On Disguise Day, I become disoriented during my daily playground duty. Where were the other teachers? A ninja stealthily leaped in and out of the trees in Bragdon Wood. Were those Mr. Nicol’s eyes? A man with a refined looking goatee observed students on the basketball court. Was it a new substitute? Nope... it was Mrs. Peters. A slightly disheveled woman, with undone hair, mismatched socks, and poorly applied lipstick, stood near the Gaga Ball pit. Homeless, maybe? Should I call campus security? Oops... Mrs. Cogburn. A furry lion marched out to intervene between two third grade farm animals who were having a verbal altercation. The thrown-back lion mane revealed a stern Ms. Pittman. And a woman with tissues and cough drops affixed in her hair tended to Darth Vader with a skinned knee... Nurse Townley!

On Teacher/Student Swap Day, I entered Mays dressed as my own son in his signature look: navy polo over khaki shorts, turquoise crocs, baseball cap, and Pit Viper sunglasses. The get-up surpassed my wildest expectations. “Yo, bro!” an eighth grader yelled as he slapped me on the back. An abject look of horror washed over his face when I turned around. “Oh my goodness. I’m SOOOOO sorry, Mrs. Midani. Do you know you two look EXACTLY alike from the back? But again, SO sorry,” he said, backing away slowly, bowing and cowering all the way out of the hallway. My hilarity at this priceless moment knew no bounds!