Class pet

After a dramatic and rather discouraging day, I was feeling a little down. Until a kid in the back raises his hand and asks, "Why are there worms on my desk?"

A little background

Four years ago, I shared my classroom with another teacher during my prep. The other teacher had a teacher's desk and chair brought in and put in the back corner, opposite my desk, so he could have a place to work and store his papers and supplies. This year, one of my most disruptive students asked if he could sit there. Of course I said yes. The naughty kid confining himself to the back corner by himself? A dream come true. So he set himself up in the back, with a framed baby portrait of himself, a lamp, and some kitten posters.

And a dixie cup full of mealworms he stole from a science class.

They are ugly and squirmy and gigantic. I usually like bugs, and I love worms... but these... look like alien parasites. I shuddered and gagged a little and itched all over for no reason. And decided they could keep them. They're not hurting anyone (yet...), and they're not too distracting (yet). So the student who found them made them a scenic view and gave them a bigger cup. I'm hoping they turn into beetles soon. The beetles are way cuter than the aliens, although they're growing on me (oh, eew.  Not literally.  Now I'm itchy again).

We did have to have a discussion about pet responsibility.  He must change their sawdust soon, as it smells like bug poo already.  And he has to feed them.  I found a little box of Wheaties, and I've been sneaking them pieces of my mid-morning fruit.  Please enjoy the pictures of our new little friends, Kid Swagg and Sir Swaggs-a-lot.