While I was in 7th grade, we were allowed to bring our own tennis rackets to a few P.E. classes. I brought mine but accidentally forgot it one day. Later, I went back to my gym teacher to ask if I could check the storage area for it. My racket had a cover and an address stamp with my name, address, and phone number on it, so there was no mistaking it.
Me: “I lost my tennis racket, and I think it’s still in the gym with the others. Could I look for it, please? It has my name on it.”
Gym Teacher: “No, and you’re not allowed to look for it. You must have lost it somewhere else.”
(She refused to even let me check!)
Months later, on the final day of school, we had a games day for younger students. During my break, my friends and I walked through the gym, and I spotted the bin where the tennis rackets were kept. Curious, I checked inside.
Lo and behold—there was my racket!
It was still in its cover, with my name and address clearly stamped on it. There was no mistaking it. It was also shiny and pink, making it stand out even more.
I took it back, and the teacher never noticed. I had her again in 8th grade, but she never brought it up. To this day, I still have no idea why she refused to let me look for my own racket!
