THE PHANTOM TEACHER MIKE ANDERSON
third time in three days that your homework isn’t ready to turn in. Now, for the last time, and I want the truth, did you do your homework?” Stinky gulped and took a deep breath. He was doing what no one else had ever done - he was not doing homework and kind of getting away with it. The world stood still as we waited for Stinky to find his voice. “Erving, I’m waiting for an answer. If you didn’t do your homework, it’s best not to lie.” His voice was slow and smooth. It had an edge to it that would have made me tell him I was the one who flushed the soap dispenser last week, and I wasn’t even the one who did it! Stinky swallowed hard and stepped off the cliff. “It’s in my backpack at home. I did it, I swear! I’ll stay in and do it again if you want.” Stinky was talking too fast again. “Erving, I very much want to believe that you are not lying to me, but I’m having a hard time. Stand right there for a minute, please.” Mr. Thomas got up from his desk and walked quickly out of the room leaving Stinky standing in front of the class. Usually when Mr. Thomas left the room I’d turn around and talk to Amy and Tim would talk to Stinky. Nobody moved or talked. I don’t think I even breathed. We all just sat there listening to Stinky’s heart going “thud, thud, thud.” When Mr. Thomas came back with Mr. Payson, the principal; Stinky’s face turned white and the “thud, thud, thud” stopped altogether. Mr. Thomas looked at us and said, “Mr. Payson is going to stay here with you while I take Erving home to get his backpack. Please, class, do page 49 in the math book. We’ll be right back.” The silence was heavy as Mr. Payson sat down at our teacher’s desk. “Get your coat, Erving.” A hush fell over the class as we wondered if we would ever see Stinky alive again. About twenty minutes later Mr. Thomas came back. Stinky didn’t. Mr. Payson returned to his office. Our teacher sat down at his desk and told us to do English page 52, the odd sentences. Nothing was said for another hour. Mr. Thomas was very quiet and most of us were a little scared. I asked Mr. Thomas a question, and he answered softly. This wasn’t the same guy who usually sat at the desk; this one was too quiet and just did his job. No jokes, no fun; just teaching. The question we all wanted to ask, but no one dared, was, “Where is Stinky?” He didn’t even come to lunch. The day lasted forever. I almost felt I had been robbed of a fun day of school.
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