The Last Bencher

Pia was always a last-bencher. “The last bench is my throne, and I am the Queen of that row,” she often said. One year, a new English teacher, Ms. Neena, was assigned to Pia’s class. When she walked in for the first time, her eyes fell on Pia, who was standing on the last bench and shouting, “MY FELLOWS, BOW TO YOUR QUEEN!”

“Troublemaker,” Ms. Neena thought.

After introducing herself, Ms. Neena announced a change in the seating arrangement. “Last-benchers will sit in the front from now,” she said.

“WHY? I am not moving from here.” Pia was the only one to protest.

“You will sit right in front of me,” Ms. Neena said, pointing at the middle seat in the front row.

Pia grumbled and grumbled, but she could not hold her last-bench fort for long. She sat where Ms. Neena told her to sit.

After school, Pia jumped in front of Ms. Neena and asked, “How can I move back to the last bench?”

Ms. Neena smiled. “Pay attention in class for a week. Listen to what is being taught.”

“That is all?”

“But you should actually listen. Pretending is not allowed.”

“I promise. But you promise me too … you’ll send me back to the last bench.”

Ms. Neena agreed. Pia began to listen to every word the teacher said and wrote on the board. She was most attentive when Ms. Neena read a poem aloud. Her eyes would shine, as if she had been transported to a different world.

A week later, Pia was sent back to her throne, the last bench. Ms. Neena often saw her writing words in her notebook. Pia began calling herself “Poet Queen!”

[Post from Instagram]