When I (Almost) Shoved the Principal

For Mama Kat's Pretty Much World Famous Writers Workshop.

Writing Prompt 1.) Write about a time you shoved someone.

............

I'm not much of a shover.
My personality tends to be more doormat than steamroller.
But sometimes, every now and then, I get riled up.
And when I get shoved, I shove back.
Not often. But when it happens, it tends to be memorable.

The time that most sticks out in my mind happened like this...

I am six years old, imprisoned in a strict Catholic school.
Picture black tunic, navy knee socks, white shirt, gold tie.
Picture the scariest Headmistress you can. A tall craggy Nun with a permanent frown.
Pointy-nose sniffing out trouble she strides the dark corridors of our school, brown Habit flapping, Crucifix swinging.
Sister Stanislaus is her name.
We secretly called her "Sister SantaClaus". Secretly.
Never anywhere she might hear, oh no.
She is Scary with a Capital S. And nothing at all like Santa Claus. But we think it's a funny name, so we giggle quietly then scurry away like mice before she can hear our impertinence.

One morning I happen to walk past her office where she is in the middle of administering The Cane.
The door is ajar and I can hear her shouting, "WHERE do we CROSS the ROAD? At the PEDESTRIAN crossing! We DO NOT RUN across the road WHERE WE LIKE!"
Transfixed in horror I stand, feet glued to the snot-green lino floor.
WHACK!!!
Down comes the Cane. A wail erupts. A big strong boy reduced to tears by this goblin.
I flee and determine in my heart to never ever get in Sister Stanislaus' way. Never to ever draw attention to myself or do ANYTHING that could bring her wrath down upon my head.

Morning Assembly is held daily on the netball courts. Classes line up neatly for inspection, uniforms perfect or else.
Sister Stanislaus stands before us, issuing her daily instructions.
Don't move, don't cough, don't breathe.

"There have been CHILDREN... RUNNING... IN THE HALLWAY!"
She casts her steely gaze across the rows of trembling kids.
Don't breathe, don't let her catch your eye...

"If I catch ANYONE... RUNNING in the HALLWAY... there will be CONSEQUENCES!!!"
Consequences. I know what that means.
I've seen what Sister Stanislaus does to kids who just cross the street at the wrong place.

As we are dismissed to return to class I decide to walk as slowly as I can. I must make sure there is no way I can be mistaken for running in the hallway.

Painstakingly I inch toward my classroom, when suddenly I feel a massive THUMP on my back.
Who shoved me? Who pushed me, thumped me so hard??!!!
"HEY!!!!" I shout indignantly, spinning round, about to shove back...
Only to see Sister Stanislaus towering over me, fixing me with that steely gaze.
"Get a move on!" she snaps. "Quit dawdling and get to class!"

Oh the injustice!!!
I gape at her, disbelieving what I've heard.
There I am trying so hard to follow her orders and she tells me to go faster!
A final imperious shove, accompanied by "Off you go!" and she is off again, barking orders, habit flapping, crucifix swinging.

I'll never forget the day I {almost} shoved The Principal.