Don’t Get Antsy About The Exam

(My teacher announces to the class that because she has a performance review coming up, she will be working with us more one on one ‘to be extra impressive.’ To evaluate our individual needs, she calls us into another room one at a time during labs. She goes alphabetically, but skips mine, saving me for last. I notice my most recent paper has a note in the back that says ‘we need to talk’ and I am very nervous when she finally calls me.)

Me: “I feel like I’m in trouble.”

Teacher: *laughing* “Not at all; I just need to make sure everyone is getting any help they need.”

Me: “Oh, okay…”

Teacher: *holds up the quiz from earlier* “You got a 90; good job. You’re behind on last week’s lab. Need any help?”

Me: “No, I’m just finishing it up, actually.”

Teacher: “Great! I noticed you drew an ant on your quiz.”

Me: “Cricket, actually.”

Teacher: “Oh, well, I wanted to tell you a thing that happened with ants yesterday!”

(We spent the next 15 minutes chatting. Turned out she left me for last because I’m funny and ‘we need to talk’ literally meant hang out and talk. Later she was cracking up while grading my lab. I’m just glad she likes my sense of humor and gives me full marks despite my comedic additions to assignments.)