TheSundaySchoolTeacher
佚名/Anonymous
MissSwancouldn』ttakebeingaSundayschoolteacheranylonger.NotforanotherSunday!ThishandfulofdisrespectfulteenagerssnappedtheirgumsduringprayertimeandreadmagazinesduringBiblestudy.Butmostawfulofall,atprayerrequesttheyaskedtheLordtoincreasetheirweeklyallowances!
「Ihavehaditwithyou.Iquit!」shescreamedatthestudents.「Cool,」Ricksaidnoddinginapproval.Hewastherudestkidshe』devermet.
IttooktwomonthstofindanewreplacementforthatSundayschoolclass.ThepastorescortedMissBettyRayintomeetthepseudo-angelic-lookinggroup.Newintown,shehadn』theardoftheirreputationforchasingoffteachers.Bythelookofherpinkdress,onesizetoosmall,andherbadblondebleadedhair,thestudentsobviouslyfelttheyhadaneasyjob.
SoonbetsweretakenastohowlongMissBettywouldlast.
Bettyintroducedherself,statingthatsherecentlycamefromtheSouth.Shecertainlylookedlikeasouthernbelleswhoworeoutdatedclothesandwhosebeautyhadpeakedadecadeearlier,onlyshedidn』tknowityet.Snickersrippledintheroomassherummagedthroughthehugeshoulderbagshecarriedasapurse.
「Haveanyofyoueverbeenoutofstate?」sheaskedinafriendlytone.Afewhandswentup.
「Anyonetravelbeyondfivehundredmiles?」Onehandwentupasthesnickeringdiminished.
「Anyonevisitedoutsidethecountry?」Nohandswentupnow.Thesilentteenswerepuzzled.Whatdidthishavetodowithanything?Wassheusingpsychologyonthem,orwasshejustplainclueless?
Finally,Betty』sbonyhandstruckoilwhatshehadbeensearchingforinherhandbag.Pullingupalongtube,sheunrolledamapoftheworld.「Whatelsedoyouhaveinthere?Lunch?」someonecracked.
Bettysmiledlightlyandanswered,「Cookiesforlater.」「Cool,」Rickquipped.
Thenshepointedwithalongfingernailtoanodd-shapedcontinent.「Iwasbornhere,」shetappedwithherfinger.「AndIlivedhereuntilIwasaboutyourage.」
Everyonecranedtheirnecktoseepwhereitwas.
「IsthatTexas?」someonesittinginthebackasked.「Notevenclose.ItisIndia.」Hereyestwinkledwithjoy.
「Howdidyougetwayovertheretobeborn?」Bettylaughed.「Myparentsweremissionariesthere,andthatwaswheremymotherwaswhenIcameintotheworld.」
「Cool!」Rickleanedbackinhischairdulyimpressed.Bettyfumbledagaininherpurse,thistimepullingoutahandfulofoldwrinkledpicturesalongwithatinofchocolatechipcookies.Theypassedthepicturesaround,viewingeachwithgreatinterest.Darkfacesstaredupfromthephotos,frozenintime.Thekidsstudiedthemastheybitintothesweets.
「Youdon』thavetobeamissionary—everyonecandosomethinginthisworldtohelpanother,」MissBettysaid.Thehourquicklyslidbyasshetoldthemherstoriesaboutfarawayplacesandwhatthepeoplewerelikethereandhowtheylived.
「Wow,thisisasexcitingasTV!」oneyounggirltoldher.
SundayafterSunday,Bettycametotheclass,tyingherlessonstotheireverydaylives.Shetoldtheteenshowtheycouldmakeadifferencerightnow.Thestudentsgrewtoloveher,bleachedblondehairandall.Themoretheylikedher,theloveliershebecame.