I Almost Got Away with It

I wouldn’t say that I was a bad kid. I got only into a little mischief when I was younger. Like the time that I pulled Sally Wen’s hair because she wouldn’t give me some of her candy. It’s not like she didn’t deserve it. She gave some to Bobby and Jackie and Taylor and Bill. When she got to me, she turned up her nose, stuck out her tongue and walked past me. So, I pulled her hair. Mrs. O’Donley made me stand in the corner and sent a note home to Mom and Dad. Jeff, my older brother, signed the note. He said that she deserved it.

While making sure that Jeff’s signature looked authentic, I “forgot” to do my math homework. Really, I told Mom and Dad that I only had to study for a test. When I got to school the next day, Mrs. O’Donley asked to see my work. I told her that I forgot it at home. I knew that she wouldn’t fall for the "My dog ate it” line. I told her that it was left on my desk and that I could bring it the next day. (I didn’t even own a desk. Homework was done on the dining room table.) She had a better idea. (Better to her.) That was to call my house and ask my parents to bring it. She wanted me to call my parents. To my great joy, neither Mom or Dad answered the phone. My friend, Ronnie, told me to expect her to call and confirm that my parents saw me do my homework. So, I had them watch me that night. Saved again.

The next day Mr. Branch, the school principal, came in and told us that Mrs. O’Donley would not at school for a couple of days. Instead, we had a substitute teacher named Ms. Carter. She was one of those “target at first sight” teachers. We all knew that it was going to be a fun day that day. She had the IQ of a raisin and the teaching skills of a peanut. We played practical jokes on her from the very start. I was not the ringleader in these jokes, but I did play my part. I wasn’t the one who put Super Glue on the chalk. I wasn’t the one who put paint on her chair. I didn’t add the hot sauce to her lunch. Although I did think that whoever it was, and I’m not saying, was a genius. I applaud you.

The only thing that I did was swap out her lesson plan book for one with all fun and games. The funny thing is that nobody knew that it was me. Sally Wen was blamed for it. I laughed both my lungs up when she got detention. I walked home proud that I was able to pull it off. When I opened the door, there was Mrs. O’Donley, Ms. Carter, and Sally Wen waiting for me.