fandomhigh | US History (Monday, January 9, 7th period)

Josh put down his copy of the Washington Post when students began arriving.

"Welcome to US history. I'm Josh Lyman and up until a few weeks ago I was the deputy chief of staff for President Josiah Bartlet. You may all be suitably impressed now." He looked around the room. "Good."

"A few quick things. First of all, this won't be like most history classes you've had. Um, if you're from the United States and this part of the timeline, in any case. And can I say upfront that even having to modify my statement like that is still a bit on the weird side for my taste?

"Moving on. I'm not going to be teaching this class as a series of dates that you'll memorize for tests and then forget. Dates don't matter. Events matter. Broad themes matter." He raised his eyebrows. "There'll still be tests, though, but don't stress yourselves out trying to remember the exact date that the Northwest Territories opened to white settlement or the day Chief Joseph surrendered.

"I'm also not going to waste time explaining that the United States is the best country in the history of history, which was pretty much the overarching theme of my high school history classes. America has made some tremendous achievements and some huge strides towards freedom for all--but we're not there yet, and we've certainly had some colossal screw-ups. If you don't think so, I invite you to pay a visit to Pine Ridge reservation out in South Dakota, or to read the Dred Scot decision.

"History isn't static, and there isn't just one interpretation of any event. This class will be about discussing this fact." He looked around the room. "Which means if you don't open your mouth, you're not going to do very well. I'm not huge on paperwork, so most of your grade will be based on class participation."

He picked up a sign-up sheet from his desk. "Please be sure to sign in every class. If you're not here, you can't participate. If you can't participate, you can't pass. Also, you get detention, which I'm led to believe isn't your standard 'sit in a musty classroom with the health teacher' deal."

He smiled and pointed at the board, where he had scrawled a quote. Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it. "George Santayana wasn't talking about summer school. After you've signed in, please introduce yourself to the class and tell us what you think he meant."

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"Maybe if you're still alive," Lilly says after a little thought. "I mean, I get the whole thing they tell you with like, the Holocaust, and holy crap don't do that again, pay attention idiots. But when you're dead, you get a different perspective on history and time and stuff. Thinking you can escape it in one lifetime just seems foolish, no matter how many books you crack."

"If you're still alive?" Josh asked. "Oh! Are you another undead American, like Donna, my TA? Are you registered to vote?"

"Like Angel? Ha ha ha, no. My soul isn't transferable or whatever. I am technically dead, but I don't think I can register to vote in my current condition. I would be turning nineteen this year, but I don't exactly age anymore, hence my youthful glow. And I have to stay low-profile and all," Lilly says, very glad that Professor Lyman didn't recognize her name as the dead cheerleader from California ~~and hopes desperately that Sam doesn't bring it up on the phone, eleventy~~.

Josh nodded, looking only a little disappointed. "Tell me you wouldn't have voted Democrat?"

"Well, I wouldn't have voted Republican," she says incredulously. "I'd rather take another ashtray to the temple."

"Well, I can understand that sentiment," Josh said, "but a Democratic voter! Who could live forever!" He sighed. "Sorry. It's just such a new concept to me."

"You get used it. Compared to the rest of this crazy town, I'm the Queen of Normalcy. Seriously," Lilly said completely honestly.

"And as for the voting thing, you're the guy who "is the law!" right? Find me a loophole, and I'm there. Although you might want to design it to leave out all the old, crazy people in Florida. I don't know if they're banging around anywhere, but anything's possible. I mean, they're high on my list for who composed that zombie army that invaded town."

"Oh, there's got to be a loophole. I'll ask Donna how his people do it." Josh paused. "Wait. Zombie army?"

"Didn't get the memo on that one? Yeah, we were invaded by zombies last semester. Luckily, every one at this school is, like, from space and I think they just shot the zombies with their lasers or whatever. I'm not up on my intergalactic weaponry."

Lilly clasped a hand to her chest, and said, "But I'm not a zombie. Zombies are really disgusting, just like in the movies with the detachable limbs and the goo. I'd dead, not undead. There's a subtle difference, in that I have no desire to eat brains, and I smell good."

Josh nodded. "Got it. You're dead. My TA Donna is undead. As far as I know, neither of you eat brains."

His face froze. "And I can't believe I said that sentence sober and actually meant it."

US History (Monday, January 9, 7th period)

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