Chapter Thirty-Eight

Superintendent...

Most teachers tried to arrive at school an hour before classes start in order to get everything ready for the day, but as Artemis entered the school the following morning, it was to clean her desk out. As she walked to her classroom, she was surprised to see the principal leaning against the doorframe.

"You're not being fired, Artemis." Principal Blackthorn said as she opened the door.

"Is that so?" she asked a little skeptical.

"Yeah," he said looking at her with a slight smile, "During the PTA meeting last night, a bunch of the teachers went to bat for you by reminding the superintendent that you were the one that brought the school's bullying problem to light."

"So he changed his mind?" she asked.

"That and your lawyer threatened to sue the school for the complaints against you as she realized that they were being made by one person," he stated pushing off from the wall, "She was forging the other parents' names on every complaint in her own handwriting."

"Talk about a moron." she said with a slight laugh.

"Yeah well, the superintendent is going to be sitting in on your class today to see how you teach." he said.

"No one just sits in on my class," she said looking at him, "You either participate or you get sent to the office. Please make sure he knows that."

"He cut part of the music program's budget and gave it to the high school football program, so no." he said smiling.

"Got it and thank you." she said smiling a little.

"For what?" he asked.

"After hearing about me being fired last night, my daughter decided that she wasn't going here anymore if I'm not here." she said pulling her phone out.

"Well then you're welcome, and have fun." he said before walking away.

She dialed a number as she entered her classroom and waited.

"Hey beautiful, what's up?" she heard Wally say.

"I just got told I'm not fired," she said walking over to her desk, "So can you bring Kara and my teaching stuff here before you go to work?"

"Done." he said before her daughter and her stuff suddenly appeared in the room via a gust of wind.

"Thank you and please find out if you're getting faster." she said before hanging up.

"So you're not fired?" Kara asked looking at her mother.

"No. I'm not," Artemis said opening her bag, "So how's your book?"

"I love it." Kara said before she started to tell her mother about it as Artemis got the room ready for the day. By the time the two had finished, the superintendent walked in followed by some of the students.

"Mr. Bagans," Artemis said seeing him enter, "Welcome to my classroom."

"Thank you for letting me sit in on your class today, Ms. Crock." he said.

Kara and some of the other students snickered as Artemis said, "Mr. Bagans, no one is allowed to sit in on my class. If you're here, you will participate or go to the office. No exceptions."

"Oh this is going to be fun." he said before they heard the bell.

"Take your seats everyone," Artemis said as she walked to the front of the room. Once the last of the students had sat down, she smiled saying, "So, we have a guest today. Everyone, please welcome the school superintendent, Mr. Bagans."

The class turned long enough to greet him before looking back towards the front. "Now, Mr. Bagans has been informed of what happens to guests that just 'sit and not participate," Artemis said as she scanned the room, "So let's get started, shall we? Yesterday, I told you all that I would give you a chance to get back the points you lost from answering the questions I ask during lessons wrong. For every question you get right, you will get five points back. Miss one and nothing changes."

The class was silent for a few seconds before one student raised his hand.

"Yes, Mickey?" she said giving him a nod.

"What happens once we get our points back?" he asked.

She smiled as she said, "Good question. Once you gain those points back; you will lose one point for every wrong answer, but you can gain it back on the right ones. Mr. Bagans?" Artemis asked as she saw the superintendent's hand up.

"What do you mean by points?" he asked.

"Participation points," she started to explain, "There are twenty-four students in my class; that is one hundred points apiece. If the entire class can get twenty-four hundred points by the end of the month, I try and do something special for them. Doing things like paying attention in class, be respectful of each other, doing homework and answering questions correctly will get them one point for each one. If they don't do those, they lose points. If I have to discipline them or send them to the office of acting up, their points instantly go to zero. The first time they hit twenty-four hundred was back on Halloween. Since you have decided to join us, whatever points you amass today will be added to the class's daily total. Now before we continue, would anyone like to inform our guest how we do things here?"

The hand of one of the students in the front row went up instantly as if they had been waiting for this.

"Ok, Abby, you can tell him." Artemis said with a slight laugh.

The girl smiled as she stood up then turned to face the superintendent saying, "During class; Ms. Crock will ask us about what we've covered in the lesson. After five wrong answers, everyone has to do five push-ups. Talking during a lesson, when not called on, or when another student is talking will result in a two point lose and five extra push-ups. If you have a cell and answer it, that will mean an automatic forfeit of all points you have gained and is a one way trip to the office for the rest of the day."

"Some of the other teachers have actually started to do this." Artemis said as the young girl sat down.

"I can see why." he said impressed.

"Minus two points and five push-ups," she said crossing her arms as the entire class looked at him.

"Sorry." he said holding his hand up.

The room was quiet for a few seconds before Artemis asked, "Well?"

Mr. Bagans let out a small sigh before asking, "Military or normal style?"

"Count them out either way." she replied.

"Yes ma'am," he said before getting out of his chair.

"Plus five push-ups for calling me ma'am," she said watching him get into position.

"Sorry," he said before he started counting. The class watched as he went down twice before calling the number out. Once he finally hit ten, he moved back into his seat and exhaled slowly.

"Now, we can begin." Artemis said smiling. Over the next few hours, class went on like normal; except she would call on the superintendent after four wrong answers.

Five minutes before lunch, she looked at the class and said, "You guys are getting a lot of questions wrong today." The students smiled as they glanced at each other before one of the girls held her hand up.

"Molly, what's going on?" Artemis asked.

"Some of our parents were at the PTA meeting last night," the young girl stated as she stood up, "My dad threatened to pull me out of school if you were fired."

Artemis stood there shocked for a few seconds before asking, "How many other parents said that?"

She watched as about half the students hands went up.

"I don't know what to say other than thank you." she said smiling.

"You're welcome," Molly said smiling, "And we love watching you pick on any guest we get."

"That's always fun," Artemis said as the bell rang, "Alright, go have fun."

Mr. Bagans waited till the others had left before saying, "I can see why you are favored by your students and some of the teachers."

"You should see me on a bad day," she said walking over to her desk and checking her lesson plan, "You can go play too, but you better be back by the start of class."

"I would ask if you're serious, but I have a feeling that you are," he said standing up, "Unfortunately, I do have an appointment I have to be at in an hour and it is across town. I do have one question before I leave."

"Is it about Kara and her memory?" she asked as her daughter walked back into the room.

"Ok, make it two then." he said with a chuckle.

"I've seen her recall things we covered on my first day here," Artemis said sitting in her chair, "She remembers anything she reads and some things she sees. And if your second question is about a date, I'm engaged."

"Nice to meet you, engaged. I'm married. Actually, I was going to ask just what did you throw at the lunch tray that one kid had on your first day?" he said.

"The pen that was in her left inside jacket pocket," Kara said looking at him.

"I thought they were joking about that." he said with a slight laugh.

"The way I grew up, I had to stay strong and protect not only myself, but anyone I saw in trouble."

"And yet you had enough strength behind the pen to SHATTER the tray?"

"Well, I did work out so I wouldn't get hurt or bullied, and to help my mom out who's in a wheelchair. I got so used to working out like that I keep up that regimen to this day."

"Thank you for bringing the bullying situation to light and I understand that you didn't even KNOW young Kara here was your daughter at that time."

"That's right, I didn't find out till later, but I would do it again for ANY student that was being picked on."

"Well, good day Ms. Crock, and goodbye Kara, you have a wonderful teacher AND mother." Mr. Bagans said as he was right in the doorway.

"I know, sir, and be safe getting to your appointment." Kara stated with a smile.

"I shall." And with that the superintendent was gone.