Although Kim had seldom conceived of teachers as real people, in retrospect he realized that they occasionally had appointments with doctors and other obligations during the week, just like everyone else. Mrs. Bartlett informed her class that a couple of fifth-grade girls would be in charge for a few hours while she was gone. The students were to study quietly and obey the older girls until her return.
To a second-grader like Kim, the fifth-grade girls seemed mature and sophisticated. From his vantage point in the front row, Kim observed them gossiping and giggling, no doubt discussing worldly topics that he would not understand for a few more years. Both girls were rather cute and Kim developed an instant crush on these urbane and grown-up young ladies.
