rats of change

boys

Philip and Kevin entered my classroom after lunch and were excited to find the remnants of a broken backpack discarded on their table: a nylon-stretchy-cord used to secure the pocket of a backpack that belonged to a first period student. Philip took the cord in his hands and wrapped it around his short stubby fingers while Kevin watched eagerly like a doe-eyed deer. Philip then stretched the cord out like a sling shot, but aimed it at his own face. In horror, I motioned Philip to stop, but was too late as the released bungee cord whipped back and hit Philip in his own face. Kevin looked up at me and reassured me calmly in his high-pitched 6th grade voice, “Don’t worry. We’re only testing to see if it hurts.” OK, boys. Carry on.