exclaimed with a broad smile. This is a very informative film and everyone needs to take..." she stopped suddenly and corrected herself. "I said that wrong. Everyone does not need to take... everyone is required to take notes."

Relax, Watch the Movie

The film was about agricultural development in Europe immediately following the 2nd world war. It was about 10 minutes into the film and John Dozer was fighting a very strong urge to take a doze. Suddenly, the film was stopped and just as abruptly Miss Chronicle threw on the light switch, and boy did she look angry. "I stated very clearly that everyone was required to take notes during this film." Then raising her voice at least a decibel or two, she walked right up to where Glen Wild was seated and slammed her hand down on his desk. "When I say 'everyone', Mr. Wild, I mean EVERYONE!"

All eyes were now on Miss Chronicle and poor Glen who didn't say a word. He just looked down at his desk. John felt like he was going to jump right out of his skin. He was certain that he had seen Glen taking notes, and he wasn't the only one. As Miss Chronicle turned and slowly walked back to the front of the class, several students who sat all around Glenn with a good view of his desk were frantically making hand motions and whispering "You were taking notes. I saw you. Where did they go? What happened to them?"

When she was front and center of the classroom, Miss Chronicle slowly turned around and with a powerful angry gaze, she made eye contact with every student one by one. A chill went up John's backside as she locked eyes with him. He felt like he was going to be sick.

Speak UP... If You Dare

Then she asked with the most intimidating voice, "Did I hear whispering a moment ago?" No one said a word. "Does someone have something to say? Anyone!? Perhaps someone thinks I'm wrong and would like to stand up for Glen."

Sam Pitcher slowly raised his hand.

"Do you have something to say Sam?"

Sam spoke softly with a slight stammer and his voice quaking. "I... thought I... saw Glen... taking notes."

"You thought? You don't know?"

Sam didn't respond.

"I asked you a question. Do you know that you saw Glen taking notes?"

"Um, uh, no ma'am."

"Anyone else? I know I heard more than one person whispering." No one else raised their hand, and the room remained silent. "Very well then. Glen, get your things together. I'm taking you to the office."

From Confusion to Rationalized Consensus

As soon as the door shut behind them, no less than 10 of Glen's classmates exclaimed emphatically that they had seen him taking notes. One of them, Danny Runner turned on Sam. "What do you mean you thought? You saw him taking notes just like I did."

"Well... yeah, but where did they go? Maybe he was just acting like he was taking notes."

Brenda Writer asked confrontationally. "If you're so sure you saw him taking notes Danny Runner, why didn't you say something when it would have counted?"

After a short time of deliberation, the general consensus among Glen's classmates was that he must have only been acting like he was taking notes, if even that.

John didn't say a word. He shut his eyes tightly and clenched his fist as he tried to remember exactly what he had seen. He saw the pencil in Glen's hand. He saw Glen writing words on the paper... or did he? Finally, John Dozer also joined... the "general consensus."

Hidden Meaning Revealed

About 15 minutes had passed when Miss Chronicle came back into the room, which prompted immediate silence from everyone. With an almost sickening smile of satisfaction on her face, she asked quite matter-of-factly, "Did you see how easy that was?" That question caused quite a bit of jaw-dropping throughout the classroom.

Over the past few days, they had been reading and talking about Anne Frank. Just yesterday John Dozer himself had asked quite vehemently, "How did things get to this point?! Why didn't someone say or do something to stop the madness?!"

John was only 13 and in the 7th grade, but he and many of his classmates made commitments to themselves on this day.
Never let anyone tell you, that what you have seen with your own eyes didn't really happen.
And speak up! Someone's well-being, including your own, may very well be at stake.