It was a clear day, clearer than it had been in days. Charleston had never had a clearer day. "Perfect!" thought thirteen-year-old Rhett Butler has he looked out the window in his bedroom. He got dressed and went downstairs. He hurriedly grabbed his books and rushed off to the schoolhouse.

When he saw Mabel Fastir sitting on the old tree stump towards the side of the schoolhouse he knew he wasn't late. Mabel was never late. His friend, Johnny always wondered why Mabel always looked so nice but was always on time. All the other nice looking girls were late.

Johnny walked over to Rhett from behind the schoolhouse.

"Hi," he said, " for once you're not late."

"I guess I'm not today, am I" said Rhett. The children walked into the schoolhouse. The teacher entered, she beckoned for the students to sit down in their assigned sits. Rhett sat behind Mabel.

"Ok, " began the teacher. "We will begin with the math lesson today." She wrote a problem on the board. "Who can answer this problem? 7x3" Mabel Fastir's hand shot up.

"Mabel, what is the answer?" said the teacher

"The answer is 21" Mabel said with a grin.

"Yes, very good Mabel"

Rhett put his chin in the palm of his hand and looked at Mabel's long brown braids. He had always wanted to dip them in the black ink on his desk. Rhett gave his friends, Johnny and Charles a wink and picked up Mabel's left braid and dipped it into the ink and then he did the same with the right. The teacher caught him in the act.

"RHETT BUTLER, WHAT IN GOD'S NAME ARE YOU DOING!!!!!!," yelled the teacher." You must have a logical explanation for this!"

"I don't Ma'am, it was a practical joke" answered Rhett.

"Very, well then. Come up here and hold out your hand." Rhett obeyed the orders. The teacher hit him on the hand with a ruler. Rhett walked back to his sit with a huge smirk on his face.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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