This morning was horrible. It all started at 6:31 when I got out of bed.

Moments after waking up, I was running around like a headless chicken looking for forms and homework until 7:00 rolled around and I had to leave. Of course, I didn’t make it out on time and by 7:15 I was stumbling around the subway station scrabbling for enough change to pay the fare. My stumbling didn’t help my efforts not to spill my tea.

So dripping and scalded I hurried onto the waiting train. I set my backpack down on the floor. With my hands free, I tried to wipe all the burning liquid off my body. But, in the commotion, I failed to notice that the waist strap of my bag was stuck in the door of the subway.

Here’s a little fact about subway trains: only one side of doors opens at a time. This ensured that my bag would stay firmly entrapped in the shut door (despite all my tugging and grunting) for seven stops after the one I needed to get off at.

So half an hour behind schedule and woefully drenched in tea, I arrived at school. Where I proceeded to flunk a math test and embarrass myself in front of a teacher.

I think it’s safe to say that I woke up on the wrong side of the bed.