Boy, you can tell school’s out when I post three times in one day. I’ve not had so much “free” time in I don’t know when.

The Reflective Teacher wrote about his exploits during his school days. If I have one observation to make about my school days, I’d have to say it was that I was too good. I had one detention the entire time I was in school from grades K-12, and I got it for not turning in a form on time. My teacher gave those of us who were in her detention (I think there were three of us) mocha almond fudge ice cream; it was the first time I had tried it, and it’s still a favorite.

I knew very well where “the line” was, and I never went anywhere near it. I got fussed at for talking to Leon when I was supposed to be working quietly in first grade. I wanted to disappear into a hole; I was so mortified. On rainy days in 5th grade, we went to our classroom after lunch and were allowed to draw or play games. I asked Mrs. Esquibel if I could go play with the puppets behind the puppet show. She said no. But Talisa Carmichael, that damned siren, she talked me into doing it anyway; she swore we wouldn’t get caught. Well, we did, and boy, was Mrs. Esquibel mad. She told my parents at a parent/teacher conference. I can’t think that I ever got into more serious trouble than that.

I did some dumb things, like try alcohol (on school premises, to boot), but I never tried drugs either; not even when the hulking guy who sat behind me in economics offered me a joint.

I guess I was a bit like Hermione Granger, only instead of jumping to answer every question, I shrank into my chair. If the Reflective Teacher has more sympathy and understanding for kids like him, I suppose I have learned to watch out for those shrinking violets.