A Slice of Life

by Ms. Bless

I sat behind the my table, listening to pages turning and kids who thought I couldn’t hear them whispering.  The next group of readers approached, carrying their notebooks, a pencil, and the article they were supposed to read the night before.

“Did you read it?”  I asked the first as he sat.

“Yes.”  he nodded.  I could tell he was being truthful.

“Did you read it?”  I questioned the next boy who arrived.

Pause.  Nod.  “Yeah.”  He finally mumbled, unsure of answer. Obviously, he was not a skilled liar and he did not read it.

“Really?”  I asked.

“Yeah.”

“When did you read it?”

Pause.  “Saturday?”  And almost as soon as he said it, he realized what he said…today was Thursday and he got it yesterday.  He did NOT read it and he gave himself away.