The end of the world. Apocalypse. Judgment Day. 2012 Mayan predictions. End of Ze World (hilarious youtube video that is not quite school appropriate but everyone should check out). “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine)” by R.E.M.. The Day After Tomorrow film. People have attempted to explain this foreseen event of the world’s end in many ways through religion, history, humor, music and even entertainment. Attempting to wrap our minds around every single living and non-living thing on earth suddenly just becoming obliterated and vanish, is simply too impossible of an idea to totally comprehend. Therefore, we often think of ways to explain this idea we do not really understand or know anything about for certain. But no matter what you call it…it is a frightening concept that I am sure has crossed everyone’s mind at some point. Hypothetically, if the world came to an end in one big, explosive moment like in our book, then I wonder what those final moments would feel like…If the end of the world happened in the span of about two minutes in the middle of one of our 8th period AP English 12 class discussions, I think it would go something like this.
The deafening sound of a massive explosion fills the room as the sky turns burnt orange and then black as suddenly the entire room darkens. Not a single person in the ring of AP English students and Ms. Serensky completely understand what exactly just happened, but somehow they all know that this is the end. The curse of the books they read somehow paralleling their lives seems to have come true one last, epic time. After the first few moments of shocked silence, the room turns into chaos. Henry of course starts yelling at people and running around disagreeing with everyone. Other students like Jillian, Tina, Brooke, and Haley (because she cries when other people do) start breaking down, and Kathryn, Lizzie H and Hannah immediately attempt to comfort their distressed classmates. A few students start to quickly write messages or information to leave behind…so Sarah draws some beautiful piece of artwork, Lizzy B writes an amazing short story, and Chase writes some genius code that the future will need in case of survivors. Ms. Serensky sits in her usual powerful, silent judgment and lets all the events play out like the captain going down with her ship. Chris, Dom, Kelly, and Mariel attempt to lighten everyone’s moods as they crack jokes through all the madness. Another explosion, bigger and louder than the last, tears through the room and the knowledge of the last few moments approaching plagues everyone with silence again. The classroom’s breathing quickens in tension and stress until Alex H breaks the silence and suddenly starts up the discussion again as he pulls an appropriate quote, states several literary devices, makes his point, and waits for someone else to continue on. Katie C joins right in and intelligently disagrees with this quote, and the discussion effortlessly begins flowing once again. This continues and they all take turns, discuss, disagree, and talk just like any other day up until the very end.
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