The end of Summer came so early

Ok then, Here we are once more at the very end of the summer term
with six glorious weeks of sun filled fun filled holiday. The trouble
is its only Nine A.M. and the holidays don't start for another five and
a half hours. Between then and now anything could happen including
several lessons where teachers attempt to create fun lessons with
subject quizzes when nearly everyone wants to sit talking and the
traditional lunchtime talent show.... Oh shit ! the talent show, I
forgot about it , Oh no! I'm supposed to be performing in it, I have
nothing to wear, why oh why did I ever volunteer?

The whole end of term buzz and threat of performing did litle for my
already over-excited stomach, if I didn't throw up by lunchtime I'd be
fine. Still, there were some benefits of doing the talent show such as
getting out of the lesson before lunchtime, for once I wouldn't have to
endure the worst science lesson in the world with the bald-as-a-coot,
crap wannabe stand up comedian, prat of a Chemistry teacher to
rehearse. That would at least sort me out, all I had to do now was find
a way of miraculously retrieving my stuff from home. Hmm...

I had to wait until extended breaktime began, (extended for what
reason, Were the teachers having a piss up?) and made like E.T, I
called home . Lazy Bastard, otherwise known as my older brother Pete
answered , I shouldn't have bothered.

"Wot?" he gruffly barked down the phone whilst simultaneously yawning,
and form the sound of it having a good old scratch. He's a bit like a
dog, barks, growls, whinges, whines, but the jury's out on whether he
has fleas. He's also not as loyal as a dog and certainly doesn't play
fetch.

"I've left a bag of stuff upstairs, it's clothes, makeup, and some
ohter bits, could you possibly drop it off at school for me?" Ooh, big
mistake, he wouldn't do that I knew it.

" No, It's your fault for not taking it. Sod off, I need my kip" he
slammed the phone down. Well at least I tried, I didn't know he'd be
like a bear with a sore arse, did I ? It wasn't exactly the end of the
world, I could work a minor miracle with the school uniform and I
didn't need the tape as it had been given in a few weeks ago. As for
make up, who cares. Right, sorted! as they say in good old
"Eastenders".

Nervously I waited around, rehearsed a little and waited around some
more. Not long now, I kept on saying to myself, it'd be over soon. I
picked at a sandwich and drank a little water. Time passed slowly, ther
bell rang for lunch. I could hear people rushing to the hall and
entering , stampeding across the wooden floor, after all it was
something to do of a lunchtime and they could watch their friends make
right dickheads of themselves. Anticipation and fear filled me with
dread. What if I fell flat on my face walking onstage and flashed my
knickers to all and sundry? The first few acts were called up and led
down to the backstage area. From what I could hear of ot they received
rapturous applause and were chanted off.. Act 4 was sent down, then I
was called up, Act 5. I stood in the wings, waiting, watching, hoping
for a miracle.

"And now... Here's Carrie from 10E or should I say ... Saffron from
Republica with her rendition of Drop...Dead ...Gorgeous." It took me a
few seconds to tell my somewhat frozen-with-stage-fright legs to
manouver themselves to the microphone on centre stage. I grabbed at it
and the familiar riff exploded around the hall. I sang, I danced, I
wanted to trash the microphone stand but refrained from doing so, I
pouted, snarled, and then the three minutes of song were over, I'd sung
the final lines "yeah yeah, dorp dead" and stood waiting for the
curtain to close. Either I'd given them the best performance of my life
or I'd made a complete and utter prat of myself , only time would
tell.

The haven of the P.E changing room was silent , I was the only one
there below I could here screaming and applause and chanting, were they
screaming because I was so good? or were they screaming because of the
noise pollution they'd just heard? either way they were screaming. I
waited through Acts 6 and 7 in the silent room with only the roar from
the hall breaking the silence. I picked out my personal stereo hooked
my headphones in my ears and switched it on to the strains of Ash's "A
life less ordinary "

"Take all that you want from me...leave me in my dreams again... So
what is it worth ? I sold my sold my soul what it is it worth...
holding you now. " The familiar strains of the song were punctured by
an unfamiliar face.

" Carrie, it's time to go down on stage they're announcing the winners
now."

I allowed myself to be led down to the stage and on cue walked through
the glittery backdrop intended for each performer to walk through.
Everyone eyed each other nervously, expectantly.

"And now the moment of truth...Our judges have had such a tough
decision this year, the standard of acts was so spellbindingly
brilliant..." Stop bullshitting, I wanted to hiss at the flustered
sixth former when a voice yelled out "Get on with it" Nice one Chaz, I
recognised her voice straight away from the crowd.

"First we'd like to thank Mandy for the lights and Jenny for the
decorations...." I shut off becoming bored.

"Right, now for the announcement thay you've all been waiting for. It
was such a tough decision but the judges have made their final
decision, so here goes. 3rd place goes to Act 6, Lucy and her amazing
recorder tricks. "Ah, cute, the token year 7" I thought, Been there,
done that, realised kids like that need their heads sorted out.

" 2nd place goes to Act 2, Claire,Courtney, Angela, Felicity and co
with the dazzling rendition of "Baby one more time" by Briney Spears."
This particular lot of year 12's ought to know better, allowing the
rather buxom Felicity to wear such a low cut top and jiggle about
onstage. What were they thinking of ? Attempting to attract the
attention of a couple of male teachers no doubt.

"Finally, the much coveted 1st place position goes to .... 10E's
Carrie, Act 5."

From the back of the hall I could hear a Jerry Springeresque chant of
"Go Carrie" Great, the whole class was in there giving me full support.
I was pushed up to the microphone to sing again. Feeling a little more
self assured and hyperactive , I wrenched the microphone free and began
sending up a hundred different rock stars (although I refrained from
doing a Brett Anderson fearing that the bruises from smacking my arse
with the microphone would be painful ) I danced and put everything into
the performance. It was over all too soon, I felt jubilant, ecstatic,
ready to take on the whole world. Two parcels were placed in my hands
with a murmured "congratulations." I pegged it to the changing room
straightened my uniform up, grabbed my bag and skipped along the
corridor to the form room.

The Springeresque chant began again and echoed around the room. Lucy
ran up to hug meand we sat openng the parcels, chocolates were duly
distributed and I held onto the cd voucher. Old Morgan entered and
registration was hurried through to begin clearing up. Gorgeous George
the naked man off the calendar was ceremoniously thrown in the bin,
bags were collected, lockers cleared, lost items found and chairs and
tables were stacked. Old Morgan signalled for silence which as usual
took three attempts to get noticeable results. Eagerly we waited with
baited breath for the bell to go.

Brrrnngg, School was over until September, hugs were exchanged, phone
numbers swopped and promises of meeting up in the holidays were made.
Freedom at last! Slowly, savouring the end of term and my talent show
victory, Lucy, Chaz and I walked out of school and out down the hill
until the time came to go our separate ways, I crossed the road still
laughing, waving and joking about. I didn't see the car. I felt giddy
and hyperactive over the days events.

The car sped onward, for a split second, I saw it charging at me before
the impact. The tableau unfurled in slow motion, I tried to move but I
was rooted to the spot. I could hear Chaz scream out my name. The
impact hurt, hitting my stomach and causing me to double up and fly
over the bonnet. Vaguely I knew I was up in the air flying for a moment
then plunging downwards. I hit the ground, my body thudded loudly, it
went black. I woke up, got up but soon realised I was leaving my body
behind. Light and floaty was how I felt , now there was no pain. I
looked down on the scene below. Where I once was lay a husk drained of
life. Chaz and Lucy were trying to help whilst sobbing continuously.
The car door opened , shock registered on their faces, Old Morgan
stepped out shaking his head in disbelief, let out a howling scream.
Sirens and bright lights raced to the scene questions had to be
answered, I couldn't answer them. I was free of that I was dead.