Ricci Schwarzler - Atlas

The globe spun around and round.

‘Look at the Atlas children.’

‘That's not an Atlas that's a globe.’

‘Don't argue Tim, just do as I say.’

‘Yes but you got it wrong miss.’

‘Don't be so rude Tim or you'll sit in the corner.’

‘But...’

‘No buts.’

‘But don't you know an Atlas is a book?’ With this the rest of the five year olds nodded their heads in five year old wisdom.

‘Wasn't Atlas a man?’ The teacher smugly asked.

‘Oh nooo,’ Little Tim said knowingly.

‘Yes he was,’ the teacher stated.

‘No.’

‘Yes.’

‘No.’

‘That's it Tim!’ Haven't you children heard of the man called Atlas who carried the world on his shoulders?

Dumb but curious faces stared at her.

‘Hmm I didn't think so’, said Miss ever so pleased with herself.

‘Yes, he did something really bad and had to carry the world... Forever!’

‘Oooo,’ came the sounds of the not-as-wise-as-they-thought 5 year olds.

‘Yes,’ said Miss again, pleased with her superiority over the five year olds.

‘But what did he do wrong to have to carry the world all that time?’ said Little Tim.

‘It's a long time’, said another child.

‘And it's heavy’ added another child.

‘He'd get his sore back.’

‘My mom makes dad carry things all the time and doesn't even care if it's heavy.’

‘What did he do wrong?’ they echoed in desperation, and thinking through the pain of it all they stared at her in anticipation.

She looked thoughtful and all knowing. “Well children…he didn't believe his teacher when she told him something.’