As if by some kind of cosmic cruelty, we finally wrapped up weeks of studying every communist dictator who ever ruined their country, and instead of taking a breather, we went straight into the next circle of historical hell—monarchs. Yeah, kings, queens, and royalty in general. Because clearly, if you’re gonna keep traumatizing students, you might as well do it chronologically. So, goodbye, Stalin and Mao—hello, blood-drunk kings and psychotic princes.
“Ladies and gentlemen!” my Mrs. Buehler announced in that overly cheerful, dead-inside voice all teachers get by the middle of the semester. “Give it up for William!”
The class clapped half-heartedly, and I considered evaporating into thin air. She patted my back way too enthusiastically, like I’d just won something other than a lifetime’
