mrs. samilian taught 8th grade math
every time
mrs. samilian
slapped a dusty
chalkboard
w/her pointer stick
i smiled.
no more than 5” tall,
mrs. samilian taught 8th grade math.
some days she wore
leather pants.
some days she slapped
the board w/ her pointer stick
while
wearing leather pants,
and i would smile.
one day
mrs. samilian
called on me to
answer a problem
at the board.
she wore leather pants,
slapped the board.
i could not stand up.
i did not smile.
‘is there a problem,
mr. jack?’
slap
‘you cannot come up
to the board?’
slap slap
‘why can you not
come up to the board,
mr. jack?’
slap slap slap
i stood
slowly.
girls cringed.
boys laughed.
one shouted,
‘jack’s got a boner.’
and i did,
proudly.
mrs. samilian took one look,
smirked.
‘you may go.’
instead of the principal’s office
i went to the boy’s restroom.
slap, slap, slap.
when i explained to the principal,
he let it go. ‘he’s just a boy.’
when i explained to my father,
he let it go, as well.
when i explained to my mother
she grounded me for two weeks
and made me apologize
to mrs. samilian,
who politely declined,
when i tried to bring the subject
at hand
up.
Great write Jack had me chuckling all the way through.
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