Some of you may remember last year I investigated the mystery of the backpack. I reflected on the possibility that the backpack is, in reality, a black hole in which student papers and books and various other items mysteriously disappear and appear within its depths. Now I would like to address another strange phenomenon. The locker. I have a number of theories regarding these metal traps.
First, let me give you a bit of background. I have been observing these mysterious incidents involving the lockers and I assure you the stories you are about to read are chilling, but true. This sort of investigation is not for the faint of heart. Sixth grade lockers are truly mysterious.
Me: “Where is your homework?”
Student: “I lost it.”
Me: “Where did you have it last?”
Student: “In my locker.”
Me: “Have you checked your locker again?”
Student: “Yes. I don’t know what happened. It just disappeared. I think somebody stole it.”
Me: “Somebody somehow got your locker combination and then stole your homework?” (with incredulity)
Student: “Yeah…weird, huh?”
Me: “Let’s go look together.” Student shrugs and the journey begins…..
Concentrating carefully, the student turns the locker combination..right….left….right…looks at me, takes a deep breath, and opens the locker.
Me: “EEEEEEK!!!!” (dramatization for the purpose of this writing)
Stuff falls out of the locker – piles of it – landing in the floor. I stare in amazement. I look for the kitchen sink, but can’t find it amidst all the papers, candy wrappers, mismatched socks, part of a sandwich, a few books, ripped book covers, pencil shavings, and a few unknown items.
Me: still stunned speechless, staring at the piles on the floor and in the locker.
Student: “Wow…how’d all that get in there? Look! It’s my homework!”
Now, that is a classic example of what I am talking about. These lockers are dangerous. What if the kitchen sink had fallen out and landed on the poor kid whose locker is beneath that one? And remember the student’s reaction? How did all that get in there? Naturally the student had no idea, so I am left to examine the evidence.
Next case:
Me: “Where is your book?”
Student: “I don’t have it.”
Me: “I see that. Where is it?”
Student: “I don’t have it.”
Me: “Yes. I know. That is why I am asking you ‘where is it’?”
Student: “Oh. I think it’s in my locker.”
Me: “Go get it, please.” Student slowly gets up and goes to locker. Returns minutes later, empty handed.
Me: (confused) “Where is your book?”
Student: “What? OHHH! That’s what I went to get. I think I have it in my binder.”
Me: (??????)
Student: Walks back to desk, opens binder, finds book. Holds it up triumphantly.
Me: “You forgot you had it in your binder?”
Student: “No, I put it in my locker. I don’t know how it got in my binder.”
This is another unexplainable event involving the lockers. How do these things occur? What could be causing it? Look at what we know: things mysteriously appear and disappear in the lockers. Items are rearranged. Half eaten food, clothing, and mirrors are found within the walls of the lockers. Last week I saw make-up. This morning, it was coffee. My first theory: gremlins. There are gremlins living in the lockers. They are, like many teens and pre-teens, moody and unpredictable. This explains why our students frequently lose things in the lockers. The gremlins are playing tricks on the kids.
However, this past weekend I saw a movie that made me wonder….could it be….aliens? They could be investigating sixth graders but don’t want to take the whole kid. So they take food, books, papers, and other items. Unfortunately, they forget what goes where and just dump it all into one locker. The metal of the locker acts as a conductor for the alien rays, enabling them to beam things in and out of the lockers at will.
Another idea, farfetched as it may seem, is that the kids are….I can hardly even say it….the kids are….unorganized. Now, I know that seems pretty far out, but it is a theory.
Nah. It’s probably the gremlins.
Christine Moore currently holds a degree from Howard Payne University and recently earned her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. She is now working on her Ph.D. in Educational Technology. Married with four children who attend Brownwood schools, Christine teaches 6th grade reading in Brownwood and has been working in education at various levels for the past 15 years. Christine welcomes your questions and comments and would love to hear from you!