Artificial Limb

As if third grade wasn’t hard enough
The new teacher was different
She wore an artificial arm
Fake wood and shining metal and wires
Scared him to death
Morning recess panicking he ran all the way home
“What are you doing here?” Mother asked
Thinking fast he lied
“I missed you.”
She wasn’t buying
“Deal with it,” she said
Back to school he went her words Deal with it ringing in his ears
He tried his best
Fortunately.

After all these years he still remembers her
More than spelling and math and reading and writing
She taught him how to be kind to others less fortunate
How to be open-minded
Her name was Mrs. Schlagenhauf
She was the best teacher he ever had.