Faves

I had the pleasure of returning to the high school in which I completed one of my student teaching experiences.  I had a handful of the same students, but most students that I saw were completely new faces.  I had introduced the work for the painting class and was floating around while answering questions.  The students took me at my word when I told them I was a painter and quickly began asking my advice about color-mixing, blending, and various other aspects of painting.  I had just given a rather shy boy a crash-course on blending when a girl approached me.

I had noticed her before.  She was quite energetic, moving about various parts of the classroom and chatting--always with a smile on her face.  She approached me.  "You're, like, my favorite substitute teacher.  You're so laid back."  I didn't know how to respond; I gave a bit of a blank stare.  "You don't seem like you yell," she continued.

I broke from my blank acknowledgment, "I honestly can't remember the last time I yelled."  I then related a story of a microphone check at church when I was asked to speak loudly into the mic.  I said, "Loud noises!"  I was quickly redirected because apparently saying the word "loud" is not actually the same as being loud.  If anything, she was mildly entertained by the story.  It might have been better if I'd skipped the story--but who knows, I might still be the favorite sub.