The Special Chair

Our teacher, old Dufour, had taught kids for ages

So he understood us, in all of our stages.

The sign in our class every one of us knew:

“If you do for Dufour, then he’ll do for you!”

In August we studied the great Constitution

Then Dufour announced, “Here at this institution

Our class rules are simple, for good grades to earn...”

Then he wrote on the board: Be kind, be true, and learn.

We took this to heart and we gave it our best

Dufour taught us stuff and we handled the rest.

With the usual kiddos: some weaker, some strong

But here’s the great thing: everyone got along!

We played well together, at recess on fields

We lunched as a bunch, sometimes sharing our meals.

When there was a problem, like who got a turn

We turned to the rules: Be kind, be true, and learn.

And our classroom became such a comforting blend

Where everyone felt like each one was their friend.

But at home there was lots of loud yelling instead.

See, I had a problem with wetting my bed.

I’m not really sure how this habit arose

When I told friends at school, they said, “That’s how it goes.

Maybe stop taking drinks at the end of the day.”

So I gave that a shot and the wets went away.

By October that year, with everyone clicking

We got a new student; this kid came in kicking.

His hair was the orange of cheese from Wisconsin

And speaking of cheesy, his name was John Johnson.

Well Dufour gave Johnny some readings to read

To know what he’d missed, catch him up to speed.

But when Johnny refused, old man Dufour got stern

Announcing our rules: Be kind, be true, and learn.

“I should be kind of what?” Johnson asked with a smirk.

Then he whispered, “Old Dufus” (that cheddar-cheese jerk),

But just loud enough so the kids near him heard it.

Dufour got a nickname and Johnson conferred it.

Over time, other students called DuFour this name:

Dufour, Dufus – they do sound the same.

It was fun for a while, but the laughs turned to frowns

When Johnson nicknamed each of us with put-downs.

See, he had a talent for finding the thing

That would hurt us the most (but had a nice ring).

So Ip, who was short, was re-branded “Small Fries.”

When Emma got glasses, she took on “Four-Eyes.”

He tailored his nicknames to each person’s weakness;

The shame-name for me, see, became: “Royal Leakness.”

These nicknames weren’t clever, just simple and nasty

But since he repeated them, they grew long-lasty.

Old Dufour ignored the names while he was teaching

But lessons weren’t landing, his readings weren’t reaching.

His students looked worried (except for Cheese Hair)

So one day, our teacher unveiled: “The Special Chair.”

It was big as a Buick, as soft as a pup

You could flop in the comfort with your leggies up.

The cushion was bouncy, the armrests were restful

The fabric was silky, a lamb’s very best wool.

And we’d each get one week to relax in that Chair –

V.I.P.s we would be! No more sore derrieres!

Plus you’d get your classmates’ respectful attention

(And in our class newsletter you’d get a mention).

But wait, there’s much more that came ‘long with this honor:

You’d get to choose games to play your week upon her

No homework for you – a homework honeymoon!

So we all hoped to sit in the Special Chair soon.

We randomly picked names and filled in each date

So each of us knew our time to celebrate

We started at once, with Brigit on the seat

Then Juan, Kitty Khan, Maxi Miller, then Pete.

Each Monday, our class had a big Morning Meeting

Where Dufour announced the week’s Special Chair seating.

The old kid would stand at the 8 o’clock hour

And welcome the new one, to transfer the power.

Not ‘til the new year would the Chair be my own

The week after John’s special time on the throne.

And speaking of Johnson, his teasing had worsened:

He focused his taunts on each week’s special person.

With time we all learned of a new Johnson ruse:

When we played any game, Johnson could never lose.

If the other team scored, he would claim it unfair.

When he lost fair and square, “It was rigged!” he would swear.

If he won, by chance, then Johnson was fine

When he lost, though, oh no, prepare for the whine.

He even got some kids to come to his side:

The ones he mocked most found a cruel spirit guide.

They’d learned when you followed, he’d leave you alone 

See, Johnny teased elsewhere when you were a clone.

So more and more classmates began to act mean.

All because Johnny Johnson had come on our scene!

‘Twas a Monday in winter when John got his turn

The Chair was all his, he could comfortably learn.

Oh, he lorded above us while perched on that Chair

Like it wasn’t enough that he merely was there.

He loved the attention that came with the seat,

The being above with his friends at his feet.

He spoke constantly (without saying a thing)

Ignoring our teacher, acting like a king.

But Tuesday he’s missing and Wednesday, he’s gone

On Thursday, still absent and Friday: no John.

All week we asked Dufour ‘bout him and the Chair:

Could someone among us replace Johnny there?

“No way,” said our teacher, “because we’d regret

Disrupting a schedule that’s already set.

The plan should be followed; it’s going fantastic

Things set in stone are not penciled in plastic.”

So the Chair sat all empty, invitingly open

While I in my painful hard chair started hopin’

That Johnson would stay away, fail to return

And our class could get back to: Be kind, be true, and learn.

But the next week, our Johnny returned very proud

With a dark orange tan and a voice clear and loud.

He re-took the Chair and began a narration

About a surprise Disney family vacation.

“In the middle of school?” DuFour asked with concern.

“You missed many lessons that you’ll never learn.”

“Catch me up!” Johnny yelled. “Isn’t that how it’s done?”

“If you had been sick, but not so you could sun.”

At our meeting that day, my turn came for the Chair

But John didn’t move. He said, “I’m staying here!

Since my turn wasn’t finished, I’ll make it up now.”

This didn’t seem fair so I issued a, “Wow.”

I stood like a target while everyone eyed me.

And hoped that someone might step in, even hide me.

But nobody did until Dufour demanded:

“Get up!” 

Then John moved, instantly, as commanded.

So I plopped in that chair for my wonderful week

And prepared to be listened to, if I should speak.

Best view of the whiteboard! So cozy, protected

No stress, no duress, and no homework collected!

But each time I stood up, Johnson — can you guess?

He’d point at the cushion like I’d made a mess.

He’d ask, “Mop?” I’d say “Stop!” (just hating to speak this)

He’d nod and he’d snarl at me: “Yes, Royal Leakness.”

Our classmates he questioned to use dirt against me

And some of them, sadly, said things that incensed me.

They told him the stories from back when we grew up

The time on the bus in third grade when I threw up.

So Tuesday, that morning, I prepped to get sass

But instead, a new furniture sat in our class.

A new Chair, like my chair, all soft and inviting.

And everyone gathered around it delighting.

Did Dufour install it, to simply be nice?

“No way,” he replied: “One chair will suffice!”

It was Johnson and his folks who’d brought in this seat

To make up to John for what they called “the cheat.”

These parents said Johnny had missed his Chair week

It wasn’t his fault that he had a retreat.

This new chair, they argued, could quote “stop the steal”

And Johnny, their precious, could comfortably heal.

But Dufour refused it, and took it away

Explaining one Special Chair only could stay.

So Johnson got angry as we could all see

But not at our teacher, it centered on me!

For the rest of that morning, I sat on my throne

But I did not feel special, my place felt alone.

My classmates ignored me or just made mean glances

While Johnny glared at me with looks more like lances.

When we lined up for lunch, Johnny spoke to one child

I missed what he said, ‘cept the end: “Will be wild.”

Which puzzled me then, but later made sense

‘Cuz our class after lunch – it was pretty intense!

The Special Chair – my special place – was in shreds

The cushions were ripped and all tangled in threads.

Red paint had been splattered across the whole back

And words had been scrawled in this vicious attack.

When Dufour arrived there, he gasped and sat down

Just shaking his head, not making a sound.

He asked us a question but no one replied,

So he looked out the window and somberly sighed.

See, no one confessed to this horrible scandal

Though all of us knew who had egged on the vandal.

(For Johnny was blameless; he could not get caught

When he wanted a fight, then his followers fought).

So DuFour chose some kids to lift that great chair;

He led us outside with it up in the air.

We stopped at the dumpster and opened the top.

“Raise it higher!” he said, and then, “Let it drop.”

When we got back to class, Mr. D. read our rules

And we followed along with him feeling like fools

Then he told us, “Today you weren’t kind, you weren’t true.

So tonight you will write: What’s the learning for you?”

I pondered that question all through the long night

And wrote my reflection, hoping I was right.

The next day at schooltime, I passed in my work

Just like all my classmates, but one orange jerk.

See Johnson was absent that day (and all others).

He switched to a private school (so said his mother).

So Dufour brought back Johnson’s extra great chair:

“Your old friend left this. But I’m sure he would share.”

I re-took my perch on that seat soft and cushy

Relaxing at ease from my teeth to my tushy.

For I knew that this time, we’d all get a turn

And once more, for Dufour, we’d: Be kind, be true, and learn.