We knew that, all right. Mummies and sphinxes and pyramids were scattered all over the classroom, and for the past month, everything had been Egypt this and Egypt that.
Which I was glad about. My last year’s teacher had been nuts about Ye Olden Prairie Days.
This would have been okay except she only liked inside stuff . . . making bonnets and cooking johnnycakes.
I wanted to do some Ye Olden Prairie Days outside stuff, like lassoing buffalo and digging for gold and catching outlaws drinking beer in saloons.
But my last year’s teacher said, Nope, it was bonnets and johnnycakes and sitting in your seat all day.
Besides, she said, all that other stuff was from Ye Olden Wild West Days. Just remembering how boring last year was practically made me fall asleep.
But I didn’t, because I wanted to know what the good news was.
“When I learned that this year’s Adventures for Teachers program was an archaeological dig in Egypt,” the principal continued, “I nominated your teacher.”
Mrs. Rice looked proud of herself, but I didn’t see what was so great yet. “And I am delighted to tell you that over the weekend, we learned Mr. D’Matz is a finalist!”
When Principal Rice said our teacher’s name, all the kids sucked in their breath at the same time.
