I work as a resource teacher at an inner-city elementary school. I don't
know if I like saying inner-city, but the developmental climate is definitely
different all around. One of the things I do is hang with the students
during every recess. Today I was hanging out by the tetherball and
realized how amazingly good they are. I HAD to come home and write
something, so I came up with this
FRESNO -- Andreas's dominating seven game run came to an
improbable end this afternoon when he faced Leroy Major. The match
would become a breathtaking clash between the tetherball titans.
For seven minutes the two jumped, blocked, grunted, and pounded the
ball, making sure to capitalize on the opponent's every mistake.
Eventually Major's fresh legs proved to be too much for the tiring
Andreas, who had been playing for the better part of fifteen minutes and
was starting to show signs of sweat.
After a fatal Andreas error, Leroy called a butterfingers and easily gained
control on his ensuing serve. With the ball already wrapped half-way in
his favor, Major was already the favorite in the round and would never let
go. With the ball's last quick twist around the pole, Andreas shrugged and
walked to the bathroom to wash his hands. He was unavailable for
comment after.
Despite the upset, his crushing reign proves that though in first grade,
Andreas is the lower-grader to beat. After a quick warm-up, Andreas
easily overcame the previous winner and set out to disappoint the next
three challengers. Jesus Soria, however, wouldn't prove so easy to defeat.
The top-ranked third grader nearly took Andreas out, coming within just
two wraps of a win. Andreas dug down deep and responded with a game
saving block, followed with six to seven devastating blows that Soria
couldn't return.
Amazingly, Leroy twice had Andreas in tough positions. Coming within a
few wraps of the loss two minutes into the match, Andreas's experienced
defense and strength prevailed, finding a block similar to that against
Soria. The ball wrapped back to zero and Leroy had to start the work all
over again.
"I like to win. It feels good," said Major, a second-grader. "He's the best in
Mrs. Compton, but I'm the best too. We'll play during lunch [tomorrow]."[/
I]
Ooch! I'm not ashamed to say I'm afraid of playing them at
But really, what I do is stand in for teachers when