Silent reading, a time-honored ritual,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kickin\u2019 off the final phase of the long school day,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
10 minutes leafing through pages while teacher cools off on\nher table, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reviewing the final lesson before the bell tolls for class\ndismissal,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oblivious to the ones planning and plotting, huddled at the\ncorner,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Carrying on in muffled laughter, day after day putting\nteacher through the wringer,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Self-proclaimed entertainers, forever fishing for a reaction\nfrom the others,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Armed to the teeth like samurais with new ways to stress\nTeacher on the daily,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even during reading time ain\u2019t no end to their hijinks in\nsight,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Drawing and spit-balling got \u2018em in hot water already, gotta\ndelve deep within their well of creativity,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While their peers devoured stories they\u2019re gravitating\ntoward dictionaries,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Flouting convention to get a rise from their contemporaries,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Inevitably they are spotted, drawing laughter from those\nwithin their vicinity,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Done made a spectacle of themselves, teacher\u2019s dragged into\nit abruptly,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI thought I said SILENT reading for ten minutes?\u201d thundered\nshe, forcefully,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Emphasising the point so the little-uns get the point,\nclearly,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat are you all laughing at anyway? What could possibly be\nfunny?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All fingers point to those clutching dictionaries, grinning\ninsolently,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re just trying to expand our vocabulary,\u201d said they,\nTeacher wasn\u2019t buying it,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI see you\u2019re all trying to be smart with me,\u201d responded she,\ndefiance begets punishment,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPut those away on the double, or you\u2019ll be in trouble, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Try me again you\u2019ll be pickin\u2019 up papers, a reward for your\nclassroom capers,\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Message received, loud and clear, but don\u2019t expect a shred\nof regret,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Smug satisfaction achieved, objective completed,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes, ma\u2019am, they still got it. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Silent reading, a time-honored ritual, Kickin\u2019 off the final phase of the long school day, 10 minutes leafing through pages while teacher cools off on her table, Reviewing the final lesson before the bell tolls for class dismissal, Oblivious to the ones planning and plotting, huddled at the corner, Carrying on in muffled laughter, day … <\/p>\n