Exhilaration | Shawn Hunter [Boy Meets World]

Teacher's Bet

Shawn came over to me and Cory with a newspaper rolled up in his hands. "Hey, Cory. Brought you a great article on Barry Bonds."

Cory unrolled it. "Ah, the $43-million man."

"Why do they call him that?" Minkus asked.

"Because that's what he's getting paid to play baseball for six years," I answer.

"7.16 million a year?"

"If that's what it comes out to, yeah," Shawn said.

"He happens to be one of the top guys in baseball," Cory told him.

"Well, I happen to think Mr. Feeny is one of the top guys in teaching and he makes about 40,000 a year," Minkus stated.

"That stinks," Shawn said.

"Finally. Something we agree on."

"Yeah."

"Feeny ain't worth that kind of money," Shawn said causing me to reach over and smack his arm.

"You thought I meant he was overpaid?" Minkus asked. "I meant that Mr. Feeny is grossly and tragically underpaid."

"Yeah," I say. "For once I agree with you, Stuart."

"Minkus-May I call you Minkus?" Cory asked, but continued, not caring for an answer. "Does spelling ever change? No. Does history ever change? Uh-uh. Does Feeny ever change? Never. Know why? He doesn't have to. Know why? 'Cause nothing about teaching sixth grade ever changes."

"Well, I think you're wrong," Minkus stated.

"Well, I think I'm right. I think in about five seconds, Feeny walks in here takes a sip from the drinking fountain flicks his mustache, goes to the coffee machine sees me, and says, 'Good morning, Mr.Matthews. I trust you've done the homework'. Every day the same thing. He's so predictable."

Mr. Feeny came in, takes a sip from the drinking fountain, flicks his mustache and as he walked by, looked to Cory. "Good morning, Mr. Matthews. I trust you've done the homework."

I raise my eyebrows. Not bad.

"Yes, I did, sir." This time they say in sync. "But my little sister ate it."

"You are so predictable," Mr. Feeny told him before walking away.

"He's not wrong," I tell Cory.

***

In class, Mr. Feeny was up at the board.

"This Week in Social Studies we'll be talking about prejudice," Mr. Feeny announced.

"Good, 'cause I'm prejudiced against the scungy food in the cafeteria," Cory said.

I smile, I agreed. I reach my hand out as did Shawn as we both got high fives.

"We will be discussing black slavery in the American South," he said, handing out books to the front of the rows. "The Jews in Nazi Germany and several examples of prejudice throughout history. Tonight your assignment is to read the first 30 pages of that book."

The Diary of Anne Frank.

"Aw, man, it's a book about some girl," Cory commented as the class bell rang.

***

I went home to read the book, I was only in on twelve pages and Zack was reading a book right next to me when Mom came home.

"Hello, my kids," Mom greeted.

"Hi," me and Zack greeted.

"How was your day?" I ask.