Now,
You are going to struggle to believe this next story,
But I promise you everything I tell you really did happen.
Roly-Poly was sat on the desk at the back of the class,
Not making a sound,
Not even a murmur,
Let alone a purr.
He was as silent as a church bell on Wednesday.
Only one person knew that he was there,
And she was not going to tell anyone.
Mrs.
Perkins taught English.
It was her job to teach Year 11 boys.
She was trying to get them to understand of mice and men.
The very thought of mice made Roly feel sick.
He never understood why those who bore some relation to him even went near them.
Such a disgusting habit!
Roly-Poly believed that all hunting should be banned.
That said,
He did not have the time or the inclination to be an activist.
He was far too busy or lazy,
He couldn't decide which.
As I was saying,
Mrs.
Perkins was trying in vain to educate the boys,
Who had no interest whatsoever in discrimination,
John Steinbeck or the American Dream.
The boys in her charge saw no value in education.
School was more of a youth club,
Where you came to chat to your friends,
Torment the teachers,
Scroll on your phone and generally loaf about until home time.
Unfortunately for Mrs.
Perkins,
Home time never came quickly enough.
Today however was going to be different.
Roly-Poly had surreptitiously found his way into Barcastle High.
Nobody chose to work in Barcastle,
You just end up there while you're waiting for something else to come along.
Mrs.
Perkins had been waiting for twenty-four years and counting.
"'However did you get in here?
' she exclaimed.
She had ten minutes before the rabble descended,
She had to make a decision and make it fast.
She hugged Roly and said,
"'I really don't want you to go.
' So she put him down on her swivel chair and pushed him underneath the desk.
Somehow,
Just knowing he was there,
Made Suzanne,
Which was her real name,
Feel better.
When it felt as if no one was listening,
She smiled to herself and thought,
"'Well,
At least Roly-Poly is listening.
' When Turnip was hanging out of the window and Basil was hiding under the table,
When Berger was making fart noises,
Mrs.
P.
Did not get upset.
She did not shout or make idle threats about phone calls to parents.
She just kept going,
Unfazed.
It would soon be time for break.
The time,
For once,
Seemed to go quickly.
The bell went and the lesson was over.
Roly-Poly came out and Mrs.
Perkins stroked him.
She felt herself becoming calm,
Her heart rate slowed.
He was warm and cuddly.
His soft,
Creamy coat soothed her fretted mind.
After break it would be Year Ten,
The class she dreaded the most.
All of her lessons were awful,
But Year Ten took it to another level of misery and mayhem.
It was a nightmare trying to get them to do anything.
To pick up a pen,
To open a book,
Even to sit down.
It was an endless battle that she was never going to win.
If only Roly-Poly could help,
But what could he do?
She tried everything.
As the sweaty crew filed in,
Unseen Roly-Poly leapt silently onto the bookcase,
Casting his charm over the whole room.
A ripple of wonder spread across the faces of the jaded children.
No one could resist him,
They all wanted to stroke him.
Everyone was overcome by his loveliness.
It was as if a magic mist had filled the air.
Roly-Poly had this impact on everyone he met.
They all wanted to cuddle him.
Everyone was enchanted by how adorable he was.
The dreaded chaos evaporated,
Replaced by a calm serenity.
Even Pomegranate behaved and did her work.
Mrs.
Perkins could not believe it.
For a brief moment she remembered why she had become a teacher.
What she loved about teaching.
If you have ever worked with children or young people,
You will recognise one of these precious moments,
When you know for certain that you are making a difference.
It's a wonderful feeling,
Because you know that what you are saying or doing won't be forgotten.
We all know that nothing lasts forever,
But for once the lesson went well.
It was a good day.
Suzanne went home with a skip in her step and told everyone about an amazing cat called Roly-Poly and how he had come to see her.
