They walked to the school’s front doors in silence. Jon wanted to say something, but he couldn’t find the right words to break the tension. They entered the building.
“I guess I’ll see you later,” Karyn said awkwardly.
“Uh, right. See you soon,” Jon mumbled.
As Karyn rushed off, Jon paused to get his bearings. Just like the bus and the mall, the school was crowded with role-reversed girls and boys, many of whom he recognized. It was a surreal experience, seeing once preppy girls in muscle shirts, and previously macho boys in skirts. Then again, it’s not all new, he noted, as he recognized a geeky boy who was mostly unchanged, aside from longer hair and slightly tighter jeans.
Jon flinched as the bell rang. Just five minutes until class started. He hurried down the hallway to his locker. As he pulled the locker open, he found another surprise. He had never decorated his locker before, but now it was adorned with photos of him alongside Karyn, his siblings, and other students. He snatched a picture of himself standing beside three teenage boys, all close and affectionate. They were familiar, but he didn’t know any of them very well. I guess boys in this world are a lot more sociable. These must be my new friends.
He stuck the picture back up and threw the things he didn’t need in his locker. Then he rushed up the stairs and to his first class of the day: math. His regular seat was taken, so he sat in the first empty seat he could find. He sighed in relief; he still had a minute before class started.
“Mr. Gibson? What are you doing here?”
Jon looked up. It was Mr. Phillips, his math teacher. The man wore a cream-colored button-up shirt and long, professional black skirt. The teacher was normally tall, but he now wore high-heeled shoes that made him tower over his students.
“What do you mean?”
“Aren’t you in my third period class? You were here yesterday.”
Jon’s face paled. It hadn’t even occurred to him that his classes would be different. “Sorry, Mr. Phillips.” He blushed as he gathered his things and hurried out the door. He raced to his locker and pulled out his school supplies. His math folder was indeed labeled “3rd Period,” he now noticed. He leafed through his other folders and found one labeled “5th Period: English Lit.” He hadn’t been taking an English literature class before the change, but he clearly was now. Fortunately, the teacher’s name was written down, and he was able to find the proper classroom. But by the time he reached it and took his seat, the bell had rung. He was late.
