Next Thursday

The Director of Studies calls all the teachers in for an emergency meting. We all sit there in a semi-circle and wonder if our jobs are on the line. I’ve noted down the number of Siam Computer just in case.

The DoS looks worried. “We are not attracting anything like the number of students that we should be. From now on, I’m introducing a student request system. Students will decide which teacher they want to study with. I’m telling you now – GET FUNNY!”

That night I go home and practice in front of the full length mirror. Which side is my funniest? What’s the laziest letter in the alphabet? - the letter E because it’s always in bed. I visualize a scenario where no one laughs and so I have to tell the joke a second time. Then the brightest student in the class has to explain it to the rest and any hope that the joke ever had of being even mildly entertaining has vanished forever.

And I see a vision of six students beating a path to the reception and banging collective fists on the desk. “That teacher just isn’t funny. We don’t want to study with him”

I reach deep into my pocket and finger a scrap of paper. It’s the phone number for Siam Computer.