Never Change A Change

 
I attend high school in Sulphur Springs, Texas. My senior year I was president of the student body and a member of the National Honor Society. In school I had never made a “D.” I never wanted to make a D. My Teaches never wanted me to make a D. My parents specially never wanted me to make a D. But, in spite of all these wants, I made a D. It was English and my teacher was Mrs. Brooks, our superintendent’s wife. I dreaded taking the report card home to Mother and Dad. I realized I didn’t have to do so; I could change it to a B on my report card. I changed it. I waited two days and the by that time my conscience was hurting so bad I changed it back.

By the time the report card looked as if a first grader had been a hold of it. Should I tell them what I have done? The reason I got a D was because I had failed to turn in a research paper. The report card looked bad that finally went back to Mrs. Brooks and “fessed up” to what I have done and asked her to make a new one. She said she hated to give me the D, if I had only tored to write the theme she wouldn’t have had to give me that dreaded D. Then she added, “Billy, isn’t there something you have written that you can turn it?” I told her the only thing I had was a poem I had written. She asked to see it. I told her it was in no condition for her to see and doubted if she could read it. She asked what is was about. I finally told her I had written it about the high school teachers. She said, “You read it to me.” I agreed to do so if she never ever told anyone about it. She promised she wouldn’t.

I had intended it to be funny to the other students. I never intended for any of the teaches see it. I read it all expect what I had written about her. She picked on the real quick and said, “Why did you leave me out?” I confessed that I hadn’t left her out; I had just neglected reading what I have written about her. She said me not to worry about what I have written about her, but if she was to give me a better grade she would have to hear it. So I read it to her.

Mrs. Brooks was a middle-age smallish prim looking woman who seemed to be cold and looked like a prude. She always wore her hair in a bun at the back of her head. I don’t remember what I wrote about the other teachers and I don’t remember all of what I wrote about her. But, I do remember these lines…

Little Mrs. Brooks so prim and mild…
Never ever cracks a smile…
Wears her hair pulled back in a bun
Bet she never has any fun.

Wonder of wonders, she not only smiled, laughed! And laughed and laughed. And she wrote another report card and gave me big beautiful “B”. Because of this I was able remain in the National Honor Society and be president of the student body.
What happened in that classroom, stayed in that classroom… until now.  She was a gracious lady and we had a close personal relationship from then on. Occasionally when our eyes met I could see a slight twinkle in hers.
Sometimes it pays to change a change, I never missed another assignment.
I didn’t want to push my luck.

Submitted by: Bill Allen
                       1820 Mildred Drive
                       El Dorado, AR 71730
                       870-862-1111
                       Age: 77