11 March 1998
Today my junior classes watched the movie "Roger & Me". We're watching it in order to prepare for
an essay in which they will compare the themes of the literary era they are reading (early 1900s) to the themes
of the movie.
In all honesty, the whole thing is just an excuse for me to show "Roger & Me", which is a kick-ass movie.
Anyway, I was standing in the back of my classroom as the movie played today, basking in everyone's admiration of Michael Moore. My classroom is big; it's an auditorium, really, and it has 54 seats in rows that are graded.
I noticed some activity down towards the front of the classroom as I stood at my post. A boy, I'll call him Bill, was sitting in between two girls. Anne, who was on his left, appeared to be petting Bill's arm. I couldn't see very well, but Bill had his arm stretched out on his little fold-up desk, palm up, and Anne was running her fingers up and down his arm. Up...down...up...down...aaahh...Bill was clearly soothed.
This activity kind of made me feel concerned, as I didn't think it was appropriate behavior for class, but I decided not to say anything.
I wandered around the room, watching the movie from various points, then moved back up to my post in the back. I glanced over at Bill to see if anything had developed. Oh no. Now Rachel, who sat on Bill's other side, was in on the act. She had her hand in his hair, and she appeared to be giving him a head rub. Anne appeared not to notice...her paw was back in her lap and she was watching the movie. All three, in fact, studiously watched the movie. The only movement I saw was Rachel's hand moving through Bill's hair...
So my question is, are Rachel and Anne stupid, or is Bill just one lucky guy?