Devonne Brown

Snooty defined

“‘Brook’ sounds too snooty, use ‘creek.’ You’re always putting on airs. Stop trying to be somebody you’re not, use ‘creek.’” said Mr. Barber. 

Shit, he was mean. I didn’t want him looking at my paper, not after what I’d just heard him do to Cynthia’s. He was right, of course, she was always putting on airs and acting better than everyone else, but did he have to publicly humiliate her like that? I looked at her under my eyebrows so nobody could tell I was looking…yeah…he did. She deserved every bit of it. 

Since Cynthia moved here, nothing was right anymore. She took the best role in the play. She won the writing awards, she made the best grades, and she snagged the hottest guy in school, Rick. I was no longer the shining star of the tenth grade, but the tertiary twinkle from light years ago. I was irrelevant and gutted to the core. Snooty indeed… I was tasked with being her friend. Our mothers were old buddies.

The power couple rose in tandem when the bell rang. In sync, they gathered their books and stepped into the aisles of the classroom. Cynthia motioned for me to follow them with her pink manicured nails; I followed like a lady in waiting. Her dress should have had a train for me to carry. Rick should have had at least a scepter in his hand. “Snooty,” I heard the word in my head again..not strong enough, I thought and started to giggle. 

Mr. Barber followed the class into the hallway shaking his head. “I wish I had half of what you all think you are worth.”