"Class, I have an announcement to make," Mr. Simmons said.

"What's the announcement this time, Mr. Simmons?" Helga asked.

"My announcement is that I recently got promoted and a raise at the same time."

"When do you start your new job?" Gerald asked.

"In a month. The school wants me to finish up here so that means you get a new teacher."

"Aww, man. The school year isn't finished yet and you get a raise and promotion. That doesn't make any sense to me," Stinky said.

"Well, I have to start my new job during the school year, but I feel a bit nervous about this new job. When I first became a fourth grade teacher at PS118, I was nervous for almost two months. I do know it will pass."

"We've been your students for a long time. We're sure going to miss you," Lila told him.

"I'm going to miss you too, Lila."

"You haven't told us what your promotion is, Mr. Simmons," Arnold spoke up.

"The promotion is that I'm going to teach the college level in English, Arnold. In the meantime, the teacher before me will finish up their month and then let me take over. I would hate to be apart from you all. You are like family to me," he told them.

He was starting to feel nervous.

"We feel the same about you, Mr. Simmons. You have taught us well in the past until now. We'll miss you once you begin your job. We know you have to leave us at some point."

"Thank you, Gerald. Those are very kind words. We all should keep in touch once I start my new job."

He said that when his hands began to shake. He also choked when he started to shake his hands. He usually did this when he felt nervous.

"I do have a question for you, Mr. Simmons."

"Yes, Rhonda?" he asked, his hands still shaking.

"What are you going to spend your raise?" Rhonda asked.

She showed more interest in this subject than Helga.

"Rhonda, my family were the first people I told about my raise. They have reservations for me to take a vacation. They already called in to collect my plane ticket."

"Where did your family send you on your trip?" Gerald asked.

"Hawaii."

"Sounds like fun. My father took me there a few times," Rhonda told him.

"Have you been to Hawaii before?" Harold asked as he gave out a loud burp.

He was eating licorice.

"Excuse me," he added.

"Yes, Harold, I have been to Hawaii before. Last time I was there, my mother took me when I graduated from college. It will feel good to visit Hawaii again."

"Who's going to take your job once you start this new promotion?" Helga asked.

"I don't know, Helga. As far as I know, the school is still interviewing people."

"How long are you going to be gone?" Gerald asked.

Like the rest of his friends, he was going to miss Mr. Simmons.

"My family thought two weeks was a good idea. I leave in a week or so," he answered.

"Aww, gee, Mr. Simmons, can we come along?" Harold asked.

"I'm sorry, Harold. My family set up this vacation for me only."

"That was for you. Besides, Harold, if we all went with Mr. Simmons, the vacation would be too expensive."

'That football head has a point. Simmons will be happy to get away from Sid and Harold whining all the time. At least he needs some alone time.'

"Football head is right. We don't have to hang around Mr. Simmons with him every day," Helga told her friends.

"We wish you lots of luck, Mr. Simmons. Good luck with your new job."

"Thank you, Arnold. It will get me some time to get used to my new job. Of course it will take time for me to get used to my students."

"I'm sure you'll do just fine," Arnold said.

He did mean what he'd just said.