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A lesson in disguise A substitute teacher usually meant plenty of jabbering and trouble-making. Not this time! The pudgy woman plodded into the room like a drunken penguin, dark sunglasses pressed against the bridge of her nose. “Hello, class.” She spoke as though 50 moth balls filled the inside of her cheeks. We all nodded, like any other roomful of fourth graders would. She surprised us by asking questions about Mrs. Trainer, our regular teacher. Despite Mrs. Trainer being a firm but fair instructor, we were more than happy to offer complaints. Looking back, I guess that’s the way kids are. They want the “fair” without the “firm.” I went home feeling guilty about complaining, like I’d turned on someone who trusted me. I wondered all night if the other kids felt the same. What happened the next morning proved that Mrs. Trainer would be the best teacher I’d ever have. She didn’t hesitate to explain that talking negatively about others was immoral and would lead to fewer friends in the future. She also went on to reveal that she had been the substitute in disguise. Unlike most class pranks, the joke was on us, as well as a lesson I would remember and value forever. Dan Moskowitz, Huntersville, EnergyUnited |
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