"Let's see, Istanbul is the capitol of Pakistan..." Junior High science was pretty easy today, but I have five minutes to make it to history and take a test. "No, Persia, not Pakistan." Ahead of me two greasy computer people with button down oxfords rolled at the cuff are discussing insectoid luncheon meat as they walk toward this corridor from a leftward perpendicular hallway. In back of me, I hear blunt voices coming closer behind my ears.

"Yeah, I kicked his ass. I said, 'Hey, Fitzie, you wrecked my bike,' and then I kicked his ass." I turned my head - it was three rats, two with ripped army jackets, and the biggest one in black leather. Up ahead, by the glass swinging doors, a small circle of perfect looking popular jock girls are discussing their hair. The black leather rat is now right behind me and towering one foot above me. I feel his breath. Suddenly, my thoughts are interrupted. "Hey, you. I hate your face!" and before I have a chance to feel hurt, he punches me hard in the jaw.

So I'm just standing there, frozen, holding my face. The jock girls are giggling, and the three musketeers are walking away through the glass doors. Suddenly an inner rage boils upward from my stomach, and I walk over to the side wall of orange lockers. I carefully stack the six notebooks I've been cradling by the end corner of a locker row, figuring that no one will take or kick them in the next five minutes. Then I run ahead, past the computer tutors and the devilish dolls, and around and in front of the three rugged rats and arm's length from the oversized ass kicker. Hallway life pauses for a moment. A second goes by, and then part of the next second, and then I wind back my hand, never been wound, and send it deep into his thick stomach. Now I hear clapping, laughing and rejoicing. It's like a score has been settled for all. The prepubescent programmers are high-fiving, and everyone else is circling around rooting. I'm on the floor at this point with a leather hiking boot coming towards my tooth, but I'm still laughing and smiling and feeling more joyful than I ever have before. There's blood on my face, and I'm seeing stars, and sideways I can see the cheerleading bimbos leading a cheer and BANG, another kick, but I stand up and clock the guy again and he grabs my collar and pins me high up on a locker and now the principal is here and it's all over.

Actually it didn't happen like that at all, but it is my Corner.