Personality Change

Mr. Pravat knew a gifted student when he saw one, and Clegg Simmons was one smart cookie. A talented artist and football player, Clegg appeared to Mr. Pravat to be a model student with a bright future. As his eighth grade history teacher, Mr. Pravat did his best to challenge Clegg whenever possible, trusting him to spend the period doing independent research in the library or surfing the Internet to get more information on a particular topic. Clegg was a phenomenal writer and whenever there was group work to be done, classmates begged to be on his team. So when Clegg Simmons became synonymous with terms such as tardy and slacker among the ninth grade teachers, Mr. Pravat grew concerned.

The seasoned educator did not wish to call into question his colleagues' dedication to the academic and social success of their students, yet he could not help but inquire further about the drastic downhill slope Clegg seemed to be on. In the staff room one day, Mr. Pravat asked a long-time colleague and friend, Mrs. Edel, how Clegg Simmons was doing in her class. The response left Mr. Pravat dumbfounded. Were they even talking about the same boy? A lazy student who is completely apathetic? A careless writer who passes by the skin of his teeth? A sullen boy who appears withdrawn and sits alone at lunch? Mr. Pravat could not begin to comprehend what had happened between June and October.

During his planning period the following afternoon, Mr. Pravat looked up Clegg's class schedule and walked with determined steps to the science building. When he arrived at Mrs. Jannic's room, he knocked lightly and let himself in. All of his students from the previous year shouted loud hellos and gave him animated waves. His students from the previous year... except for Clegg Simmons. Gazing out a window in the back corner of the room, Clegg was completely unaware of the visitor and continued to tap his pencil mindlessly on the graffiti-ridden desk. He looked up with a start when Mr. Pravat called his name.

"Mr. Simmons, would you please come with me for a moment?" Mr. Pravat's directive resulted in an uproar of "oohs" and "ahs" and "You're in for it now, Simmons." Clegg weaved his way through the desks toward the door, seeming virtually oblivious to the taunts of his classmates. Mr. Pravat

WHAT HAS JUST HAPPENINED IN THIS ROOM IS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL SORRY TO TELL YOU I CANT WRITE THIS DOWN, IN OTHER WORDS I HAVE JUST HAD WRITERS BLOCK AND CAN'T THINK ABOUT A WAY TO END THIS STORY.