Squirrel Killer!

So...I was back at the Chalk Face today...literally. I hardly sat down all day except to mark worksheets and spent most of my day standing in front of a chalk board giving and writing instructions.But...they were a lovely class and I have to say it was quite an enjoyable day.It was a lovely classroom, up on the second floor. It was bright and colourful and the teacher is obviously well organised and dedicated.I had not been in this class before but a few of them knew about me from me having taught their brothers and sisters in other classes.As they were new I asked them what they wanted to be when they grew up as I took the roll because I always find that interesting. In this class there were a couple of 'War Persons' including a girl and more alarmingly a 'Gun Man' but I gushed praise on the boy who said 'Scientist' and a girl who said 'Doctor' and that put an end to aggressive occupations. Out came the hairdressers and farmers and teachers and Lysander, for it was he, wanted to be a robot! He is the brother of J in Fidget and Toerag's class.I know people say the 'Gift of the Gab' but I think there is also the 'Gift of the Gob!' and J has that and also his brother Lysander.We had lots of maths to do, time - o'clock and half past and then counting in 2's, 3's, 5's and 10's.D sitting at the back  lots of prodding I had been warned and he certainly did. For the first hour he only did anything when I was leaning over him so eventually I moved him away from Jye (?) who he was sat talking too.After that he worked much better and speedier, even when I let him move back to his own place.One of the adults for the reading groups did not turn up again so I had to cope with two groups but the class were so sensible that I could leave one group to work independently while I read with the other.I had a 15 minute duty at 'Morning Tea'. I bumped into Toerag and Fidget who were both shocked to see me....well, I did pounce on them unexpectedly."I'll see you next week" I said menacingly. "Muahahahahahahaha!"At Religion time a mouse-like lady came in to teach the children in my class. She was not a teacher but someone from out of school roped in to do it. She pretended she was a reporter from 'Bible Weekly' interviewing the children about Abraham using a plastic ice cream cone that was supposed to be microphone. She was obviously nervous. She needed some 'get up and go' but her's had long gone!"While we are doing the next activity shall I put that song on?" She asked."Yes!" said two girls next to her but most of the others shouted "No!""You are out voted ! She said to the 'Nays'.The song was dreadful! It was jazzy and was sung by someone with terrible laryngitis and no musical talent whatsoever and it was all about Abraham. No wonder most of them didn't want to hear it again. There was I previously decrying aggressive occupations but by the second playing I was resisting the urge to vandalise her cd player!Thankfully the bell went and the mouse woman slipped away. D quietly slid up to me and quietly stuttered,"I.....I.....like the way you teach.""Thank you very much!" I said and held out my hand and he gingerly shook it.I had no lunch time duty so managed to get most of the mornings work marked and dated.They all trooped in after lunch for 15 minutes of silent reading and then it was back to work.I had noticed the bin was overflowing with used tissues and as I was explaining the next task saw a girl up by the teachers desk collecting two tissues from the box."Is it you?" I asked. "Are you using all the tissues? Do you know where tissues come from?"She looked stunned."Trees. They are made from trees...and who lives in trees?"She looked even more stunned. I didn't heed the warning sign."Squirrels!"Someone sniggered."When they chop trees down to make tissues the squirrels have no where to live and they die. Are you wasting tissues because if you are you Ella the Squirrel Killer!"A few more sniggers but Ella crumpled and her head went down on her desk and she burst into tears.Oh no! It was joke too far!I went up and put my arm around her. "I'm just joking" I said. " I often  make silly jokes. Shall I get you a tissue?"She nodded tearfully. 'Sod the squirrels!' I thought  and I got her two tissues.I felt bad but at the end of the day as I was sending them all home it was Ella who came up to give me a hug. I think she had forgiven me.