The Arm Wrestle

For some reason- the students were so riled up today- they would not calm down no matter what threat I yelled at them.

Finally I resorted to the deadly "writing their names on the board". This means that they can't cook or eat this week. Which matters more to them than grades, suspension, detention, calling parents, etc.

But this didn't even work- finally after having more than 10 names on the board. Xavier would not stop yelling out and getting up out of his seat.

So I told him that I had had it- and to get up to the front of the room and arm wrestle with me.

He said he would- if he won- I had to erase all the names on the board. If I won- they had to sit in silence the rest of the class period. Well since I am 50 and am a finely tuned athlete and he is 12 and weighs about 60 lbs. I knew I could take him.

However, I could see the fear in his eyes when he saw my bulging bicep. I could tell he didn't want to be humiliated in front of his friends but I had to go through with the duel.

Basically nothing happened for a while- we were at a stalemate- I was trying and he was trying- finally I gave the finest acting display of my life and acted like it was getting hard and I let him won. The whole class cheered and I erased their names but for some strange reason- they were quiet and listened to the lesson about laundry tips the rest of the class.
This is Xavier doing dishes (which is extremely rare)