Without Socks

It was the first day of school, provisional, because i wasn't yet seven years old,
to start my first grade.

I remember, as it was now, as I went with my older brother,
dragging my shoes two sizes big for me, to school.
I took place in the last bench, and everyone stood up
and welcomed the teacher.

It was the first time I met my teacher. He was a tall man, well made, bald headed and with a round face, covered by a pair of high eyebrows, and I was only six years old, frail and thin dressed, that it seemed that I had a fever.

His thick voice left a mark on my eardrum, from the first greeting: "Good morning! Please, sit down!".

I think I was afraid, but not sure, it was some sort of safety,
paternity. By the time approaching each bench,
He stared into the eyes of each of us, then he studied us very well.
Got few observations regarding the outfit, collar, or
stripe pants.
 
My turn came. I was not wearing an uniform, since, I wasn't yet a student. That was not all, my shoes were bigger, my pants were slightly shorter and my brother's, for which sat small.

Moreover, my socks were missing that day.
The teacher, look me up and down, his eyes got a little frown
when he came to shoes, then smiled nicely, perhaps he seen
 that are no socks, but said nothing.
Just: "Welcome to school!"

The program began and pursue his course normally
until we heard a knock on the door. The teacher replied gallantly and three well dressed people entered in class.

It was an unannounced inspection. The teacher invited them to sit down. In mean while three began to ask all sorts of questions, invinting students out, in front of the board.

I watched them stunned, how some students had no idea to respond, leaving their faces to the ground. I thought for a moment, they were not going to take me out also, in front of the board. But, has happened. My teacher tried to explain them that I'm only on provisional class, but they didn't seem to care.

A woman with arranged hair, asked me if  I've ever seen a movie.
I, disturbed by the question, I responded in a pertinent excess: "My Lady! Do you think, if I am looking like Charlie Chaplin, means that I am stupid?"

I don't think that was the answer she wanted, but she rose up from her chair, approached me, smiling, and kissed me on my forehead. After that all three snorted in laugh.

I met my teacher after twenty years, he retired, but remembered so vividly, the inspection from that day...