Imagine Jon's surprise when he watched Steve Farber strut into the room and pick up the piece of chalk that Miss Robertson had dropped.
Speaking of Miss Robertson, Jon saw her roll her eyes at Steve's arrival, then begrudgingly take a seat at one of the front desks. What was she doing? Did she think she was one of the students? And what about Steve? Did he think he was the teacher? How would that work? He wasn't old enough to be the teacher.
"Okay, class," Steve said, authoritatively. "Take your books out and turn to page 158."
The class did as he said. No one thought that it was strange that he was acting like a teacher. But he wasn't replacing Miss Robertson. He wasn't acting like her. He was just acting like a teacher ... a male teacher. But it was still strange seeing "The Stud" acting so ... mature and studious.
"Now," Steve said, turning towards the board with his piece of chalk and writing something. "Can any of you tell me ..." He spun around and looked at the "former" teacher. "Miss Robertson, what is the policy regarding chewing gum in class?"
Jon looked over at her. He couldn't believe it. She really was chewing gum. She used to harp on people for doing that, even sending them to the office.
She sighed, then said "That you're not supposed to do it?"
"That's right," Steve said. "Now get rid of it, please." He brought his desk trash can over to her so that she could spit the gum out. And she did.
When he walked back to the front of the classroom, Jon saw her stick out her tongue at him. What a brat, Jon thought.
Steve went back to the chalkboard, then continued the lesson.
