Family Affair

Who's she?

I don't know.

Where's Miss Cummings?

Well, I suppose you're all wondering where your regular teacher is and who I am.

Well, Miss Cummings had to go to Chicago because of an illness

in her family, and I'm Miss Evans, and I'm a substitute.

And do you know what a substitute is?

Yes.

In football, a substitute is somebody who sits on the bench.

That's right.

Well, I've been called in from the bench to take Miss Cummings' place at quarterback for a few days.

So would you please now turn to your spelling books?

I'd like you to do the five exercises at the top of page 39.

In just a moment.

What's your name?

Jody Davis.

Well, Jody, will you please return to your desk and start your spelling exercises?

Yes, Miss Evans, but first... Back to your desk.

But Miss Cummings always said... Jody, while I'm here, the class will observe my rules, not Miss Cummings'.

Yes, Miss Evans.

What are you gonna do?

I don't know.

I can tell her for you.

No, Bob, it's my job to tell her.

Hi.

Oh, hi.

It's Jody, isn't it?

Yes, Miss Evans.

Do you have something you want to ask me?

No, ma'am.

I have something to tell you.

Well, what is it?

Well, about why I left my desk.

Oh, that's all right, Jody.

Let's forget about your leaving the desk, as long as it doesn't happen again, okay?

Okay.

Go on now, you run along and play.

But I'm still worried about those fish.

What fish?

The ones in the tank in our classroom.

They're hungry.

Well, what does that have to do with it?

You see, it's my turn to feed the fish, and you wouldn't let me.

You mean you were going to feed the fish when you left your desk?

Oh, Jody, why didn't you explain?

I tried to.

Well, that's right, you did.

Oh, my goodness, those poor fish.

They must be starving.

Come on, we better go feed them.

Oh, your dinner clothes are laid out, sir.

The theater tickets are in the left inside jacket pocket.

Reservations confirmed.

Okay.

Dinner will be served in ten minutes.

Are we suitable?

Yes, Mr. French, we're suitable.

Mm-hmm.

Here.

I wish you were gonna stay home tonight, Uncle Bill.

Why, you got any special reason?

No, just so we could talk and talk.

Okay, let's talk and talk.

Okay.

Well?

Why don't you say something, Jody?

You're the one who wanted to talk, boss.

Well, it's nice to sit here with you anyway, Uncle Bill.

Okay.

How's school today?

Oh, we had a substitute teacher.

Miss Evans, she's nice.

I like Miss Cummings better.

I like Miss Evans just as good.

Oh, Jody.

Jody.

Now stand back, boys.

It wasn't my fault, Miss Evans.

Honest.

Jody.

He wasn't looking.

Well, he seems to be all right.

I'm all right.

It just, just knocked the wind out of me.

That's all right.

Thank you, boys.

You can go on with your game now.

Are you better?

Some, some butterflies.

Jody, I'll stay here with you, even though it is my turn at Foursquare.

No, Buffy.

Buffy, you can go and take your turn.

That's all right.

I'll look out for Jody.

Okay.

Are you still dizzy?

A little.

Well, here, why don't you come over here and sit with me?

There you go.

You just sit here with me and put your head there and close your eyes,

and by the end of recess, you'll be as good as new.

Why, that's very colorful.

I know trees don't really look like that, but it'd be nice if they did.

Yes, it would.

Well, Jody, where's your picture?

It's not very good.

Oh, may I see it, please?

Well, I'm flattered, Jody.

Thank you very much.

Well, now, children, I have some good news.

I have some good news for you.

Miss Cummings will be back on Monday.

And I've enjoyed being with you very much, and I'll be sure to tell her how

well-behaved and how helpful you've all been.

Oh.

Well, thank you very much, and goodbye.

Come on, Jody.

You go ahead, Buck.

But Mr. French is waiting for us.

Tell him I'll be out in a minute.

Okay.

Okay.

Yes, Jody?

I guess you'll be a substitute at some other school Monday.

Well, very likely, yes.

Well, goodbye, Miss Evans.

Goodbye, Jody.

And remember to be alert when you play keep-away.

I'll try.

Nine.

years.

I was the only child.

Nine attention-crowded, love-filled years.

But also years touched with some loneliness and longing.

How do you like it so far?

Very good.

It's the first sentence of my autobiography.

Miss Richardson assigned it in English.

The story of my life.

Quite nicely phrased.

There are echoes in your style of Miss Emily Bronte.

Or perhaps Miss Charlotte.

I didn't realize your early life was so exciting, Cissy.

Well...

My mother told me that I would soon have a brother or sister.

And I was in an agony of suspense.

Which would it be?

Jody.

Hmm?

You better listen.

I am listening.

She's getting to the good part.

Us.

Imagine my surprise when I got both.

A sister named Buffy and a brother named Jody.

That's as far as I got.

Uncle Bill!

Yeah, I like it.

Well, look at these pictures.

These are great.

Who is that?

That is you.

Gee, if I looked like that, I wonder why they kept me.

Look at Jody.

Oh, boy.

Oh, boy.

Hey, Jody, come here and look at it.

You're funny looking, too.

Where did he go?

Oh, I believe to his room, sir.

He seems to wander about in a sort of dream world.

Yeah, he sure does.

He hasn't been quite with us all weekend.

I think he's thinking about Miss Evans.

Who's that?

The substitute teacher.

Jody liked her.

Jody liked her a lot.

Oh, I see.

Thank you.

I am so glad you took the time to drop by, Mr. Davis.

You see, I'm rather concerned about Jody.

What seems to be the trouble?

Well, Jody's always been so interested and alert in class, and, well, eager to take on special projects.

Oh, now he just seems, um, remote and indifferent.

Well, I was wondering if something could be troubling him.

Any, any problems at home?

Well, you just thought he had a crush on a substitute teacher.

Oh, Miss Evans?

Mm-hmm.

Now that you're back, why, we thought, uh...

Oh, no, I don't think it's a small boy crush.

Uh, you see, Jody hasn't been doing his homework at all, and his, his work in

class is just slipshod and careless, and...

Well, I, uh...

I think he needs help.

Hey, Jody.

Oh, hi, Uncle Bill.