Clint was one of three class cutups, but Mr. Robinson had room for precisely none in his class.
Mr. Faron Robinson was 75 if he was a day over 30 and knew all the tricks students pulled in class. His most popular though mild punishment for unruly kids was simply to separate them from the rest of the class, often in a chair by themselves near the door. The clowns could still gain attention because the other students would look over to see how he was doing throughout the class.
And it was almost always a ‘he.’
Mr. Robinson never sent the students to the Principal’s Office, instead preferring to discipline in-house.
This was Clint’s day to ‘take the chair’ as Mr. Robinson called it. Clint’s crime was mocking the assignment given out by Robinson loud enough for him to hear.
Like an obedient dog, Clint grabbed an empty chair, clowning his way over to the door. He left behind his book and notebook. It was only Clint and the chair, and he had 25 minutes left to kill.
Turning to his right, Clint had a clear view of passersby and nodded to each if they noticed him. He leaned back on two legs and enjoyed the brief notoriety. With less than five minutes left in the class, Clint yelled, “Hey, he’s got a camera” and pointed out the door.
“Out, Mr. Martino,” Mr. Robinson said. “I do not want you in my class until tomorrow.”
“But…”
“Out!”
It’s unfortunate that a month before the end of the school year, Mr. Robinson passed away.
There on page 67 of the school yearbook was Clint Martino looking and pointing at the camera while he leaned back on two legs of his chair.
Mr. Robinson never got a chance to see the photo taken of Mr. Clint Martino.
Pity indeed. He might have liked it.
*****
I knew a lot of class clowns in school. I always ignored them. I wonder what Mr. Martino does for a living now? He's either a mechanic, or he sells dope. What a dope