Thread: The Kingdom of Chin - Room 53 at the end of the hall

While passing through Las Vegas on my way home from the job fair in Portland, I came across a bookstore at the airport. The bookstore had a nice display of unusual hats. There was a tall red and white hat similar to the one worn by the cat in Dr. Seus. There was a jester's cap with bells. There was also a magnificent crown of fluffly red velvet and white trim with black spots.

I bought the crown and today I brought it to school.

The students were working on a TAAS practice reading test. The reading test was sort of cute. It was about a boy who came up with a business presentation for his parents about why they should buy him a bicycle. The presentation was accompanied with information about exercise, cost comparisons, and earning estimates from a newspaper route. It also included an editorial that essentially said that kids today are lazy and that they don't know the meaning of hard work.

I knew what would happen when the kids read this line.

"We are not lazy!" said Rosemary when she read this passage. She huffed in indignation and looked in askance at her classmates.

"What is it?" asked Stephanie.

"Look at this," said Rosemary. She showed Stephanie the passage. "It says that 'children are lazy!'"

"How rude!" said Stephanie. The other students clamoured in agreement.

"Mr. Chin, do you think we're lazy?" asked Rosemary.

I donned my "fur" trimmed cape and placed the regal crown on top of my head.

"My loyal subjects," I began ...

"Mr. Chin, why are you wearing that crown?" asked Rosemary.

"Do not call me 'Mr. Chin,'" I intoned. "I want you to call me, 'Your Royal Majesty.'"

Rosemary shook her head.

"What about, 'Your Royal Highness?"

Rosemary shook her head.

"Your grace? Sire? What about 'Great Grand Potentate?'"

Rosemary shook her head.

"You're not a KING!" shouted Stephanie.

I tried to redirect the conversation. "My loyal subjects," I said.

"I'm NOT A 'LOYAL SUBJECT!'" interrupted Rosemary. She made a grab for my crown. "And you're NOT a King. You're a 4th grade teacher and you need to act like one."

I held onto my crown with both hands. "My loyal subjects," I began again.

Stephanie hit me on the head with a folder. I blinked in surprise. "What are you doing?" I demanded. "Don't hit me with a folder."

"Are you asking me as a teacher or a King?" asked Stephanie.

"I am asking you as a King!"

Stephanie smacked me on the head again.

"Stop that!" I said.

"Are you asking me as a teacher or a King?" asked Stephanie.

I thought about it. "As a teacher?" I said.

Stephanie smiled and put the folder down. "As a teacher who just happens to be KING OF 4TH GRADE!"

Stephanie put her face in her hands.

Heh-heh-heh

Logging off from the Kingdom of Chin, Room 53, at the end of the hallway ...

David the First, King of 4th Grade