Magnet & Steele by Trisha Fuentes Page B

his early twenties, a hip young teacher trying to
make economics more interesting.
     
    “All right class, pipe down. Pipe
down,” he said motioning for everyone to take their seats. “For the
next couple of weeks we’re going to create experimental marriages.”
The class then began to get unsettled again. “Now don’t get all
stupid on me, this project will be part of your final grade. So I
suggest that you pay attention.” The class then calmed down. “Each
union will have their own household and organize their own budgets.
I will provide you with a job and the amount of money you get to
spend each month. All you have to do is to figure out your monthly
budgets and income for the year.” He then gathered up some papers
from his desk and walked up and down the side of the chalkboard.
“Now, each marriage will be paired up by the luck of the draw. I
have two hats here,” he stated, picking up two large hats; one
pink, one blue. “One is for the girls and the other is for the
boys. Now, let’s get started. Write down your names for me on a
piece of paper and place it into one of the hats as it passes
by.”
     
    Mr. Conner then handed the blue hat
to the corner row of students, while the other one, the pink hat
made its way to the opposite side of the room. The students all
pissed and moaned but began to write their names on pieces of paper
and threw them into the gender hats.
     
    A few minutes passed when the two
hats finally reached the teacher. He then began to toss the pieces
of paper in each hat. “Nervous, aren’t you? I can tell,” he quipped
with an evil giggle.
     
    The class was now in total silence,
in complete anticipation of this marriage lottery.
     
    Francine sat in a corner biting her
fingernails, dreading the unknown and her equally nameless partner.
She gazed around the classroom, everyone, not just her were on pins
and needles.
     
    Mr. Conner afterward placed his hand
into the pink hat and pulled out, “Jennifer Ostin,” and then placed
his hand into the blue hat, “Michael Rodgers.”
     
    The class started to laugh. Jennifer
and Michael were a little overweight.
     
    “Well, there goes their food
budget!” Some boy with long hair bellowed.
     
    Then silence. Mr. Conner repeated
the operation; pink hat: “Marg Henry”…and then, blue: “Stuart
Billmen.”
     
    “Divorce…” A boy with a clean shaven
head snickered.
     
    More laughter, then a moment of
silence for the next pairing.
     
    “Andrea Carson…and Sam
Duhatey.”
     
    The students immediately started to
boo.
     
    “That’s not fair teach!” One boy
protested.
     
    “Yeah, they can’t be a couple,
they’re already going steady!” One girl complained as
well.
     
    “Now listen folks,” Mr. Conner
explained, trying to calm everyone down. “This is the luck of the
draw, remember? There is no dictation here and no cheating…look,”
he said, displaying how he can’t see the names crumpled up in the
pieces of paper. “It must be fate,” he said simply, “They’re all
still folded, now let’s continue.”
     
    The students all look at one another
and give in with grumpy attitudes now.
     
    “Francine Steele…”
     
    Francine stopped in
mid-chomp.
     
    “… Derek Magnet. Hmmm, magnet and
steal,” Mr. Conner realized out loud.
     
    A hush overcame the room. Dead
silence, then giggling, then laughter.
     
    “Hey Derrie…hide that milk buddy!”
One guy shouted.
     
    “You’re gonna spend a lot of money
washing her clothes,” a girl in a pony-tail shrilled.
     
    “All right, all right,” Mr. Conner
chimed in. “Let’s everybody calm down. Now listen folks, the
newlyweds already called, go and sit down in a corner somewhere
while we get on with the rest of the class…”
     
    Francine waited and watched as the
pairs doubled up. Five minutes passed, then ten, fifteen, until a
chair pulled up beside her. Not moving her head much, she rolled
her eyes around first to notice him and then his