"Is Ms. S your sister?"
I get this sort of question about the teacher I'm covering that day more often than you might think. I usually just give a "no". Sometimes, I add in, "I don't have a sister". And that's usually that.
But this particular day, Elias wasn't going to let it go. He insisted that we looked so similar. (I've met the teacher. Perhaps there's a slight resemblance, but not much of one.) So, Elias took it upon himself to tell each student as they entered the room that I was, in fact, Ms. S's sister.
I shook my head. Silliness.
Elias told his lie. The student looked at me. I shook my head.
This didn't last, of course. I'll only spend so much time bothering with trying to disabuse them of some notion about me they get in their heads. Then, I figure if they choose to believe something that's not true about me, it's not really my problem.
By the end of the period, I had kicked Elias out of class. The reason was completely unrelated. It's too bad he isn't using his strange imagination for good.
Yes, he could be a writer.
ReplyDeleteThat is an odd rumour to spread - seems harmless, but annoying!
ReplyDeleteYAY!
ReplyDeleteWhat a weird thing to latch onto. He definitely sounds like a troublemaker.
ReplyDeleteOh my, crazy kid.
ReplyDeleteAnd this story just scratches the surface.
DeleteI definitely hope he turns his life around and uses his imagination for good.
ReplyDeleteThat would be nice.
DeleteOh Elias, Elias...one day he will make a good bank robber...or a good cop.:)
ReplyDeleteTo become a cop he'll have to go to the academy. And do work. Which he refuses to do. So, bank robber...
DeletePerhaps its imagination or perhaps it's lack of critical thinking. Either way, I can only imagine what the fallout will be for poor Ms. S. haha
ReplyDeleteI will go with lack of critical thinking. Because of what else he did (and didn't do) that day.
DeleteLOL with Birgit's comment :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, why don't they use their creativity, their knowledge, their wisdom on something more productive?
betty
Hi Liz - sounds like he's lacking in confidence ... I hope you can encourage him to use his creativity in a useful way, without lying ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteFuture author?
ReplyDeleteBut writing is hard work. Which he is unwilling to do.
DeleteUgh! I can see why adults would ask when I was a kid, "So are you saying I'm a liar?" I never understood that back then. Yes, if someone says something's not true and you insist it is, you are indeed saying that person is lying.
ReplyDeleteOh, if I had a dollar for every time some kid got upset that I may have hinted that they are lying...
DeleteBecause of course you just get your sibling to come in and cover for you if you have to miss work for a day. What a strange thing to come up with. I can't imagine the havoc that would ensue if my sister and I tried to do each other's jobs.
ReplyDeleteYes, it makes no sense. But try telling them that.
DeleteI think part of the problem is that there are several siblings and parent/child teachers on campus. So some students just assume...
People can be so odd sometimes. Maybe he'll end up being an author one day with the tales he likes to spin.
ReplyDeleteKids. (insert eye roll emoji)
ReplyDeleteIf I didn't have this blog, these stories would be lost...
Delete