1.
I loved the subject very much. What made me love it even more was Mr. Emad, the teacher. He would laugh with us and tell us many stories that made us love the lesson. And every time he came to class, he brought a globe with him, showing us the seas, oceans, hills, and mountains.

2.
But I’ll never forget what happened in the last lesson. Mr. Emad entered the class without the globe. I told myself he was probably going to tell us a lot of stories today. But deep down, I was afraid.

3.
I actually trembled when he raised his voice and said to me:
-Louai! Go to Principal Dalal’s office and bring the globe!
-Yes, sir.
-I mean, bring the globe model.
-Yes, sir.

4.
I liked the tiled floor between my classroom and the principal’s office. I ran a little, then slid across it as if I were skating on ice. I looked back and saw the streak I had carved into the dust on the floor. When I got to the office, I knocked on the door. No answer. I opened it slightly—it wasn’t locked—but I hesitated to enter.

5.
When I returned to class, Mr. Emad asked me:
-Did you visit the North Pole?
-No.
-Do you want to?
-I don’t know.
-Then why were you skating on the floor?

I didn’t know what to say.

6.
Mr. Emad continued:
-If you want to skate on ice, find somewhere else—not the school!

Some students laughed, especially Lama, who was competing with me for first place in the class.
Mr. Emad’s words tore at my heart and soul. His harsh words and mocking tone hurt me deeply. I regretted what I had done. Then he said:
-Sit in your place.

7.
I sat at my desk in the front row, asking myself: Why did I do that? Why did I skate on the floor?
Suddenly, Mr. Emad came over and said:
-Did you forget to bring the globe?
-No.
-Then why didn’t you bring it?
-Because Principal Dalal wasn’t in her office.
-But you opened the door. Did you open it without permission?

I shrank into my seat, pressing my back against the chair out of shame. Lama looked at me as if to say: You’re not good enough to compete with me.

8.
While I was thinking about how my classmates were reacting, Mr. Emad placed his hand on my head and turned it toward the students sitting behind me.
-Louai’s head is round—just like the globe. Come on, let me teach you today’s lesson about forests.

He grabbed a lock of my hair and pulled it upward.
-Forests may be green, and sometimes…

Then he began explaining about oceans.

9.
Lama gave me a mocking look and said:
-Mr. Emad, about the Alps in the last lesson—I didn’t really understand what they look like.

The teacher stared at my head, then my face, and when he seemed to reach my nose, he said:
-Do you see Louai’s nose? The Alps look more or less like that.

I was furious. I nearly left the classroom.

10.
Before turning my head back, Mr. Emad continued speaking to Lama:
-Look, Lama. The biggest problem in the mountains is the freezing cold at night. If you travel there, you’ll need warm clothes.

11.
-And if I don’t take warm clothes, sir?

Mr. Emad pointed at my nostrils and said:
-If you don’t, then you’ll have to hide from the cold in a cave.

The class laughed at me for minutes. The loudest laugh was Lama’s.
From that day on, I no longer liked geography class.