You Put Your Left Arm In... (POW: PUT)

Welcome Play on Words members and anyone who should happen on this story.

"Tolerance is not acceptance, and indifference is not assimilation."

Carey McWilliams

You Put Your Left Arm In... (499 words)

Tom sputtered, "What is that putrid smell?" His fifth day, teaching seventh grade Humanities proved harder than fighting in Iraq or the amputation of his left arm following the EID. Students giggled so Tom opened windows, but his space race lesson smelled as bad as whatever was putrefying in his classroom.

"Which kid has the class clown reputation?" Jill asked, putting a cool cloth on Tom's forehead that evening. "Get him on your side and all disputes will end."

A lightbulb went on! Tom puttered on his computer all weekend. Monday morning when his lilipution putdown artists arrived, Tom turned on the computer projection and a quiz show grid appeared on the wallscreen. "Jake, you're the emcee today! Come get your cuecards. Everybody but Tina, Sam and Geoff put your desks against a wall. You three put yours in the center. Sam will play for everybody who put their desks against the left wall, Tina for the back, and Geoff for you on the right. Okay Jake, start reading."

"Welcome to Quizery! Our contestants will respond to the clues with questions. The categories in Single Quizery are: Sputnik, Computer Accessories, Deputies, International Disputes, Amputees, and Out"Put" where all responses will contain the letters PUT. Sam, you're on the left so you choose first. If you know the question, put your hand up."

"I'll take Out"Put" for 200, Jake"

"Tiger Woods uses this to sink golfballs"

Tina's hand shot up first "What's a putter?" Her team roared their approval.

Tina selected Sputnik for 400. Jake read, "This country put Sputnik into Earth's orbit"

Geoff put his hand way up, "What's Russia?" Now his team cheered.

Geoff opted for Computer Accessories, "this can have either a trackball or laser." Jake read.

The kids got into the spirit of the game knowing kaput, Silly Putty^TM and shotput on Out"Put"; Wyatt Earp in the Deputies category; WWII, Viet Nam and the Falkands in International Disputes. They even got geocentric orbit correct in the Sputnik column. For the first time since Tom started teaching, his excited class was engaged. According to his computations, the teams were tied. The only category left untouched was "Amputees."

Sam panicked as he looked at the screen. He glanced at Tom, swallowed hard then squeaked out, "Amputees for 200 please."

Jake read the clue about Heather Mills McCartney. The class visibly eased when Sam got it right away, confidently asking for the next clue. None knew Nawang Sherpa became the first person to climb Mount Everest with a prosthetic leg. They tensed until Jake read the next clue. "This teacher will answer any question about his amputation."

The room went silent. Jerry, one of the troublemakers asked, "Do you get phantom pains? My older brother lost his foot in Iraq and he says it itches all the time."

Tom smiled, "I sure do! Next question?" Tom felt the class shift to his side. He couldn't wait to put his arms around Jill and tell her that her idea succeeded!

This was written for the Play on Words Challenge. The word to be included this week (Week 5 of Fall) is "PUT" See playonwords.gather.com/ for further information. Join the group to join in the fun.

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