Previous Challenge Entry
Topic: Teachers (07/12/04)
TITLE: CHARACTER By Kenny Paul Clarkson 07/12/04 |
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT SEND ARTICLE TO A FRIEND |
The sounds of humming fluorescent lights and chalk screeching through a proper prepositional phrase accentuated the silence. All eyes were on Thom.
With a sinister grin and flick of the wrist, he released his missile and, within a split second, smacked the teacher’s puffy ’60s style hairdo dead center.
The sixth-grade class roared with laughter.
Fortunately for Mrs. Hester, her big hair cushioned the blow.
She literally didn’t know what hit her, and she didn’t know why the class was laughing, until … Thom reloaded and this time aimed lower.
The shriek he evoked was heard all the way to the principal’s office. Mr. Fox, accustomed to pre-adolescent shenanigans, burst into the classroom.
Dismissing Mrs. Hester, the silver-haired principal demanded to know what happened and who did it. No one would leave the room until someone confessed.
Once again, all eyes were on Thom.
Mr. Fox laid down the law. From that day forward rubber bands and paper clips would be considered contraband.
Their very possession would be cause for expulsion. They were prohibited.
There was nothing inherently wrong with rubber bands. Paper clips in the hands of trustworthy teenyboppers posed no cause for prohibition. It was Thom’s misuse of these items that led to their banishment. Liberty was lost due to the character flaw of one individual.