100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups – Week #20 – 100 words – Using at least 1 of …the powers that be /the apple of his eye/the writing on the wall… in real terms or by inference – “Words”
November 22, 2011
The powers that be struck. A child had been called to the head’s office.
No longer the apple of his eye, the teacher frowned at the smiling child.
One question, “Why the writing on the wall?”
Without losing her smile, she replied, “Some things must be written. Have you read it?”
True, he’d seen the offence but hadn’t read the words.
It read, “My mummy no longer has cancer.”
The teacher had known of her family’s struggles while their mother was sick, “Promise you won’t write on walls again and I’ll go see the head.”
Her grin broadened, “I promise.”
Schools and students have permission to use this graphic for non-commercial, educational purposes.
32 Comments
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Great message here Ross. The child is right – some things must be written.
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Some things must be written but perhaps not on a wall.
What a great piece of writing for that wall, and for this challenge. Sometimes things just have to be written for all to see.
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While aware of the traditional application of the phrases, I wanted to apply them to a child’s life and experience.
Indeed, no child (or anyone really) could be told off for that- news of that type needs to be shouted from the rooftops. (and written on walls
)
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The idea for the story came to mind when I thought about a child literally writing on a wall. Why? What excuse? What would the powers that be think?
I like that, it was very clever to get all three phrases into the one piece.
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I love the challenge of writing to the exact word limit and trying to fully use prompts. They’re great mind exercises.
Brought a tear to my eye, a bit close to home. Lovely piece.
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The message on the wall would be worth proclaiming. I have taught children dealing with life with a sick parent. I’ve helped them through ups and downs and would stand by a child like this if one had done as the child in the story.
A great take on the prompt. And a great image of everything a good teacher should be! Lovely!
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I would hope we would all deal with a child in such a way under such conditions.
Nice one Ross. Lest we jump to hasty conclusions!
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Reminded me of a real boy and a teacher who jumped to a conclusion.
The teacher, seeing a boy wearing beanie during assembly one day, knew no hats were to be worn. Without finding the reason, he pulled off the beanie and was about to chastise but was silenced. The boy was bald, an aftereffect of chemo.
A simple question to another teacher may have brought a better conclusion.
Wish my teachers had been so compassionate. Nice piece.
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Compassion can be hard in a busy day but is part of understanding we should teach children in our care.
One of my fondest memories in my last years of full time teaching was a discussion with another teacher. She explained the teachers of Year 1/2 children would sit to discuss where each child in Year 2 should be placed when going to Year 3. The resilient children not needing much support would go to one teacher, most would go to three other teachers. She said those needing TLC and good support were placed with me. That was a compliment I’ll never forget.
Superb. An advocate of young people and unravelling their ‘suspect’ motives, I loved this piece. I will show this to my 13-year old. He’ll love it also.
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Many children use various techniques to cry out for help when in need. It can be disruption, mood swings, withdrawal, etc. We need to be sensitive to changes in children in order to help them when in need. In this story’s case, I wanted the child to shout joy to the world and a teacher reminding there are other ways but understanding why.
Glad about the good news – at least she didn’t choose to spray paint it on the headmaster’s car!
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LOL if the quote had been “the writing was on the car.” That might have made the story very different.
Love this, what a happy story.
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I like throwing in happy endings when I can.
Cheeky and poignant! Wow! I can’t say that I’ve ever seen them together. Way to go!
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Is there such a thing as writer’s licence as there is said to be poet’s licence? The prompts may not have been used traditionally but it seemed to work.
“he’d seen the offence but hadn’t read the words.” – good line
Was thinking of how we can sometimes jump to conclusions without looking behind acts.
“Some things must be written” most profund phrase I have heard in a while. Great use and interpretation of all there prompts!
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Some things must be written but perhaps not on a school wall.
This was such an uplifting piece Ross. I was introduced to ‘useful’ writing on the wall on Wednesday when I went to Micro Soft’s ‘Innovative Teachers’ evening. A colleague had encouraged his class to write on the walls around the school. That too was really effective just like these few words on this wall. Sad that the telling off was in progress before the reading! Great!
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Room for expression in less than normal ways can stimulate children’s thought. I have used walls and paths in that way using large chalk, assured it can be washed away when done. For a child apparently normally well behaved, I would have asked the question why so I hope I would have read before criticising but the three parts of the prompt suggested the idea to me.
A very different take on writing on the wall . . .
Clever and thought provoking
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I was looking for something a little different.