A/N: This is a story I wrote about my technological curse. And before anyone can say that I’m just technologically challenged *cough At.Your.Service.Not cough* let me just say, it’s true. Especially seeing as I couldn’t get my scientific calculator to work one day. Mild swearing. No one’s real name is used in this, though I did slip my name in here…somewhere.

“And the shadow of the day, will embrace the world in gray, and the sun will set for you,” Shadow of the Day, Linkin Park, Minutes to Midnight

Alex’s POV

“Hey Amanda, isn’t it wonderful? We’ve got a math test first period! Agh.” I said with mock cheerfulness. “I just hope my calculator works this time.”

“You’re calculator didn’t work one time?” Amanda asked, laghing.

“Ya, and then Melissa put the exact same thing in and it worked. I’m telling you, I’m technologically cursed. Dumb scientific calculator, with all it’s dumb instructions. It came with this huge page filled with instructions. It’s a calculator for crying out loud, it doesn’t have to be that complicated does it?”

“It’s a scientific calculator, ya, it does have to be that complicated for one reason or another.” Amanda replied. At the sound of the bell we entered the room and sat in our assigned seats. Unfortunately for us, Ms. Wang got smart and assigned us seats the first day of the new trimester and made sure that I wasn’t seating at the same table as Amanda.

“Okay class, today we have a new student, Artemis Fowl. Artemis, you can sit in the empty seat behind Amanda. Also, I have canceled the test.” there was no response to the first thing she said, but when she mentioned that the test was canceled, everyone cheered. “Instead we will be working in the computer lab today. Make sure to bring your backpacks.”

Grabbing my backpack, binder and books I walked over to Amanda and we started to talk. “I’m so glad she cancelled the test.”

“Let me guess, you didn’t study.” Amanda said, one eyebrow raised.

“I didn’t, I never do. Unless it’s one of Mr Smith’s tests, I study for most of those because I can’t memorize all the prefixes latin roots and crap that he gives us.” I replied.

“Nice Alex, nice.” Amanda told me, sarcasticly.

“Whatever.”

“Hello, my name is Artemis.” Artemis said, interrupting our conversation.

“Alex,”

“Amanda,”

“I assume that Alex is short for Alexandra.” He asked me.

“No, my parents decided to give me a boy’s name. No duh it’s short for Alexandra, did you even need to ask?” I retorted. 

“No need to be rude.” Artemis replied, miffed. 

“No need to interrupt our conversation. I wonder what we’re doing in the computer lab. Oh well, at least we can sit anywhere we want.” I smiled, this way Amanda and I can actually talk to each other.

Once we were all seated at a computer in the computer lab, Ms. Wang told us what our assignmet was. “You are going to do a project on the relationship between math, and technology.”

“You have got to be kidding me,” I muttered under my breathe. “Why did it have to be technology.”

“It could be worse.” Amanda replied.

“How?” I snapped.

“We could be doing this report with Ms. Wang and Mr. Regi.” Amanda said.

“Good point. But why technology? I’m technologically cursed.”

“You are not cursed, you’re just technologically challenged.” she told me. When I raised an eyebrow, she continued, “It can’t be that bad.”

“Yes it is.” I replied, as if in agreement, the computer I was working at, crashed. “Told you!”

Some other stories by Lydia Tall:

• B Is For Betrayal
• Code Red Creations
• A Is For Accusation
• Disturbia Isn't a Pleasant Place
• A Goddess of Chaotic Balance

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