Every morning, just after the first-period tardy bell rings, my students and I are called via intercom to join together in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. (VA Code Ann. §22.1-202, B-C)

So we stand, many of us with hands over hearts, a few of us audibly pronouncing the long-ago memorized words.

Most days, I’m at the front of the classroom when the announcement begins, having just come in after doing my before-and-after-class doorway hall duty.

But sometimes, when I’ve come in and moved quickly enough to handle something near my desk or when the announcement is a bit delayed, I end up on the other side of the room, nearer my desk and the stage where my student computers are, nearer the flag … and nearer Shakespeare.

When my awesome C-106 classroom was handed down to me from a colleague who retired two years ago (Thanks, Betty!), so was Shakespeare. (And Mark Twain, who stands opposite the Bard, and a number of other English-y posters and stuff. What luck!)

It wasn’t until the last few months, however, that I really noticed the expression on Shakespeare’s face.

There I was, saying the Pledge like a good teacher, but I could feel his eyes, weighted down by knitted brow, boring holes in me: “What in Heaven’s name?”

Indeed.

I think it will make a great writing prompt when we start Romeo and Caesar after next week’s exams.