Mrs Adam.

So...I was back, for the first time this school year, at the local school for the day to take the Prep/Year 1 class.I knew most of the Year 1's as I taught then every Thursday last year for three terms. It was a bit of a shock to find that there were 15 new preppies...it is just not what I have been used to in these village schools. It turns out that one of these new prep boys and I quote the class teacher..."is dynamite!"I am going to call him Dynamite but here is a word of advice, never call your son, or allow your grandson to be called, Callum, Ethan, Seth, Riley or Zeke because you are asking for trouble. In my 30 years of teaching I have never met an amenable or amiable child with any of those names and naming them thus curses them to become spawn of the Devil!I introduced my self to the new faces,"My name is Mr Allen, not Mrs Allen...there is a difference which I won't go into now, but I am Mr Allen and I am here for the day because your teacher Mrs W is busy with something else and they rang me and asked me if I would take you instead and I said 'Oh go on then' so here I am."Dynamite was sat at my feet, blonde hair, blue eyes and as cute as a button but I knew this tiny blob was not all he seemed and lurking beneath the pleasant packaging was a little demon.I fixed him with a stare and said "Today I am looking for those people who help me by making the right choices, who listen and sit well and try their best with their work. Are you going to help me?" I asked him.He nodded his little head and beamed but he wasn't fooling me. I had heard this little angel could scream and shout 'NO! YOU CAN'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!" and stamp his feet and run off when he felt like it.Sigh, I do wish this was the kind of information you were given before you make your mind up whether to accept a booking or not. Maybe I should just flat out ask "Are there any Seths, Callums, Rileys, Ethans or Zekes in the class" next time when they ring up to ask me to cover for them.On the whole the day went well. Yes he did show some of his evil capabilities and I did see some stamping of feet and some shouting...not at me...but mostly he did as I asked with some jollying along and a fair bit of positive 'sticker bribery'.Before they went home he came up to me and said,"Thank you for coming today."  Tut, those demon children can be so charming.I caught up with the marking after they had gone and tidied up and then got out of there as soon as I could. Walking to the car another of the Prep boys, who was waiting for a bus and who had nipped back from the gate for a quick drink, waved as he passed me"Bye Mrs Adam!"