Quizzy on the Classroom Ledge
Meadow Elementary School was a place filled with learning, laughter, and discovery. Before the bell rang each morning, the hallways would come alive with the cheerful chatter of bright-eyed students eager to begin another day of learning. In Room 555, Mrs. Watson’s classroom, one wall was lined with cubbies where the students stored their backpacks and lunchboxes. At the very top of the cubbies was a small hidden space between the ceiling and the ledge. It was there that a little Magikito with pointy ears named Quizzy lived. Quizzy spent his time hidden away, observing the class and soaking up all the knowledge Mrs. Watson shared with her second grade class.
Although he spent his days observing and learning, Quizzy had an important job. He would care for and tend to the classroom books. Each day after the students and Mrs. Watson had gone home, Quizzy would quietly get to work. If a page had torn, Quizzy would carefully mend it, fitting the torn edges back together like pieces of a puzzle. If a binding had come loose, Quizzy would carefully sew it back together, peering over the edge of his tiny glasses as he worked, with his little tongue sticking out as he concentrated on each detailed stitch. And if a book’s pages had gotten wet, Quizzy would carefully spread them out like the wings of a bird so they could properly dry. He was always careful, and he loved every second of his job. When all the books were restored to their glorious selves, Quizzy would return every book to its proper place on the shelf. The students would find their assigned books right where they had left them, miraculously in perfect condition. Sometimes they would wonder how their book had seemed to repair itself overnight, but no one knew about the Magikito who lived up on the cubby’s ledge.
But Quizzy didn’t need recognition, because caring for the books was what he loved to do. Each night after performing his duties, Quizzy would pick up one of the books and open it for one good last whiff, because he loved inhaling the rich smell of the earthy pages. Then he would routinely stand back to admire his work, like an artist admiring his masterpiece. He would look at the books neatly lined up in a row, looking like a line of little soldiers standing at attention. “Sweet formation, lads,” Quizzy would say playfully to the books before giving a salute and doing the soldiers’ march back to his ledge.
Quizzy had a deep love for books, but he also loved the students. From his little hiding place, he quietly observed each student and came to know each one and what made them unique. For example, he knew that Mac was very loud and moved through the classroom like a bull in a china shop. Quizzy found himself repairing Mac’s book more often than the others. Then there was Lila, a very sweet girl who had a way of making everyone feel accepted and at ease. Sometimes her nerves got the best of her, but she was very smart and motivated. And Quizzy kept a close eye on the boy who sat next to her, Jay. He was the star student, and he thought very highly of himself. Quizzy loved his confidence, but Jay had a habit of making other students feel bad when they struggled with reading aloud in class.
Every day, the students took turns reading aloud from their books. It was Lila’s turn to read, and as usual, she became nervous. She swallowed the lump in her throat and began. “The dog went missing. The dog went missing. The dog went missing.” Lila stuttered. She tried her best to ignore Jay giggling, but his seat was right beside her, and that made it difficult. Lila’s face began to turn red as embarrassment filled her from the inside, rising from her neck to her cheeks like water filling a glass. Just like that, she was discouraged and politely asked if the next person could go.
Mrs. Watson sighed and gave Jay a look of utter disappointment. “Okay, Jay. Go ahead and take over. You better hope that you don’t mess up,” she said. Quizzy could tell she was indirectly trying to suggest to Jay that nobody is perfect, but her subtlety was lost on him. Despite her many attempts, she was never able to get through to Jay, but not for lack of trying. Jay sat up straight and made a point to make eye contact with Lila before he began to read, as if to say, “Watch how it’s done.” He cleared his throat and effortlessly began reading the words aloud, beaming with pride, dripping with arrogance. Quizzy was fed up. He became so angry that it felt like steam was coming out of his pointy ears.
