"Well! I can see that I've been wasting my time here, and so have you! Let's forget the whole thing!" Laura shrieked, losing all control of herself. She slammed a book down hard.

Laura noticed that quite a few children jumped at that and looked very startled. She came to her senses and very quietly said, "I think that we're all tired for today. Take out your library books and read until it's time to go home."

She looked at the clock again. It was only seven minutes to three.

Will this day never end? she wondered hysterically.

The seven minutes finally passed, and Laura watched the children tumble out of the room in small groups, obviously gossiping about her.

When the last pupil had gone, Laura put her head down on her desk and wept. She sobbed and gasped hysterically for about ten minutes. Then she ran for the washroom to wash her face. She powdered her nose and got ready to go home.

Well, it's really something when I fall apart over every little thing! Why should I take it out on the children just because I'm lonely and frustrated? Thirty-six and never been fucked. I must have set some kind of a record.

Laura wept again and, consumed with guilt, she packed up her books and walked out of the building. She passed Mr. Lawson, the only attractive single man in the school, but as usual he ignored her. She was about to say hello, but decided against it as long as he was deliberately looking the other way, just to avoid her.

Depressed and still guilty about the way she had behaved in class, Laura drove slowly home, asking herself what was the matter with her.

Why am I such a dud? I never go anywhere that's exciting, and I never have any fun. The few men I know avoid me like the plague. I'm not ugly. I see much homelier women having boyfriends and dates, so why can't l? Oh, I wish that I were anyone but me. I wish I were dead!