Funny Face

People I run into in the hallways at school keep addressing me as follows: "What's wrong?!" Apparently my natural expression the last few weeks has reflected some degree of misery I wasn't aware of. So, I've been answering this question with: "Oh, just tired." And then they respond with an urgent lilt: "Why?"

They think I'm tired because of some catastrophe. "Just the usual end-of-the-year tired," I say, trying to rid myself of any false scent of the tragic that I am emitting.

It's those darned faces, again. The ones I make without realizing it. I make them when I think people are idiots. I make them when I'm impatient. I make them when I am asked to do something unpleasant.

Today's unpleasant task was proctoring a standardized test. If you've never had to do this, let me help you get the sensation of it by bringing up this familiar saying: "It's like watching paint dry." It's like that. The proctor is watching people think. For hours. Hours and hours of watching people think.

I suppose there may be some circumstances under which watching people think could be a little bit interesting. Watching a supermodel think might be interesting. Or maybe an actor, like Robert Downey, Jr. Yes, I could definitely watch Robert Downey, Jr. think for awhile. But even that would have its limits.

As we head toward summer, which should make me very happy, I will start working on banishing my miserable/funny/annoyed/baffled/bored/sassy face. The next person who runs into me in the hallway will say to me: "Wow! You look so happy! Are you thinking about Robert Downey, Jr.?"