Hornets' Nest Observation

9/17/09
Dan Williams

Ashley and Felicia are sitting at a table by a window in the area just outside the Hornets’ Nest snack bar. Ashley is wearing an orange hooded sweatshirt with the words “Paradise Beach” on the front. Felicia is wearing a thin yellow hoodie over a black T-shirt.
“It’s funny,” Ashley says. “We’re doing observations in another class, but we can’t draw conclusions.” Ashley says the students she observes for that other class have to be in the third grade or younger.
The sun shines through the window, warming everyone’s back. Across the room, three young men are watching SportCenter. The TV always seems to be tuned to ESPN, the sports network.
Four young women sit at the table next to Ashley and Felicia: Ellen, Katie, Mikaila, and Emily. Katie is eating a fruit cup filled with green and red grapes. She throws a grape at a male student sitting 20 feet away, saying she is trying to get a reaction out of him that she can write about for this observational assignment. Her throw misses. The reaction doesn’t come from her target, but from Damon, who is sitting in a booth nearby: “Yo, yo, yo, you gotta pick that up!” Katie ignores him, and the red grape sits on the floor next to the recycling bin, heating up in a square of sunshine.
Pete and Jack are in a booth next to Ashley and Felicia’s table. Pete is eating a breakfast sandwich made with sausage and egg – “Don’t forget the muffin,” he says – and he is drinking a Sobe beverage. Jack is drinking a chocolate low-fat milk.
Pete says, “Ooh, ooh, an interesting color to describe.” He appears to be talking about someone he sees outside.
Jack looks at the television, which is showing a commercial. “That looks good,” he says. “CC’s Pizza.”
Ethan, Jeremy, Ross, and Mikaila move to the couches in the TV area and start taking notes.
Pete’s computer is playing an Elton John song and he sings along: “’Benny, Benny, Benny and the Jets.’ I love this song.”
Jack: “Yeah, ‘Benny and the Jets.’ Sweet song.”
Over in the snack bar, Kristin and Katelyn are sitting in a booth. Katelyn is wearing a grey T and faded jeans. A cell phone peaks out of her front pants pocket. She is wearing two necklaces – one a simple chain with a heavy ring on it. Kristin is wearing faded jeans and a long-sleeved shirt over a white top over a blue T-shirt. A band holds her hair in place. An orange juice bottle sits on the table between them. It is not clear whom it belongs to.
The room next to the Hornets’ Nest had no smell, but the snack bar smells of something sweet and slightly burnt, like toast. It’s 10:40 a.m. and the staff is getting ready for the lunch rush. The guy at the sandwich station fills bottles with mustard and mayonnaise. A woman works behind him cleaning up the counters. Another woman sprays oil on large oven trays.
Back in the TV area, Ethan seems to be asleep. His head is tilted back in his chair. His sunglasses are on, but from the side it is clear his eyes are closed. Without opening them, he reaches to scratch his cheek.
Students start gathering their things at the end of the class period. Ethan takes his glasses off and rubs his face.. Then he stands up and leaves with his classmates.