The Istoriaphile’s Corner

He was in my very first high school class, a wiry, little guy behind a lectern, with gravity-defying hair and feverish-looking eyes. He wasn’t much taller than the lectern and it probably weighed more than he did.  The stranger stared at us briefly before introducing himself as Mr. S___, taking the roll and passing out Literature text books.  “Another first-year teacher,” I thought with dismay,”this class will eat him alive.”  Then the little man barked out an order and half the class jumped. For a small man, this guy’s voice was loud. “Mr. So-and-So” he boomed at one of the better-behaved boys in class, “What have you got there?  Bring it to me.”  The poor kid named slunk his way toward the front of the class while I cowered in my seat and revised my opinion of the instructor. This guy would control the class but I didn’t like him and doubted if I’d learn much from him either. Little did I know I was facing the greatest teacher I’ve ever meet. Mr. S. taught my favorite subject, English, but I never would have told him something that personal. The man was far too intimidating.  We were in an era…