From the moment I acquired Room 101 5 years ago, I knew there would be so many fun stories to tell about “The Tunnel” conveniently located right behind my desk.
* * *
“What that?” asks an innocent student after using an assignment question as an excuse to approach my desk.
“The Tunnel,” I reply returning my gaze to my desk in part to return to the mountain of papers before me, and to add to the mystery and natural imaginative wanderings of middle-schoolers.
“What’s ‘The Tunnel?'”
“Where I store my files of really uninspired student work. Sometimes, I’ll have students pop down there during after school detention to work on revision and adding detail.”
“You’re joking,” she says more to convince herself than as a definitive statement.
“Perhaps,” I offer with a curious glance in her direction.
* * *
Sadly, the myth of the “The Tunnel” is now somewhat debunked. As I entered the building to put the finishing touches on my 2-days worth of sub plans on my way to the MACUL technology conference, I was greeted by an unfamiliar smell which left me longing for the sharp scent of table cleaner and floor wax.
Upon entering my room – teaching items displaced from their home behind my desk, windows flung wide – I knew I would find “The Tunnel” with its foul mouth yawning wide.
I was not disappointed.
* * *
News of the septic back-up made the rushing sound I heard from “The Tunnel” at the end of first hour seem sickeningly obvious! Breathing only when absolutely necessary, I quickly prepared my plans in convenient grab-and-go piles by the door since I was sure my classes would not be meeting in my rank room.
I proceeded to my half-way destination for the evening before learning that my students would, in fact, be enjoying an unexpected day off school – due to the seeping sewage. Enjoy your day, you turkeys!