"Please continue writing your Anne Frank essays, class," I say, ignoring Cortez's comment.

He's finally taking off his backpack. Without looking directly at me, he reaches into his bag. What did he just pull out? A phone? Ipod? Electronic devices are banned in the classroom. Most, if not all the students, have gone back to the Anne Frank assignment, but not Cortez. His hands are working feverishly, but I can't see what he's doing because his hands and the bag have disappeared under the desk.

"I gotta go to the bathroom," he says suddenly, standing with his hands behind his back.

"Class, please remember to take bathroom breaks in between periods, not during class," I say.

"But I gotta go!" he says, grabbing the front of his pants.

Snickers.

Here and There is a small collection of poems and short stories from Jamaica and America. The author immigrated to the U.S. in her early twenties. Her memories of Jamaica are taking the background to the new ones from her adopted country, as she's now spent most of her life in North America. TVKnight resides with her family in Connecticut.