by Jeff Barnhart

Created on: August 08, 2008

Ocular Demise

My hands dripped small droplets of sweat. My face felt like the rocks under a waterfall; cold and wet. I had to give a presentation to a room of twenty-five students. That day I discovered what it was like to talk in front of fifty eyes that seemed to dive into my mind and pull out any sense of confidence I had.

When I gave the presentation my voice quivered and squeaked. My young age afforded me the dubious honor of being laughed at for my fluctuating voice. Memories are all I have of my high school years, some bad, some good, and others just so much history.

In school I had a rough time communicating with other students. I felt that I had been singled out of this race for something as yet unknown to me. Toward the end of my school years, I found two people I considered my friends. The three of us would travel to various places around town as though we had been life long friends. Studying didn't enter into my years at school, I had a knack, or gift if you prefer, that enabled me to scan a book or material given as homework, and know and understand everything.

Most of my fellow students had to literally knock themselves out to receive grades that equaled mine. In a way, that helped me find my true friends. I met Brad Wine at a Math class I attended my junior year. I despised him at first. His attitude was that of all the other students - snobbery. As one develops, one learns that things are not as they seem. This was true of Brad, who became my best and most trusted friend.

His girlfriend, Camilla Remsen, had been in chorus and band and her voice was the worst of all chorus members. She stayed in band because she was very attractive and used her appearance to her advantage. I liked her a lot. She said what she felt no matter what, it was her way. She would not have been Camilla without her strong opinions.

Because of my tall and slender frame, people were fond of calling me "pencil boy." Not a flattering term by any means, but one I dealt with as best I could. While in school, I felt like I had been in a daze most of the time. I never went to parties or dances, although I would have loved to have taken Sharon Myers to the prom. Most of the time I just kept to myself. I loved watching the T.V. that stood against a wall in my parent's home.

I found myself amazed at the things this little box could do; transmit plays, social events, and the news. The people of Jasonville seemed to be tied to the television in a strange manner. It was odd that something

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