I remember Mrs. Grelina when we were five. She was a large woman, the size of a teddy bear. Each morning, she would clap her hands and yell, “Kids! Round them up!” Then our little arms would push and drag the tables and chairs, in between squeals and laughter, to form a huge circle. It was always my favorite part.
She never needed a strict class to make us learn. While most teachers make seating arrangement, we were seated facing each other; while most teachers carry a stick, Mrs. Grelina carried a colorful wand. She would call it The Talking Wand. We would then raise our hands to recite or ask a question—just to get a hold of her wand. She taught us to share and to listen. In that round circle, we were make believe artists, musicians, architects, presidents and she would talk to us like we were such.
Now, the boy with a messy hair holds an art exhibit. The loudest kid in class sold a concert. The one in big glasses designed Shangrila, and the girl that always sleeps, the one who loves to dream, is now a poet standing in front of you.
Thank you, Mrs. Grelina.
Word Count: 202
Written for Sunday Photo Fiction’s prompt. I don’t remember much from my prep school but I remember crayons, shared laughter, and children seated in round tables. I believe it was fun. 😍
Sunday Photo Fiction is a weekly writing challenge hosted by Alastair Forbes where a photo is used as a prompt for a piece of fiction using around 200 words. The piece doesn’t have to center around exactly what the photo is, it can be just used as a basis for a story.
Enjoy more awesome stories here:
February 23, 2016 at 11:58 am
Sounds so real and a lovely read.
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February 23, 2016 at 12:16 pm
If I were to give a eulogy to one of my favorite teachers (God forbid), I would probably say the same things. Glad you enjoyed it, Jacq! Thank you. 🙂 🙂 🙂
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February 23, 2016 at 12:34 pm
Awwww! You painted a very very beautiful picture with you lively colorful words! I believe she is surely a lovable teacher! ❤
P.S. My blog’s very first posts include a eulogy. A real one. For my favorite professor.
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February 23, 2016 at 8:01 pm
Awww, thank you! She surely is! I believe my favorite teachers inspired me writing this one. 😀
Oh, that feel sad.. losing a teacher. 😦 May I read your post?
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February 24, 2016 at 7:52 am
Yes! I think those teachers are really great because your post felt so real and so vivid. 🙂
Oh.. Yes. I will look for it and share the link to you. I think my blog is only a week-old when I wrote that eulogy.
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February 24, 2016 at 11:25 am
We all have those teachers who made an impact in our lives. 🙂 Thinking about it, I suddenly missed being a student.
Will look into that post today. 🙂
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February 24, 2016 at 11:43 am
Oh yes! When I am a student I long to graduate and work. Now that I am working I long to be a student again. 😀
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February 24, 2016 at 12:05 pm
Exactly! HAHA… School’s really fun and so is learning. 😍
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February 24, 2016 at 12:44 pm
Yes! And you got money supply (though not so many) without you working. 😀
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February 24, 2016 at 3:50 pm
That, too! One of my favorite perks of being a student, the baon. 😀
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February 24, 2016 at 3:53 pm
HAHAHA! Though ang konti ng baon. HAHA
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February 24, 2016 at 4:04 pm
Sshh… baka marinig ng parents natin. Haha. Pero I AGREE! 😀
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February 24, 2016 at 4:08 pm
Okay lang. Aminado naman sila! HAHAHA
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February 24, 2016 at 7:20 pm
Hahaha! TAMA!
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February 25, 2016 at 11:31 am
😂😂😂
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February 24, 2016 at 8:58 am
Hi Maria. Here is the link. 😀 I posted it almost two years ago: https://areadingwritr.wordpress.com/2014/09/01/a-eulogy-for-the-kindest-promdi-tormentor/.
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February 24, 2016 at 11:36 am
Oh… I don’t know what to say. I can feel your sadness, happiness, pride, love, and longing intertwined after reading your post. It must be hard for you, Rosema. 😦 Wherever your instructor may be, I am sure that he is so proud of you.
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February 24, 2016 at 12:38 pm
Yes. It was. I was at my previous open when I read in his Facebook that he is dead. Like I was shaking and crying and my officemates had no idea why. *sigh*
Thank you, for reading, Maria. And for your comforting words. 🙂
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February 24, 2016 at 3:46 pm
Oh, that must be real hard for you. I can’t imagine losing any of my favorite teachers that soon.
But I’m glad you’re okay and your instructor has molded you into a great writer that you are now. 😀
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February 24, 2016 at 3:56 pm
Awww. Thank you, Maria! Your making me cry! :’)
Sometimes I missed him. (in fact, boyfie is usually jealous of him. haha!)
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February 24, 2016 at 4:08 pm
Oh, I wouldn’t want you to cry dear. 🙂 🙂 Hmm, you two were really close for your boyfie to get jealous… haha!
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February 24, 2016 at 4:27 pm
Yes. We really are. 😀
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February 23, 2016 at 1:18 pm
A beautiful eulogy. ❤️ You had crafted her into a wonderful teacher that every children would love to have. 🙂
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February 23, 2016 at 9:27 pm
So glad you liked it… Thank you, Fun! 🙂 🙂 🙂 They say, behind every successful student is a teacher worth the praise… ❤
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February 24, 2016 at 6:34 am
Well said! 🙂 🙂 🙂
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February 24, 2016 at 11:19 am
🙂 🙂 🙂
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February 23, 2016 at 2:47 pm
A teacher that listened and had her pupils listen rather than a teacher that just teaches. Awesome story Maria
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February 23, 2016 at 9:34 pm
The best kind of teacher there is. 🙂 Thank you, too, for that great prompt Al. 😀
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February 23, 2016 at 2:48 pm
I almost teared up a little reading this because it reminded me of some very amazing teachers that I’ve been blessed to have growing up. Teaching really is an underestimated profession. What a beautiful story Maria ❤
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February 23, 2016 at 9:37 pm
Oh, thank you Jade! 🙂 🙂 Glad to hear you also had some amazing teachers. They really do deserve our praise. And I agree with you, it’s been an underestimated profession nowadays.
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February 23, 2016 at 6:22 pm
So glad you had such a wonderful teacher 🙂 What a beautiful story , I loved it 🙂
Turtle Hugs
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February 23, 2016 at 9:49 pm
…and I couldn’t thank then enough for inspiring and motivating students like me. 🙂 So glad you enjoyed it, too. 😀
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February 23, 2016 at 10:00 pm
And we usually don’t fully understand and appreciate these special teachers until we grow a bit 😉
Turtle Hugs
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February 24, 2016 at 11:11 am
Oops, it’s a shame I am guilty of that…
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February 23, 2016 at 6:25 pm
What lucky kids to have such an inspiring teacher! Great story! 😊
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February 23, 2016 at 9:50 pm
Thank you, S! I believe teachers like them are blessings. 🙂 🙂 🙂
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February 23, 2016 at 7:43 pm
What a lovely eulogy for their favourite teacher 🙂
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February 23, 2016 at 9:51 pm
They’re her legacy. 🙂 Thanks, Ali!
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February 23, 2016 at 10:38 pm
Lovely story. Heartwarming.
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February 24, 2016 at 11:14 am
Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you! 🙂
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February 24, 2016 at 12:28 am
What a wonderful teacher! I love her idea of teaching.
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February 24, 2016 at 11:17 am
We need more teacher like her, don’t you think? 🙂
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February 24, 2016 at 11:27 am
Yes! Absolutely! 🙂
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February 24, 2016 at 12:03 pm
😍 😍 😍
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February 24, 2016 at 5:47 am
Sweet story about an amazing teacher. I kind of hope she’s based off a real person because we need teachers like her in the world.
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February 24, 2016 at 11:18 am
Oh, I believe teachers like her still exist Mandi. 🙂 🙂 🙂 We really need more of them nowadays…
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February 24, 2016 at 10:53 am
This is a very lovely and uplifting story. Her students were very blessed to have her as teacher. I love to hear about teachers that “think outside the box”….we need more like that. Learning should be fun.
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February 24, 2016 at 11:42 am
Thank you, Jessie. And I’m sure wherever she is now, she is proud of her students who have grown to be the person they are meant to be. “Thinking outside the box”, I agree that we really need more teachers like her. 🙂
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February 25, 2016 at 10:14 pm
What a lovely teacher, if only they could all be like that.
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February 26, 2016 at 10:02 am
I couldn’t agree more with you Sally. 🙂 And thanks for dropping by.
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