PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

                                         Pay Attention Shaw.

At least ten times a day the teacher called out, ‘Pay attention Shaw’. It got so bad that one-day I said to myself if you want me to pay attention then Miss you will get all of my attention. Do not blame me if my undivided attention does not suit you but you have asked for it so often that now you will get it.

My first thing was to sabotage her work. All the white chalk I soaked in black or red ink. Her efforts to write on the Black Board were such that most of the children were soon laughing away. All thought it was a great joke.

My next attention was the shoes of this teacher. Her first move in the class was to take off her street shoes for more comfortable slippers. Her day shoes she placed behind her desk. During the morning break I slipped into the classroom with a bottle of fresh water and filled her shoes. The look on her face as she put the shoes on to her feet was indeed a treat to see.  I trust that my attention was now to her satisfaction.

The following day once again, Shaw, Pay attention. Was I the only boy in the class or was my name the only name she could remember? Now I decided that Miss needed more of my attention, all right Miss you will from now on get my undivided attention. I took to staring at her. This was even better than sabotaged chalk or wet shoes. My undivided staring soon got on her nerves. Now she took to looking in a small mirror that she took from her handbag. The more I stared the more nervous she became. She did not know where to put her hands imaginary out of place locks of her hair were continually being pushed back into place. This sometimes gave one the impression that it was time she went to the Hairdressers to have her hair done. Now the words Pay attention Shaw were becoming less and less.

Later Miss took days off the excuse was that she was not feeling well. A succession of relief Teachers took over the class. Not once did I hear the words, Pay Attention Shaw. I will let you into a little secret. I somehow missed the calling me to pay attention. I was no different in my behaviour with the relief teachers. I am still wondering why she always called me to Pay Attention. It is and remains a mystery. I hope your teachers were different Bern.