“You Can’t Just Leave Me Here!”

February 1, 2013 · Filed under life in Florida

“You can’t just leave me here!” was the wail of a young lady today when she found that my last day is next Friday.

“You’ll be FINE!” I assured her. I recommended the lady that is taking my place, and she will be really good with the children. She’s fun, good humored, cheerful, yet doesn’t take any crap.

“NOOOOOOO, I will NOT be fine! You’re the only teacher in this stupid school that I LIKE!”

“Yeah!” echoed a girl that I had put into in-school suspension the week before for using incredibly bad language and threatening another student. “How can you abandon us like that? Don’t you even feel bad about it?”

Must. Be. Strong. “Excuse me, but wasn’t I the most evil teacher that ever existed last week, and didn’t you tell me how much you hated me?”

“But I didn’t mean it! You’re the only one that understands me!”

“And I NEVER said I hated you like the others did. I ALWAYS loved you. So, when will you be back?”

I explained that I was not coming back.

“But you’ll be back for 7th grade, right? I don’t think I can go through 7th grade without you here.” Another girl started crying. Why she assumed that just because SHE was going up a grade meant that I was going up a grade, I don’t know.

*sigh* This is going to be harder than I thought.

“Chill, y’all, I’m planning on dropping in on you to see how you’re doing about once a week.” OTOH, when they get the new person that is younger, prettier, and not completely worn out, they’ll no doubt forget about me within a couple of days.