The Idea of an Essay, Volume 3

36 The Idea of an Essay: Volume 3 to make some sort of statement. He looked back down at his paper. Then, back at me. I began to think he forgot how to speak, until he straightened up, cleared his throat, and began to read his main point from his paper. The words didn’t flow out like a pleasant stream, in fact they were choppy and scratchy as if I had awakened his from a deep sleep and he was just attempting to put together some sort of sensible sentence. Once again, a good move Jack. However it’s not how it sounded that mattered, it’s what he said. As the words began to come together I slowly came to the understanding that this debate was over. I was finished. As he near perfectly quoted my brother from earlier that week, I froze. There was no way. How did he produce such an idea? He found the one, same flaw my brother found in my case. “It is not simply that more crashes happen within the first year of driving due to age, but instead because of inexperience.” Yes, he may have just read this out of an article that he happened to stumble across that very morning. But that didn’t matter. What mattered was that I had to somehow reply to this dismantling statement. My stomach dropped. My mind raced. My heart stopped. I looked out at my classmates and teacher to see every eye staring right back, awaiting a response. But I had no response. I stood there, froze in disbelief. Looking over at my partner I could see the calm, empty stare in his deep blue eyes, oblivious to the chaos he had unleashed in my mind. The debate was over, no matter how great of a case I made on the following subjects or topics. It was already over. My mind flashed back to my brother nudging me to prepare for such a moment. I could have focused, researched and now responded, but instead I stood there, mind empty and all pride demolished. It was over. Good move Jack, good move.