by S.E. Akers
It talked about how their shareholders were up in arms at the last stockholder’s meeting. From what I gathered, Xcavare Enterprises had been buying up mines and land for exploration, but they only unearthed a fraction of their resources before closing them down.
Why would they abandon a mine they’d paid millions and millions of dollars for when it still had reserves? Aside from the huge waste of money, I couldn’t imagine how devastating it probably was for all the employees who ended up losing their jobs.
Before I knew it, the bell signaling the end of sixth-period rang. That tidbit of information didn’t make me feel any more relaxed. If anything, I was more worried than ever.
It was just one article. One. All the others were so positive. Maybe its writer had an agenda? That was possible. The article was either truthful or a malicious hatchet job. Though I was afraid the answer to whichever one it was would only be revealed with time.
I hurried across the courtyard and entered the Music and Arts building in record time. Our Art teacher, Mrs. Mesure, was standing outside her door, greeting each student as they entered.
“Good afternoon, Shiloh,” Mrs. Mesure beamed.
“I hope so,” I answered optimistically.
As I walked over to grab one of the smocks hanging beside the sinks, I glanced up at the black and white clock on the wall. Just forty-five more minutes, I noted, still antsy.
Maybe Art will clear my mind a bit? I’d always found this class to be a relaxing end to my school day.
“We’re going to be doing some painting today,” Mrs. Mesure announced. “I’m passing around some landscape photographs of local buildings and sceneries that my junior classes compiled during their field trip last week.” She began dispersing a thick stack of 11 x 14 photos. “You’re to reproduce them using watercolors to the best of your abilities.”
Since my assigned easel sat in the back, right next to the windows, I already knew I was in for the crappiest pick in the pile. Oh, what I wouldn’t give at times for a perk-granting surname that started with an “A”. Within seconds, Jessica Fields handed me the last picture, which happened to be turned face down.
I flipped it over. Son-of-a-Bitch, I grumbled as I stared at the black and white photo. The Riverside Pocahontas Coal Mine… Well, that figures!
Chapter 3
