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“Other classrooms have goldfish or hamsters,” said Virginia. “It’s really no different.”
“No,” said Miss Zarves. “I won’t have it! All my life I’ve tried to be accommodating. I’ve never been one to complain. And what has it gotten me? A cow!”
She shook her head. “When I was a little girl, my friends never did what I wanted to do,” she said. “I always had to do whatever they wanted to do.
“And my teacher never called on me in class. She always called on the kids who just shouted out without raising their hands, even though she said she wouldn’t. She’d say, ‘I won’t call on you if you don’t raise your hand,’ but then she always did anyway. But I was a good girl. I never shouted out.
“And she always did things alphabetically, so I was always last, if there was time for me at all.
“My parents were too busy for me. They were always dressing up and going out to fancy parties. I had to tuck myself in at night and wish myself sweet dreams.”
She took a tissue out of her sleeve and wiped a tear from her eye.
“Still, I always tried to keep a smile on my face. Well, not anymore! The days of walk-all-over-Miss-Zarves are finished!”
She threw open her classroom door. “The squeaky wheel gets the grease!”
“What are you going to do?” asked Virginia.
“I’m going out there!” said Miss Zarves. “And I’m not coming back until I get some grease!”
She stepped outside. She decided she’d go right to the top! So she headed down the stairs — to the principal’s office.
Joy and Maurecia were coming up the stairs.
“Todd is uglier than stupid,” said Maurecia.
“You’re crazy!” said Joy. “He’s stupider than ugly.”
“Oooh,” teased Maurecia. “I’m going to tell Todd you think he’s cute.”
Miss Zarves stepped in front of them. “What are you children doing out of class?” she asked.
“I didn’t say he was cute,” said Joy. “He’s just not as ugly as he is stupid.”
“That means you think he’s handsome,” said Maurecia. “Are you going to marry him?”
“I asked you a question,” said Miss Zarves.
“Ugh, gross!” said Joy.
“I’m a teacher,” said Miss Zarves. “That means you are supposed to listen to me.”
Joy and Maurecia walked right past her.
Miss Zarves sighed, then continued down to Mr. Kidswatter’s office. She took a deep breath to steady her nerves. She was about to knock but then changed her mind and just marched right in. “Hey, Kidswatter, I want to talk to you!”
The principal was making a rubber-band ball.
“Do you hear me?” asked Miss Zarves.
He opened his desk drawer and looked for some more rubber bands.
“If you don’t answer me right now,” said Miss Zarves, “I’m walking out the door and never coming back!”
Mr. K. pressed the buzzer on his phone. “Miss Night, you need to order more rubber bands.”
“That’s it!” said Miss Zarves. “I’m leaving. Good-bye. I quit!”
