Smokey and the Teacher

I was six and in first grade, When my teacher came to visit. I hung around the house that day, 'Cause I didn't want to miss it. Miss Henderson was very nice, And her rule number one, Was to get to know each pupil; To know us one on one. She followed Mom into the house, Being polite and proper. Mama set out tea and cakes, And told me not to bother. She wanted things to be just right, To make a good impression. She wanted to discuss with her, My manners and my lessons. Before she left my mom gave her, A tour about the house. They visited the garden, Where Smokey caught a mouse. He looked up and saw me, And brought it straight to me. He stood there with it in his mouth, And eyed me carefully. Then he dropped it at my feet. It scurried fast away. It ran across my teacher's foot. She yelped and jumped away. Smokey ran and got the mouse, And brought it back alive. "One more time." he seemed to say. The teacher nearly died. "He's brought it back! Oh sakes alive! Let's go back in the house!" "Don't be afraid.' I said to her, 'He's teaching me to mouse." Mama laughed out loud at that, The teacher was averse. "Do they always play like this?" "Oh no, sometimes it's worse."