Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
There was no doubt that Mrs. Hughes was the favorite teacher at Lister Elementary. She was always pleasant and kind, and her students were always the best behaved and most eager to learn. It was common practice for Mrs. Hughes to walk into class with a warm greeting, and for the students to reply with an equally sweet greeting. However one day, Mrs. Hughes did not come to class. She was not there to welcome her students with a smile or to give kindly instruction in math, history or reading. Instead, in her place, Mrs. Santa Ana greeted the class with a gruff introduction, "I am your new teacher," and she proceeded to give harsh commands. The children were not only surprised but also disappointed yet they managed to finish the school day.
They arrived the next day hoping that Mrs. Hughes had returned but when class started, Mrs. Santa Ana walked in with the same mean attitude and no explanation of Mrs. Hughes' whereabouts. The children became worried and grew even more worried when the days turned into weeks, the weeks into months, and still no sign or word from Mrs. Hughes. The situation was unbearable. The students had to take action.
First they went to Principal Wilkerson and explained the circumstances, but the principal was absolutely no help. Next they went to Mrs. Hughes' home. Her car was in the driveway and music played inside the house. The children became excited. They knocked and knocked, but no one answered the door. They left disappointed and the next day in class they began to guess at what happened to Mrs. Hughes. The guesses ranged from "Perhaps she was eaten by a school of hungry fish" to "Perhaps she's on the moon." Just as the guesses became more and more unlikely, the students heard footsteps in the hall.
The children scrambled to their seats and quieted down expecting to be chastised (even though there was no reason for such) by the mean Mrs. Santa Ana. The door opened and to the children's surprise, Mrs. Hughes walked in. She wore the most beautiful smile and welcomed the children in her usual kind way. The children were so happy they cried, "Oh me Oh my Oh boy " and then they jumped for joy.
They had barely settled down when Mrs. Hughes exited the class and returned moments later pushing a stroller. Mrs. Hughes introduced her students to Cole and explained she and her husband had adopted a baby, and that's why she'd been missing. It was impossible to tell who was happier--Mrs. Hughes or her students.
To everyone's delight, Mrs. Hughes was found. But guess who came up missing? The mean Mrs. Santa Ana.
Synopsis
When the students of Mrs. Hughes' class walk in one day and discover their favorite teacher is gone, they cry "Oh me Oh my Oh boy " in disappointed voices. Days go by and no Mrs. Hughes. Weeks go by and still no Mrs. Hughes. When months pass with a substitute teacher who is as mean as mean can be, the students decide Mrs. Hughes is definitely missing and it is up to them to find her. First stop, Principal Wilkerson, who is absolutely no help. Second stop, Mrs. Hughes' house. The students think they may have found her when they spy her car in the driveway and hear music playing inside. Yet even with repeated knocks, no one answers the door. The next day in class, the students' imaginations soar as they try to figure out just what has happened to Mrs. Hughes As the guesses become more and more unlikely, who shows up? Mrs. Hughes And she is not alone. Mrs. Hughes is now a mother and has brought baby Cole to meet her students. Mrs. Hughes has been found But guess who's missing now? The mean substitute teacher.