Roderick's first class of the day is English. Beauneville Latin is not a large school, and there is generally one class per grade. Required classes (like English) are fairly large, because the entire grade attends.
The instructor is Mr. Cooper, and the theme for the year is American Literature. In September, students will read from the King James Bible, the Geneva Bible, New England religious writers and other colonial texts. The pace is quick; there is much to read. Mr. Cooper lectures about general themes and provides context for specific writers, but the class is too big for detailed discussion. Students who want to discuss the readings are encouraged to do so in small groups after school. Roderick noodges Molly, who smiles.
The next class is American History, Mr. Gibbon's class. Roderick likes Mr. Gibbon, who taught History last year. Mr. Cooper and Mr. Gibbon collaborate so that the pacing of American Literature and American History are roughly the same, but there are some differences. For example, Mr. Gibbon likes to spend a lot of time lecturing about military history; thus, while Mr Gibbon lectures in some detail about Cornwallis' campaign through the Carolinas in 1780, Mr. Cooper races ahead to cover Washington Irving and the Picturesque novelists.
Roderick likes to study history, especially battles and stuff. Literature, not so much.
At eleven, students have electives. Roderick, Megan Cupcake and several others take Latin; Natasha and Henry go to Art class. Molly practices piano in the auditorium, except when Art class studies Human Figure; then, she poses nude. Recently, there is great demand for Human Figure class, so she doesn't get much opportunity to practice in this time slot.
Mr. Horace is Beauneville Latin's lead Classics teacher, and he is quite demanding. Roderick isn't quite sure why he takes Latin; it just seems like the right thing to do. The class is not large, and students are encouraged to work in pairs. Roderick partners up with Megan Cupcake, who has no interest whatsoever in Latin, but wants an excuse to invite Roderick over to her house when her parents aren't home.
Molly and Roderick meet outside for lunch at noon. It's a lovely day, and there are picnic tables on the campus grounds, beneath the old oak trees. Mary, Margaret and Catherine Bloom join them. Mary has her Virginity Pledge prominently displayed on her three-ring binder; she thinks she recognized one of her summer sex partners in school, but she isn't sure. Margaret has already read several weeks ahead in Logic. Catherine secretly feeds little pieces of her sandwich to Mr. Fuzzums.
Amanda Dennis notes Molly and Roderick sitting together. She scribbles in her notebook.
At one o'clock, everyone is together again for Math with Mr. Euler. Roderick doesn't feel particularly strong in Math, but he wants to be able to compute bond interest and such.
The class remains together for Biology at two with Miss Agassiz. Miss Agassiz is new to the school, and extremely hot.
At three, the class breaks up again for electives. Roderick decided not to take another elective, but to use the time for studying. In the school library, he reads through the Literature and History assignments quickly, then walks with Megan to her house so they can work on Math, Biology and Latin. The Math and Biology assignments are easy, but Megan needs lots of extra help with the Latin. It's very difficult. She really needs Roderick to sit right next to her on the couch so they can read together.
