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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Teacher (10/26/06)
My pounding heart hit my rib cage with such force I was afraid that my Hindi teacher would be able to see it from her vantage point of view and ask me to come to the front of the room. I slowly looked around me, and I could see all the other kids chattering happily and taking out their notebooks.

Aagh! What am I going to do? I thought. It seemed like I was the only one who hadn't done my homework. Mrs. Ravi, our Hindi teacher had just asked us to take out our homework so that she could have a look at it. How could I explain that I had forgotten my work at home? Being a shy kid, I didn't dare look up at her as she slowly made her way around the classroom, looking at everyone's books. Varun, the guy who sat beside me looked sympathetically at me. He knew what it was like to be in trouble with this teacher.

“John!” Her voice thundered in my head as she spoke to my classmate sitting behind me. “Where is your book? Have you not done your homework?”

“No.... Ma'am.... I couldn't...”

“Couldn't? Couldn't?” She bellowed. “Go to the front of the room! Immediately!”

My hands were shaking, and I sat on them to stop them from shaking. O God, my young mind finally turned to the only one whom I thought could help me, God please could you make me disappear? Please... please....?

“Zippora?” The roar in my heart now seemed to have made me dumb. I looked up slowly, terrified that she would drag me to the front of the class by pulling my ear, as I had seen her do once. “Go to the front!” She ordered.

I willed my trembling legs to stand up, as I walked slowly to the front of the class, and turned to face the rest of my classmates.

“Well, kids,” the teacher addressed the whole class. “ This is what happens if you don't do your homework.” Before I knew what happened, her heavy hand came into contact with my cheek, and I stood shaken in front of the class, as a red stain slowly made its way onto my face. I felt totally humiliated and angry. My eyes filled with tears, but because I didn't want to give her the satisfaction of seeing me cry, I clenched my fists and looked down until I was sent back to my seat.

God, why didn't you help me? I questioned once I returned to my place. My mind couldn't comprehend why God just didn't come down from heaven and make her pay for what she did to me. Ever since then, the word 'Teacher' brings back bad memories for me, but as I look back now, I realise that there are some things in this world that we have to face. They may be very unjust, but who will stand up for them if we don't? And if we don't go through these experiences, maybe we would not think of standing up for them either....?
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Member Comments
Member
Date
julie wood
11/07/06
A beautifully written story! I could see both teacher and child and feel the child's pain at the unjust and humiliating treatment. Great dialog! I could relate to it as I have had several teachers, especially in the lower elementary grades, who meted out unjust and sometimes bizarre punishments.
David Liberto
11/07/06
I was roped in immediately and this definitely held my attention. I related to the protagonist through the classroom scene and the prose flowed and did not distract. I did get a little confused with the last two lines of the piece, especially with the word "them." Truly a good start, thank you for giving.
Christian Thangasamy
12/17/06
I can't comprehend how an adult could slap a child. I feel really sorry for school children who are beaten in front of their peers. God gives us the Grace to bear and survive through our problems. I don't think that the author's life has been affected because of her performance in learnig a language.