The Classroom

Flash fiction contest entry. Under 300 words using:steal, laugh and blink.

Mr. Ellis stood at the front of his fourth-grade classroom, chalk in hand, drawing a crude sketch of a seesaw on the board. “Now, force equals mass times acceleration,” he said, pointing to the formula beneath it. “Physics is everywhere,” he added. “Steven, can you give me another example?”

He turned to face the class—and blinked.

When he opened his eyes, the classroom was gone.

Cold metal bars now stood before him. The smell of disinfectant and sweat filled the air. His clothes were replaced with a dull gray jumpsuit. Across from him stood a man in a dark blue uniform. A name tag read: Ramirez.

“Steal government property, and you’ll answer for it,” Ramirez barked. “You can ramble all you want about physics, but we all know why you stole the parts.”

“What are you talking about?” Ellis croaked. “I’m a teacher. This has to be a mistake.”

“A teacher?” Ramirez sucked air through his teeth. “Who are you teaching?”

Panic tightened in Ellis’s chest. He studied Ramirez…something familiar…suddenly a cold chill charged down his spine. “Steven?” He whispered.

The man paused and looked down at his name tag. There was no first name, and no initial. A confused look crept across his face.

“You, I’m teaching you.” Said Ellis.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but your life is about to change,” said Ramirez with a smile.

Ellis blinked.

Suddenly, he was back in the classroom. The chalk still in his hand. His students stared at him, wide-eyed.

Then, one of them—Steven, ten years old again—began to laugh. “Mr. Ellis, you just zoned out hard! You looked like you were gonna cry!”

The class erupted in laughter.

Ellis gripped the desk to steady himself.

Outside, a siren wailed faintly in the distance.

He didn’t blink.