“Stop that jibber-jabber at once!” roared Mr. Kinderschmacker.
“Hey,” said Humphrey. “You can’t talk to us like that.”
“I certainly can,” replied Mr. Kinderschmacker. “I’m the teacher. Now, everyone shut your mouths and lay your heads on your desks. You will remain that way until the end of the day.”
Meekly, the children put their heads down.
“But Mr. Kinderschmacker,” said Miss Turner, “may I remind you that there are still four more hours of school?”
“Silence!” shouted the new teacher. “Do as I said.”
Meekly, the librarian put her head down too.
Soon the room grew quiet. Only the sound of Calvin nervously chewing on his pencil broke the silence.
Then Rachel began whimpering so loudly that the others could almost hear her.
Stanford began blithering like an idiot.
Victoria began miserably picking at her new French manicure.
Lil began mumbling a dirge.
And Ham complained about loss of appetite.
All this noise forced Mr. Jupiter to look up from his decimals. What he saw shocked him.
Lenny and Bruce were clinging to each other, and they looked … terrified!
“NOOOOO!” screamed Mr. Jupiter. Leaping to his feet, he swept the math book onto the floor. It landed with an explosive BAM!
“That’s a month’s detention for you, Harry Valentine,” snarled Mr. Kinderschmacker.
Mr. Jupiter suddenly felt courage coursing through his veins. It reminded him of the time he had wrestled a crocodile on the banks of the Nile River. He lifted his chin. “No,” he said. “It’s not.”
“Sit down,” commanded Mr. Kinderschmacker.
Mr. Jupiter squared his shoulders. “No,” he said. “I won’t.”
“This is my class now,” hissed Mr. Kinderschmacker.
Mr. Jupiter stood tall. “No,” he said. “This is my class, and these are my students.”
The children raised their heads. “But what about exploring Mars?” they asked.
“And establishing an interplanetary school?” added Miss Turner.
“Colonization of Mars can wait,” Mr. Jupiter replied, “but my students can’t.”
Mr. Kinderschmacker growled. “I intend to speak to the principal about this.”
“It won’t do any good,” said Mr. Jupiter. “She likes me better.”
Mr. Kinderschmacker growled again. “You were always a troublemaker.” Stuffing the math book back into his satchel, he strode toward the door. But before crossing the threshold, he turned. “I’ll be back, Harry Valentine. Mark my words. I’ll be back.”
Then he was gone. All the almost fifth graders clapped, cheered, and leaped from their seats, surrounding their teacher.
Bruce was so happy, he hugged Mr. Jupiter.
Jackie was so happy, she hugged Mr. Jupiter.
Stanford was so happy, he shook Mr. Jupiter’s hand.
Then everyone took turns hugging Mr. Jupiter or shaking his hand.
Everyone, that is, except Miss Turner. She took the opportunity to plant a kiss on Mr. Jupiter’s cheek. “You’re a good man, Harry Valentine,” she said.
Mr. Jupiter blushed.
And Lenny suddenly whooped, “Fifth grade, here we come!”
“Yes indeed,” said Mr. Jupiter. “And it’s bound to be an adventure.”
MORAL: There is a time and place for everything.
The Fabled Fourth Graders of Aesop Elementary School Page 11
