Lost Locker Files #1

So, after living in their house in Reading, Pennsylvania for more than 37 years, my parents are packing up their furniture, personal belongings and memories to make a change and move to a smaller, more quaint, community. In cleaning out their house, my mom and dad have been unearthing many of my longforgotten (and sometimes embarrassing) treasures, including my 1984 Olympic paraphernalia (I was BEYOND obsessed with this event for some reason), crusty, old posters of my favorite bands of yesteryear (the Stray Cats, Loverboy, Rick Springfield, etc.), a collection of lobby poster of 80’s films from my years of working at the local movie theatre, and miscellaneous papers and homework from middle school, high school and college.

I just received a box of such goodies from my mom, and was surprised to find a collection of essays from my Advanced Composition class, senior year of high school. To give you insight into the kind of teen I was and further embarrass myself, I thought I’d post some of my teen writings here from time to time…going forward to be known as installments of the “Lost Locker Files.”

So, here goes. This first essay, entitled All For Your, Mr. Fox, sums up how I felt about one of my tasks at the above-mentioned job working at the local movie theatre. And now, for your reading pleasure…

All For You, Mr. Fox

Armed with a few measly plastic trash bags, I feebly entered the deserted movie theatre. Mentally preparing myself for the sickening task I was about to perform, I slowly started to venture down the aisle.

Beginning at the front of the theatre, I bent at the midrift to pick up a lonely gum wrapper. The sight I beheld in the following split-second was enough to make my heart stop. As I started at the floor, which had previously been hiden by the protecive shelter of the seats, a blank gaze veiled my shocked face.

Innumberable, undentified objects were strewn about the floor. Crushed popcorn containers made up the majority of trash. Like a well-trained army, the popcorn buckets were lined up and ready for attack. As I picked up an apparently empty popcorn container, I was greeting by a rushing tide of cold crumbs of popcorn. The popcorn, which had been lodged in the container by the residue of cold and sticky butter, poured mercilessly onto my hand.

I flinched in disgust as I proceeded to do my duty. Trying desperately to block my nasal passages from the appalling odor, I continued to plunge through the theatre. I came across an aisle which was unlike any other. The floor, which appeared as a plush yellowish carpet, was, upon inspection, recognized as an inch-thick layer of popcorn. Small brown and gray dust particles clung helplessly to the sticky film on the popcorn. Visualizing their scream for help, I smiled to myself as I trudged along.

The next aisle seemed to spit in my face as I nearly lost my balance. Normally, I wouldn’t have minded this; however, this particular aisle was the location of a “Diet Coke Spill.” Like a modern artstyle, drops of soda were splashed about the floor, creating patterns as it weaved in and out of the chairs throughout the theatre.

I overlooked this slight inconvenience and proceeded through the door with my trashbag of “goodies.” In the lobby of the movie theatre I was greeted by many happy faces; for at last the theatre was theirs to destroy.

Sarcastically, I raised my garbage collection and praised the name of my employer; “Here’s to you, Donald Fox!”

Grade: 89% – 2% for spelling errors = 87% B

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For more on working teens, check out my friend and fellow blogger Anastasia Goodstein’s blog, Ypulse. Anastasia just posted an interesting piece about employment trends for teens, and summarizes the kinds of skills and values she learned while toiling away at her high school job at a bagel store.

I’d love to hear from you about your experiences if you’re a working teen. Do you think you’re gaining any valuable skills, no matter how menial the tasks involved? What’s your primary reason for working? Any nightmare experiences you want to share?