By Teek
April 2022
480 words long
Once upon a time a girl named Tina ruled all that she could see. The universe bowed to her wishes. If she was hungry, people would bring her food. The sun would set when she was tired and needed to go to sleep. When she wanted something, someone would bring it to her. She didn’t even have to talk to get her needs met. When she spread her arms, people would hug her. Other people needed to say lots of words to get their needs met, but with just one word she could get what she wanted. She even had these special chairs everywhere she went, in vehicles, at meals, at home, and out among her people. The one that she used out in the world was her favorite. She just had to point, and she would be rolled over to whatever she was interested in. Tina knew she was in charge, and she loved it.
Then one day, everything changed. This evil ruler entered Tina’s life and she had to do what this ruler wanted. Tina could no longer do whatever interested her. She couldn’t even get what she wanted when she demanded it. Tina was so furious. How dare this evil ruler take her power away. This ruler even controlled what she could color and draw pictures of. Tina wanted to draw pictures of princesses and rainbows, but the evil ruler insisted that she color the apple picture that was put in front of Tina. There wasn’t even a color selection, the only crayons on the table were red.
Tina’s world was crumbling around her. She couldn’t understand how she lost power. Her parents were all excited about Tina meeting this new evil ruler, telling Tina how much fun she was going to have. Tina was not having fun. She couldn’t even go to the bathroom when she wanted. She had to ask the permission of this evil ruler.
Tina looked around at her subjects that were also brought to be tortured by this ruler. They seemed happy and excited to be there. How could they give in to this? They didn’t follow her anymore, just this evil ruler. Whatever this person said or did, they would do as commanded. And worst of all they did it with smiles and giggles.
Tina scribbled on her outline of an apple with the red crayon she was given. There was no way she was going to do her best work for this tyrant. Then she was told she had to turn the paper over and copy some weird lines that were placed above her workspace. Tina was told this was very important. She did as instructed, in fear of torture if she didn’t.
What was it with this evil ruler, they couldn’t even decide on a name? One minute it was Mrs. Star and the next it was Teacher.
Comments
Most Kids
Love starting school, but I still remember one or two who weren't keen at all!
Going wrong from my first day of school.
I vaguely remember starting first grade. (There's kind of an event horizon in my life at age 10 or 11, and I remember very little of the time before it, and what I do remember is vague and cloudy.) However, I do remember being given my first homework assignment, forgetting about it the moment I left school, and then having the teacher scold and humiliate me the next day for not bringing it in. In my memory, I see her as like Mrs. Trunchbull from the Dahl novel Matilda.
That pretty much set the tone for my experience of school for the next 10 years or so.
Choices
She couldn’t even go to the bathroom when she wanted. She had to ask the permission of this evil ruler.
In second grade we had choices. We could raise our hand. (Right hand only) One finger or two fingers pointed in the air. My teacher was less than judicious in granting permission to go to the restroom, and more than a few of us had accidents waiting for her to make up her mind.
One time, my mother walked the one-point-something mile from home with a change of clothes and a less than cordial confrontation with the dictator behind closed doors in the principles office. My mom was my hero!
Love, Andrea Lena
Sounds like teacher
Is giving better than she gets.