Tracks to Clementine

Everybody loves a lover

Commentary by Students on the Nature of Love in Accordance with What They Would Like to Believe Regarding Their Drama Teacher

The 2nd Grade Version:

Last week Eli and I were teaching two different classes. Because we are a boy and a girl who can joke without cootie-worry, both sets of our students decided that we must be In Love and began plotting. While sitting in the theatre, the following exchange took place:

Ida's class is sitting one row directly behind Eli's class. Two girls in Eli's row are whispering and giggling. One of them turns to Ida.

C: Do you like Eli?

Ida: Of course.

C: How much do you like Eli?

Ida: I like Eli as much as I like lasagna.

C and J whisper fervently.

C: How much do you like lasagna?

Ida: I loooooooooooove lasagna.

C and J open their eyes and mouths as wide as little-girl possible. C and J whisper to each other. The whispers of C and J spread to the other students in their row. They are a whispering rainstorm.

C: Ida, everyone knows now.

And....scene.

The next day, while on a field trip, I stopped abruptly in front of Eli. Immediately, C ran up to us, put her hand on Eli's back and my stomach and demanded "Kiss! Kiss! Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiissssss!"

The 8th Grade Version

Eli is nowhere in sight. There are no eight-year-old matchmakers. The 8th grade boys speak for themselves.

S: I'll be her daddy.

Finis

My residency with these middle schoolers will now be a success. Not because they are Hot for Teacher (I mean, c'mon), but because I worked it into the curriculum. A few weeks ago it was burps; this week it's gettin' some. A few weeks ago it was monsters in folklore, this week it is the most famous of horn dogs, Romeo and Juliet.

Posted by Ida at February 25, 2003 11:49 AM