Piccadilly Circus

I have heard that if you stand in Piccadilly Circus for long enough you will meet someone you know. Well I sincerely hoped that I would see Bob as we had planned this meeting last year already. Yeah we had chatted in between times, reminding each other of this anticipated “date”.

Bob and I had met at school. He arrived as an exchange student in my gr 11 year. I was asked to show him the ropes. An English guy arriving complete with British accent had thrown all of us girls into a tizzy. Brenda lorded it over us as her family was Bob’s host family.

Bobs complexion, hair colour and accent reminded me of my major crush, Prince Harry. I silently drooled over the prospect of showing him around. We had a bit of a fling but he was more interested in sport and became quite a  favourite with the rugby guys.

Now I was meeting him again. As I stood nervously waiting I realised I really didn’t know much about him. Of course we had chatted about college etc. but never anything meaningful.

My world fell apart as I saw him walking up to me hand in hand with the most handsome guy I had ever seen.

© Vera Alexander

 

 

My Get A Grip Moment

 

I stood looking at my classroom in total horror. The kids had virtually exploded. The furniture had exploded. There was mess everywhere. Sandwiches mixed with books. Twinkies wrapped around pens and pencils. Paper! Paper was everywhere.

How did this happen? How did I lose such control? This was my second week of teaching and the kids were monsters. My dream job was quickly becoming a nightmare. The kids had escaped and were rampaging around the school disturbing all the other more disciplined classes.

I sat at my desk. Head in hands trying desperately to hold back the tears. I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up. The headmistress stood there. I tried to get up but her gentle touch forced me back down onto the seat. I glanced at the door and saw my monsters calmly standing quietly outside. The head moved to the door and closed it. She pulled a chair up to the table.

“You really need to get a grip and teach the kids that you are the boss not them. I’ll help you today but you need to be firmer. You are not their friend. You are the one in charge.”

She went to the door and held it open until the last quiet, responsive kid had entered.

“Stand next to your desks. Look around you. Are you really that barbaric? You will stay in every afternoon this week under my supervision and you will clean every classroom and corridor on this floor. Windows, lights, everything.”

Horror appeared on all faces as the headmistresses words sunk in.