3140. Ms Downer’s high standard © Bruce Goodman 10 March 2025

Ms Downer regarded herself as an excellent teacher. She was generally rather average but she viewed herself a little higher than that. She had just had a pupil have a story published in the monthly High School Journal of Creative Writing. It was an international magazine that published creative high school contributions. The standard was very high, and Ms Downer was not at all surprised that she had encouraged “a pupil of mine” to rise to such heights. Norbert, another pupil in her class, aspired to be a writer. “I’m afraid,” said Ms Downer, “that you won’t amount to much. Look at the last story you wrote. You failed the assignment. It wasn’t at all good. In fact I thought it was downright pathetic. You must face reality.” If the truth be known, the problem that Ms Downer had wasn’t Norbert. The problem was with Norbert’s mother. Norbert’s mother and Ms Downer had gone to the same high school, and Norbert’s mother had a story published in the High School Journal of Creative Writing and Ms Downer didn’t. Imagine what Ms Downer’s disgust is going to be when she opens next month’s High School Journal of Creative Writing. She will find Norbert’s failed story printed on page 1. Contact Author Back to Index Next Story Previous Story