Stereotypes, and how I don't seem to fit them

At school, one of the students in one of my afternoon classes said something funny, and I giggled.

Another student just stared at me, drop-jawed.  "No way, man, that's just wrong," he said when I looked at him quizzically.

"What's just wrong?"  I asked.

"Bitches don't giggle, and you're an English teacher, and you just, like, giggled and that's wrong."  he said.  "Oops.  Shit.  Um, sorry?"

It made me giggle more, and I didn't send the bewildered student to time out, as my moral authority to do so was out the window, giggling away.

"Dude," another kid helpfully put in, "She was not only smiling, but dressed as a pirate and singing earlier this year.  If teachers aren't supposed to smile before Christmas, and she's giggling before Thanksgiving, what do you think the New Year will bring?"

"Dude.  I don't even know.  I don't even know.  She's just not right.  Giggling.  Happy.  It's just too weird."

Tell Tale Heart, Take Two

This week, our school is getting the outer walls torn off (made of wood), replacement plywood , and added insulation and new siding put back on.

The noise is not to be believed.  (Reminds me of the commercials "I have a headache this big, and it has EXCEDRIN written all over it.")

So, unwarned of this event, I am attempting to read a short story, drowned out by howling buzz saws, pounding hammers, cracking wood from the crowbars prying them off, and construction workers hollering at one another.

The students, youth leaders and I are all giving one another disbelieving looks as the noise just does not stop.  And then, there are a number of really loud thumps and whacks, getting louder and louder, faster and faster.  A voice on the other side of the wall suddenly snarls "What the f*ck is this sh*t?" as he uncovers something outside he doesn't like.  Every student eye in the room flashes to me.

I slam my book down on my teacher desk.  "Villains!" I shrieked at the wall, "Dissemble no more! I admit the deed! -- Tear up the planks! -- Here, here! -- it is the beating of his hideous, tell-tale heart!"

Every student just about fell out of his chair, laughing.  There is a looooooong silence on the other side of the wall, followed by a sudden flurry of activity and thumping, without any more shouting.