the chemistry teacher

Mr. Reid,

a former marine,

who stormed the beaches

of Normandy,

taught chemistry

at our school,

G. Gardner Shugart.

he wore thick

shop glasses

and a bow tie

and brought his lunch

to work

in a paper bag.

he used to throw unruly

boys

up against the lockers

and put

his hands

around their neck and warn

them

that the next time

they bully anyone

again

or cause a ruckus

in the school

there would be

consequences of a painful

kind.

it was a peaceful

year,

that year

in the seventh grade,

thanks to him.