True Confessions: My Visits to the Principals' Offices

I had the "opportunity" to visit the principal's office three times during my career as a student. The first visit occurred in fifth grade after my foot involuntarily jerked sideways and kicked Cathy Braugham in the shin while she was taking a math test. She let out a screech that put Tarzan's chest-thumping yell to shame and then pointed an accusatory pencil and glare in my direction. It was a Friday afternoon and Mrs. Richardson's weekly allotment of patience buttons had all been pushed. Cathy and I headed towards our principal, Mr. Edmonson's, office.

I vividly remember the slow trek. Cathy had this maniacal we're-going-down- with-the-ship-together look on her face. I tried on a where-will-I-live-for-the-rest-of-my- life-once-my-parents-disown-me mask. We inched our way along the gray linoleum hallway, two condemned prisoners heading toward an unknown fate. I had never been to the principal's office, but had heard stories that did not end happily ever after. Continue Reading or visit www.islandparkpta.org