Jeb and Jason held their breath anxiously as the teacher entered the classroom. Not really their teacher, but yet another substitute while the Real one was on maternity leave.

This was the 2nd one for the month; the 5th substitute so far. Jeb and Jason hated them all and were always trying new tactics to get rid of them as fast as possible. Most of the class felt the same fierce loyalty to their Real teacher and only encouraged the two boys.

However, this Sub was a bit different. They waited as she crossed to her desk; impatiently curious to see her reaction.

A blob of frog guts, brains, and unidentified parts greeted her this morning. She had noticed the class furtively glancing around and pretending to be “normal”. Well, thought the Sub, I suppose this is what they were up to. How unimaginative!

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“OOH! What’s this? What’s this?” cried the Sub. She took a big sniff of the dissected frog – stolen from Biology down the hall. “Why I do believe someone gifted me with a choice sample of aquatic delicacy. Being the person I am, I shall share with the class!”

Jason and Jeb blanched. A few of the girls gaped in horror. Were they going to have to eat… that?

Well, no. Formaldehyde is a bit too toxic for consumption. But by the end of the day, every student knew all about the edible parts of frogs, what color the chemically treated pieces burned, and the fact that the Sub was less squeamish about handling said pieces with her fingers than the whole class. And she still managed to teach their regular lesson!

Jeb and Jason resolved to do better. They key, they decided, was learning her weakness.

The Sub was one step ahead of them.