Gabriel

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It is 330pm and I rushed down from class to the staff room. 
 

The routine at the end of the day is to pack up and dash to our respective transports home. So I walked through the staff room towards my table which is situated at the other end of the room.  

But just before I reached it I was stopped by Ms Kamini aka Come in Me.  

‘I forgot to mention to you that we have Contact Time today,’ she said.  

Damn it! 

I had forgotten all about that. Had I not been reminded, I would surely have left for home. Being new I am sure I would have gotten away with it and be forgiven if I had done so.  

However, being a responsible teacher, I stayed reluctantly.  

Minutes later I was at the fourth floor school hall, seated and waited anxiously for what was to be my first contact time in this school.  

I remember I dreaded these meetings because instead of having a healthy discussion about the daily goings on, it would digress to an 1800-COMPLAIN session.  

I can’t stand that. It irks me; these complain sessions. Come on folks! Get on with the programme! 

Fortunately it went as it should. The Head of Primary School, Ms Helen Tjio went through the programme for Saturday which was to be the Parent-Teacher Conference.  

It is a good thing I don’t have to talk the parents just yet.  

It is not that I do not want to do my job but for now I have no idea what to say to them. 

I have yet to know any of them. Well except for one, Gabriel.  

In every school, in every class, there will always be one kid that everyone warns about. That kid happens to be in my class.  

What luck! 

Only earlier today, as I arrived in the classroom, the kids were having a ball of a time, making lots of noise. As a teacher who emphasizes on discipline and good manners, I had to put my foot down.  

As I entered they rushed back to their places and stood up waiting to greet me for the first time for the day. I gave my best not-happy-with-your-attitude-behaviour look. 

‘Why is there so much noise? It is more of zoo than a school? Calling yourselves the best class but with the worst behaviour!’ 

Gabriel was still at the back of the class talking to his classmate. 

‘Gabriel! How come you are not at your seat?!’ 

He gingerly walked across the room to his seat. He stood with his hands in his pockets.  

‘Hands by the side!’ 

Quickly he takes it out and places it by his side and stands stock straight like a pole.  

‘If you don’t like your seat I can arrange to have it taken away. Then I will make you seat on the floor or stand for the whole lesson!’ 

He gave me a i-am-will-not-be-restricted-by-your-rules face. 

‘Would you like to stand for the whole day?’  

I said carefully omitting that he might have the chance to seat on the floor. I have cornered him to say no and decide that there’s no alternative but to listen to Mr Avloomat.  

I repeated the question. 

‘No,’ he said softly. 

‘What!’ I said pretending not to have heard it. 

He answered more audibly.  

‘No what? No monkey? No tiger? No snake?’ 

On another occasion, this would have been funny. Admittedly I did want to laugh at my own joke; yes I know, lame.  

The class was silent. All eyes were on me or Gabriel. 

‘No Mr. Avloomat.’ 

I turned my attention to rest of the class.  

‘Next time when you know I will be up if I see such misbehaviour again I will make sure I conduct the whole lesson with all of you standing up. Do you understand?’ 

‘Yes Mr Avloomat.’ 

I felt so powerful.  

You. All of you. Your tiny little arses are in the palm of my hand..  
 

Soundtrack of the Day: Hots for Teacher by Van Halen

Finger Acrobatics performed by Avloomat @ 1657HRS 

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