resident artist

In my elementary school class I am considered the resident artist.
"Mrs. H can you draw me a panther?"
I lower my chin and stare.

"Please?"

Alright.

I can only make cartoons
unless I have the subject before me in life,
or at least in a photograph.
So a cartoon it is.

As I sketch, I teach.
Did they know a panther has many names.
Many names can connote the same animal.
One name from Mexico is jaguar.

"No, a jaguar is not a mountain lion because it is black
and everyone knows a mountain lion is not black!"

But a jaguar can be black.
It also can be called a leopard.

"No it can't! Only leopards have spots!"

Oh, I tell them, a leopard CAN have spots,
and a mountain lion can also be called:
a jaguar,
a cougar,
a puma,
and a panther.

"A panther is not a mountain lion!"

The children are very knowledgeable about animals.
If they don't know, they make it up.
On the spot.

They must be right!
There is no arguing.
Only righteous anger!

"Is not!"
"Is too!"

For writing that day the children
needed to expand on the subject
'On my vacation I...'

"On my vacation, I saw a bear with a baby bear."
"Oh, yeah, on MY vacation, I saw a bear and TWO baby bears
and I was THIS close!"
"Oh, yeah, well, my bears were very dangerous,
but they knew I was friendly so I patted them!"

Children that is a story.
Made up.
We are talking about
something that really happened.
You must grow up and face reality.
A story is not the same as the truth.
Children do not pat bears with babies.

"Did too!"
"Did not!"