When I taught fourth grade in NC, I also volunteered with the elementary drama group at the school. We needed a pizza box prop for a play, so my friend, Michael, who at the time was an employee of Papa Johns, said he’d bring me by a fresh pizza box. The plan was for Michael to drop it off in the office.
As I was lining the kids up after P.E., I noticed their antsy bodies suddenly become still at they stared at something going on behind my back. My tiny and proper principal was walking into the gym with a big grin on her face escorting Michael and his pizza box. So, I introduced Michael to the class and explained he was bringing us a prop.
The kids were frighteningly well behaved. We all walked up to the classroom, and then Michael left waving bye as he walked out the door.
Immediately after, the students (who were busting at the seams) started the comments:
"Miss Richards, why did he say ‘call me’ when he walked out?”
“He didn’t say call me. He is my friend.”
“No, he said, ‘call me.’ We all saw it.”
“He’s just my friend. He might have said call me, but he’s my friend.”
And then, began the chanting:
“Miss Richards loves the pizza man. Miss Richards loves the pizza man.”
Kids are really good at chanting. It continued for the rest of the year, and the legend continued even to the next class of fourth graders.
My friend, Brad, was so amused by Michael becoming the instant love interest of Miss Richards (per the students) that he decided to drop by my class unannounced to see what would happen. He came in. I introduced him. He said bye to all the kids, and left. No comments after. Brad was really disappointed.
Michael has since left Papa Johns and is now a proud papa himself, but my relationship with Papa John is still carrying on.
Every Wednesday at Young Life, I eat Papa Johns pizza. It takes me back to the days when the Pizza Man used to bring me and my roommate, Brenda, free pizzas that were made by mistake. I try to eat before Young Life, but I always fall from dieting grace, and eat a few slices.
This week, Chick-fil-a came to our rescue and gave us a sweet deal on nuggets so we could feed all the hungry teenage boys and girls (and leaders). It was like eating quail after months of manna. Thank you, Chick-fil-a!!
As I was lining the kids up after P.E., I noticed their antsy bodies suddenly become still at they stared at something going on behind my back. My tiny and proper principal was walking into the gym with a big grin on her face escorting Michael and his pizza box. So, I introduced Michael to the class and explained he was bringing us a prop.
The kids were frighteningly well behaved. We all walked up to the classroom, and then Michael left waving bye as he walked out the door.
Immediately after, the students (who were busting at the seams) started the comments:
"Miss Richards, why did he say ‘call me’ when he walked out?”
“He didn’t say call me. He is my friend.”
“No, he said, ‘call me.’ We all saw it.”
“He’s just my friend. He might have said call me, but he’s my friend.”
And then, began the chanting:
“Miss Richards loves the pizza man. Miss Richards loves the pizza man.”
Kids are really good at chanting. It continued for the rest of the year, and the legend continued even to the next class of fourth graders.
My friend, Brad, was so amused by Michael becoming the instant love interest of Miss Richards (per the students) that he decided to drop by my class unannounced to see what would happen. He came in. I introduced him. He said bye to all the kids, and left. No comments after. Brad was really disappointed.
Michael has since left Papa Johns and is now a proud papa himself, but my relationship with Papa John is still carrying on.
Every Wednesday at Young Life, I eat Papa Johns pizza. It takes me back to the days when the Pizza Man used to bring me and my roommate, Brenda, free pizzas that were made by mistake. I try to eat before Young Life, but I always fall from dieting grace, and eat a few slices.
This week, Chick-fil-a came to our rescue and gave us a sweet deal on nuggets so we could feed all the hungry teenage boys and girls (and leaders). It was like eating quail after months of manna. Thank you, Chick-fil-a!!
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