Newspaper Page Text
After-School Teacher Experiences "A Real Shoe In"
By Chandra R. Thomas
Lifestyles/Enter
tainment Editor
I thought it would
be a quaint day with
my scholarly little
two year-old pupils
at Ben Hill Pre-
School Academy.
However, my cheer
ful smile faded
when I was told the
news. The teacher
for the four year-
old class was ab
sent. That meant
(oh, God) I had to
watch the fiesty
four year-old class.
I took a deep
breath, wiped the
tears of sorrow from
my eyes, and pre
pared for two hours
of uninhibited tor
ture. However, to
my surprise, I re
ceived a most hu
morous experience.
All was going well.
After “quiet time”
The kids huddled
on the floor to watch
Barney and
Friends.
I noticed some
thing weird about
one kid, Michael’s
shoes. I said,
“Michael take off
your shoes and put
them on the right
foot.”
Michael
struggled with the
two tight-fighting
black hi-top
Michael Jordan
sneakers. After his
dilemma, I told him
to stand before me.
“Put them on the
right foot,” I de
manded, for the
second time.
I watched as
he battled with the
shoes once again.
Then, I realized he
was wearing two left
shoes. My mind
was awhirl, “Two
left shoes?” I said
to myself.
Of course, being
the genius that I
am, I yelled out to
the class “Does any
body have shoes
like Michael?” Sure
enough, little Jus
tin stood up.
“Switch shoes,” I
said, feeling very
much in control of
the situation.
So they both
struggled with the
shoes and stood
before me. Michael
had on a left and a
right shoe, while
Justin had on two
left shoes.
I kept telling my
self “Get a grip. Get
a grip.”
I studied their feet
and once again I
yelled out, “Does
anybody have
shoes like Michael
and Justin?” Those
precocious four
year-olds screamed
“Kendall” in unison.
I scanned the
room (as all pre
school teachers
must learn to do)
with a military pre
cision, but there
was no Kendall.
At this point I
wanted to run out
of the room with my
hands in the air
screaming wildly. I
took another deep
breath. I just knew
I was not crazy
(well, not yet).
“Where is
Kendall?” I asked
very calmly. “He
went home,” they
yelled together,
once again.
Just then, Jus
tin let out a loud
shriek and tears
streamed down his
face. “He [Kendall]
took my shoe. He
took my shoe. My
mommy’s going to
be mad,” he ex
claimed, while
Michael and the
rest of the class just
stared at me.
I held Justin in
my arms and as
sured him that ev
erything was okay
and that I’d explain
the situation to his
mother (when I re
ally wanted to cry
myself).
They both took off
their shoes and I
tried to figure out
which shoe was for
whom. But, they
were both the same
size, color, style,
and condition.
Just as I was
about to give up,
Kendall’s mother
came through the
door. “Amen” I
yelled.
I swear I could
have kissed her.
The three boys
took off their
shoes. Thank God
Justin’s mother
had put his name
in his shoe. Ev
eryone got their
own shoes and
seemed quite sat
isfied. Oh, guess
what? Justin’s
mother, wasn’t
even mad.
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