.»
Here Jeff and Vera both recalled the song It Wasn’t Me by Shaggy, and for a long time the young people were only able to laugh. Barely staying calm, Vera continued her story.
««What’s going on in here?» a familiar voice sounded, and seeing the school principal, I felt my desire to vanish fly up to the sky. The janitor explained.
««Who dared lock up my child?» My father shouted as he stormed into the classroom.
«I liked my teacher,» Vera explained to Jeff. «I didn’t want any trouble for her.
««Dad!» I called him out. «It was an accident. I’m sorry!»
««Honey,» my father asked with worry. «Are you okay?»
««I’m fine! Please, let me out!»
«The janitor unsuccessfully tried to unlock the locker again.
«„Break the door!“ ordered the principal. All the men combined their efforts. The locker was shaking. Some papers from the highest shelf fell on my head, and clinging to the vibrating walls, I wept, afraid the door wouldn’t open and I’d remain locked in here forever. They finally threw the door wide open.» Vera snorted, finishing the story. «I just stood still, and the adults took me away. „How did you get in?“ they all asked me at once. „Why were you there? Why are you so quiet?“ I kept silent. When I hid, all that I wanted to say was, „Meow!“ But now it lost all meaning, and I didn’t know what to answer.»
«How easy children fall asleep sometimes.» Sighing, Jeff shook his head. «Your story reminds me of one episode from my childhood too. It also cost my parents a few years of their lives and they got some gray hairs for sure. I was six years old when my dad brought me a wonderful toboggan from his trip to Alaska. An Indian had made it, and it was really beautiful. This toboggan was made of white ash and it was carved and hand painted in the Indian style. I couldn’t admire it enough, and started begging my dad to go and play with me right now.
««I’m very tired, honey,» my dad answered apologetically. But, then, he looked through the window and saw some of my friends playing nearby. He understood my feelings and agreed, «You can go and play outside. Show off your toboggan. Just don’t go far from home. Deal?» And happy, I rushed to put my winter clothes on.
«Outside, I caught my breath, pretending not to do anything special, and slowly moved toward my friends. They saw my toboggan. I couldn’t hide my smile, seeing how they were impressed. They looked all over the toboggan, touching and stroking the decoration and gasping with delight.
«„Let’s check how fast it can go!“ someone finally suggested. We ran to the driveway between the blocks of houses. The toboggan was not big, so only one kid at time could sit on it, and we decided to take turns. The first girl sat on the toboggan. We all took the rope and ran.»