Written on 19 November 2018
“Just come forward. It'll make it easier on yourself.” She was absolutely furious, but also impressed. Her class mostly looked down. A couple looked curiously around at the rest of the class.
“If you know who did do it and you don't tell me, I assure you your punishment will be just as severe if I find out you knew and didn't come forward.” Not a peep from the 8-year-olds.
The next morning, she changed tact. “Okay, I'm not angry anymore. I just want the books back. I'll leave the classroom at lunch time. If you are the person or people responsible please just return the textbooks.”
But when she returned from lunch, the books were nowhere to be seen.
“Right, that's it.” She said as the class took their seat following a nutritious luncheon meat meal. “If No one admits it, or tells me where they are, then all of you will be in detention.”
“Please Miss.” Sally Esters. Her best student. If anyone was going to tell her where the books were it would be Sally. “Are you sure you haven't just misplaced them?”
“No I did not just misplace them Miss Esters there are over 500 of them.” She was at the end of her tether now. “Right. When I find out who did it they will be expelled unless you come forward this instant.”
Silence. And then Tim Whisper slowly stood up. Answers at last.
“Miss. I took the books.”
“Right then Tim. Where are…” but before she could finish the sentence Raj Patel was also standing up too.
“Miss. I took the books.” and she was transported back to a few months before when they were studying ancient Rome. And watching Spartacus. And she knew exactly what was about to happen.
“Miss. I took the books.” Emma Samson.
“Miss. I took the books.” Destiny Adams.
“Miss. I took the books.” Paul Woodford.
And so on until every single one of her class were stood up. She was absolutely furious. But also impressed.