Story 10

He walked into the crowded common room, the bubbling conversation seeming far too loud. He really just wanted to go to his room, but that wasn’t going to happen yet.

“Hey, does anyone know what time it is?” He called out from his spot near the door. His phone had died a while ago, he had no watch, and for some reason the building was extremely lacking in clocks.

“SHOW TIME!!!” A group of theater kids shouted from the other end of the room, continuing with their awful cover of some Hamilton song.

“Uh…” he stood there, a little dumbfounded. Was that a coincidence or was that their answer to his question?

After standing there for a moment more, and not receiving any other answers he asked again. “Hey, what time is it?” He called out slightly louder this time.

“Tea time!” A small boy shouts from next to him, running off towards a low table with a tray of teacups in his hands.

Again he stood there, confused. Was that the answer to his question or was the world just messing with him?

“Does anyone know what time it is?” He called out again, a little exasperated now.

“Ain’t nobody got time for that!” A girl shouted as she and her friend marched past him into the room.

“What…?” He stood there, still not knowing the time. “Can someone please tell me what time it is?”

“It’s nap time.” A boy yawned as he walked by him and up the stairs, stretching his arms over his head.

He stood there, more dumbfounded and exasperated than before. He just wanted to know the time…

“Hey! What time is it?!” He called out again, louder.

“It’s too early for that.” A girl said, walking by him. She was yawning and looked exhausted.

“What?!” He whipped around, staring at her as she walked out of the common room and down the hall.

“It’s too late for that!” The same girl, less tired looking, jogged past him. Quickly going out of the door and down the hall as well.

The world was messing with him. That had to be it. But now he was in too deep, he needed to know the time.

“What time is it!?” He asked again, looking around desperately.

“Time for you to get a watch.” An older boy walked by him, staring down at his phone.

“But…” he stood there, truly dumbfounded. That had to be an answer to his question, it just had to be. Was everyone here just messing with him??

He stood there, silent and confused, as people walked around him and continued to chatter.

“I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE DAMN TIME IS!” He shouted desperately.

The entire room fell silent, and the head-boy of the school's common room looked at him for a moment before answering.

“It’s time for you to calm down.”