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Class In Session

Pigeon knows its way home, so does little Jim. His friends call him Lil Jim, just because he's short. How short? Well, he's about a meter shorter than the average for kids in the sixth grade. But his height's not the only thing that belittled him. Lil Jim also has eyes that stretched open in the size of a pin hole. And that's the reason why he's always seen wearing that stupid goggle that glows in the dark. You can always tell which toilet box Lil Jim is in by looking for his light. That, and because the school toilets are so dark during daytime but not at night.

Lil Jim was almost late for school on Monday. He said something about sliding off a fiscal cliff. The class didn't understand him. And subsequently caused Jack Hunter, the naughtiest kid in school to make jokes about Lil Jim's fear in walking pass the local gun shop, where an animated bear model was on displayed.

Lil Jim sat alone in the front with no one he could talk or gesture to. He could hear laughter emitted by the cool kids that hung out at the back. For some unknown reason though, he was able to filter those noise and concentrate on that clanking high heels which was heading his way.

Someone was coming. Lil Jim sat upright and turned back, and softly he blew the whistle he carried around his neck. And the class, as if fallen under the purest spell, had immediately returned to order.

The first bell began ringing. Mr. Seinfeld, who was famous for his punctuality, and straight attendance record since he started teaching forty three years ago, had not showed up when the second bell struck.

On the other hand, the high heels had now rested outside. And through the large crack between the floor and the closed door, a shadow crept in with a sudden mist. Lil Jim took a peak and swallowed the darkness.

The knob clicked open when the third bell ended. And in came headmaster Mrs. Halley. The room stayed in absolute silence expect for her high heels that paced around the room, and the sucking noise made by Lil Jim when he was nervous.

Finally Mrs. Halley stopped moving around and leaned against the door. She coughed and began. "Starting from today, Mr. Seinfeld, your class master, will no longer teach at Ghenmani School," Mrs. Halley paused to make sure no radical facial expressions or insulting laughter had surfaced before she continued, "instead, I have invited my daughter, Miss Halley to you, to be the substitute class master until the end of this school year," the headmaster opened the door and beckoned Bella Halley.

Bella Halley, an attractive young lady walked softly across the room in her flat, rubber shoes, and white flowery dress. "Good morning class."

Everyone stood up, even Jack Hunter, who vowed to despise his class master for life had jumped from his chair. "Good morning Miss Halley."

The angel waved for them to sit down and exchanged a few words with the headmaster. Lil Jim had never heard a voice like this. It was like the gentle whisper which had only belonged to his mother until now. Maybe Miss Halley had stolen his mother's voice. Lil Jim wasn't sure, his goggle glowed as his anxiety level rose.

The headmaster caught the light on her way out. "What's the problem, Jimmy? Afraid that my daughter would undermine your control over the class?" she glanced at the whistle rested on his chest and grinned evilly to the point that the corner of her mouth tipped so high it formed a V-shape, which Lil Jim believed it would only happen in Disney cartoons.

The light from his goggle continued to glow. It was soon beaming stars and shooting comets. The headmaster tried put a stop to it but it had only got worse. "Shut it down junior, or face solitary detention for the whole week."

Out of fear for every awful thing he could imagine during the last solitary detention, Lil Jim ducked under his table and covered his goggle with his tiny hands, but lights kept leaking from the sides to an extent of a blinding luminosity.

"Jimmy, can I call you Jimmy?" said the angelic voice.

The light had ceased to expand.

"There's nothing to be afraid of, Jimmy. I'm sure mother didn't mean to upset you."

The headmaster was saying something inaudible in the background.

"How about giving me your hands? You don't have to be afraid, you don't have to face whatever it is that you're facing alone."

The light dimming as Lil Jim felt the touch from Miss Halley. She sat him right up and sent the headmaster away.

"Now what should we begin with, Jimmy?"

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