Episode 6: The Twins’ School Day

School is inefficient.

Children speak too much.

Teachers explain too little.

Hades and I endure.

“Group activity!” the teacher says.

Unfortunate.

We are assigned partners.

They attempt conversation.

“So, like, what do you think—”

“No,” I say.

They blink.

Hades watches quietly.

One of them laughs nervously.

“You guys are weird.”

“Yes,” he replies.

They proceed incorrectly.

We allow it.

They ignore instructions.

We observe.

They argue.

We wait.

Eventually—

“Why didn’t you say anything?” one demands.

I look at them.

“You did not ask anything worth answering.”

Hades nods. “Your grammar was also unacceptable.”

The teacher intervenes.

“Is there a problem here?”

“Yes,” I say. “There is a lack of structure, clarity, and competence.”

The teacher frowns.

“At your age, you should be more cooperative.”

“At your position,” I reply, “you should be more observant.”

We are sent home with a note.

Mother reads it.

Pauses.

Then—

twack

“…Ow,” I say.

“Be subtle,” she replies.

She kisses my forehead.

“Next time, let them fail more completely.”

Hades nods.

“Understood.”