Literally Speaking

”You’re skating in thin ice,’ Miss Taylor said.

In his head, Tom thought of traffic cones, with white stripes on thin strip of ice. He wasn’t quite sure what the teacher meant. He wasn’t on any ice, and swinging on his chair. It was comfortable that way.

”I’m not on any ice,’ he said, pushing his chair on four legs again.

Miss Taylor, frowned over her purple rimmed glasses. ”Stop being cheeky! Out of the class, I will speak to you in a moment.”

Tom blinked, not wanting to upset the teacher any further, he walked outside. The world was a crazy place. The other day, his PE teacher told him to pull his socks up. When he went to pull them up, they already were.

He waited outside, his nose planted to the floor, trying to figure out what he said wrong. Was there any ice in the classroom? He didn’t think so, but then maybe he had misheard.

”Tom, why were you cheeky?’ Miss Taylor asked.

”Sorry miss, but I’m confused. You said I was skating on thin ice, but there is none in the classroom,’ he said, an earnest look on his face.

Her face lit up like the sun illuminated his words. ‘Oh, no Tom, I was telling you off because you were swinging on your chair. I had already told you not to. You weren’t being cheeky, it’s totally my fault for not being clearer.”

”Sorry Miss,’ he said.

”No, I’m sorry, next time I will think before I speak.”