- Dec 25, 2004
- 33,794
- 203
- 32
- Faith
- Presbyterian
- Marital Status
- Private
- Politics
- US-Republican
Kids stood scattered across the schoolyard, screaming and laughing. The crisp autumn air nipped at their ears. They hugged their coats close to themselves, in an attempt to stay warm. A loud bell rang, tolling across the city. The childrens play halted, and they filed into the old, huge school building. Inside, teachers welcomed the children into the colorful classrooms for the school day. Coats were hung on hooks in coatrooms and books were stacked neatly on school desks. The pledge of allegiance recited and hands folded, lessons began.
However, things were different for the students of room 118. They halted in the doorway of their normally bustling classroom. The desks were arranged in neat rows and the decorations gone. In their place was the dreary cursive alphabet. A strange woman sat at Miss Roses desk. The children gaped at her and she stood, revealing her astounding height. Come, come, children, she said sharply. Do not dawdle. She beckoned to the children to enter. Come, come, I say! Hang your coats, neatly I say. Choose a chair and be seated! The children obeyed her commands fearfully.
She slammed a ruler against the wooden desk. The children jumped. I am Mrs. Hawkins. Not Miss, not Mizz, and NOT Missus. Do you understand, children? The children nodded. I cannot hear nods.
Yes, Mrs. Hawkins, the class said in unison.
Good, Mrs. Hawkins scanned the classroom.
A small boy raised his hand tentatively. Mrs. Hawkins called on him.
Uh.. where is.. uh Miss Rose? the boy asked quietly.
Speak up, boy, and do not stutter! Mrs. Hawkins commanded. What is your name?
Tommy, he gulped. Tommy Rollins.
Miss Rose is away tending to her mother who has fallen ill, Thomas, Mrs. Hawkins said sharply. She turned to address the class. Take your spelling books out, class. I want to examine your skills, she seemed to sneer.
Hours later, the children stared at the clock with fatigue, praying that by some miracle 30clock would suddenly arrive and they would be free, rid of this awful witch.
The children had had to stay in for afternoon recess because they made mistakes on the spelling quiz. Mrs. Hawkins made them write every single word in the book ten times each. They recited the times tables twice, which they hated, and Johns mouth was cleaned was soap for saying a bad word.
Finally the bell rang. The children sighed with relief, gathered their things and fled. The day had been catastrophic. They hoped it would never happen again.
However, things were different for the students of room 118. They halted in the doorway of their normally bustling classroom. The desks were arranged in neat rows and the decorations gone. In their place was the dreary cursive alphabet. A strange woman sat at Miss Roses desk. The children gaped at her and she stood, revealing her astounding height. Come, come, children, she said sharply. Do not dawdle. She beckoned to the children to enter. Come, come, I say! Hang your coats, neatly I say. Choose a chair and be seated! The children obeyed her commands fearfully.
She slammed a ruler against the wooden desk. The children jumped. I am Mrs. Hawkins. Not Miss, not Mizz, and NOT Missus. Do you understand, children? The children nodded. I cannot hear nods.
Yes, Mrs. Hawkins, the class said in unison.
Good, Mrs. Hawkins scanned the classroom.
A small boy raised his hand tentatively. Mrs. Hawkins called on him.
Uh.. where is.. uh Miss Rose? the boy asked quietly.
Speak up, boy, and do not stutter! Mrs. Hawkins commanded. What is your name?
Tommy, he gulped. Tommy Rollins.
Miss Rose is away tending to her mother who has fallen ill, Thomas, Mrs. Hawkins said sharply. She turned to address the class. Take your spelling books out, class. I want to examine your skills, she seemed to sneer.
Hours later, the children stared at the clock with fatigue, praying that by some miracle 30clock would suddenly arrive and they would be free, rid of this awful witch.
The children had had to stay in for afternoon recess because they made mistakes on the spelling quiz. Mrs. Hawkins made them write every single word in the book ten times each. They recited the times tables twice, which they hated, and Johns mouth was cleaned was soap for saying a bad word.
Finally the bell rang. The children sighed with relief, gathered their things and fled. The day had been catastrophic. They hoped it would never happen again.
