MY LIFE, CHAPTER 7: I didn’t steal those magnets

I got straight As on my school report every year all throughout primary school, so I didn’t have to worry about getting into secondary school. When filling out the application, I knew that with grades like mine I would be accepted anywhere.

The first real trouble came when I was in second grade. I was a model pupil, but even I got a black dot, which meant I messed up, and a note was sent to my parents.

It was, in fact, quite banal. Our parents had given us magnets, and we used to attach them to anything metal we found at home. And I had the bright idea of bringing these little black magnets to school the next day. To PE, to be exact.

The teacher spread out the mats and we had to do rolls. That would have been no trouble for me, but I had those damned magnets in the pocket of my red shorts, which we all had to wear to PE. And after each roll a magnet fell out.

“Petr!” the teacher shouted.

I was so startled I forgot to breathe.

In vain I tried to explain that I got the magnets from my parents and just brought them to school because I wanted to show them off to my classmates. Unfortunately, the teacher was certain that I stole them in the classroom.

It took me a while to give the note describing my mishap to my parents.