Where Stories Hold Magic

What if there were a movie/novel about a classroom of tired, cranky,

unmotivated high school students. (hard to believe, I know)  No teacher

will take the class. They went through teachers like Carter went through liver

pills. 

Suddenly, an East wind blows into the classroom and there at the

door is a strangely-clad woman with an umbrella in hand and a magical bag at

her side.

The students look at her in astonished awe. She informs the class to clear

off their desks, as she walks to the windows and draws the shades. She

reaches inside her bag and takes out a tall stool and places it in front of

the class, and then she ceremoniously reaches into her magic bag and takes

out a candle already lit and places on the teacher's desk. The room is

filled with a warm-glow - not only from the candle but from the mysterious

woman's face. She reaches down once again and appears to be taking

something from her bag, but the students can't see what it is.

Then, she looks out over her charges and starts to tell a story. The room

disappears and the story trance begins. She tells them of knights and

loathesome ladies, she tells them of handsome men and fatal misplaced

trust, she tells them of coming of age in faraway towers, she tell them of a boy

named Jack, she tells them all about the good news and the bad news, and

she tell them of rich rewards for those who take responsibilities for their own

lives...and others. The class is silent...still in the moment. The mysterious teacher takes

the lit candle s and puts it back in her bag, tears open the window and throw

up the sash. Blinding light fills the classroom as she quietly says, "Now,

class, open your literature books to page...."