exams

he sits back in his seat with an air of carelessness
his pencil dangling almost daintily from his relaxed fingertips
an arm slung casually behind his seat back
the neat stack of white paper stapled and sitting before him
still warm from the printer
is not unkind
nor inviting
but awfully neutral
he gazes back, his eyes full of one message:
"i wish i had studied"
and with a sigh, he begins.