So on my desk, I have this jar of pencils that is exclusively filled with pencils that are left in my classroom, or that I find on the floor in the hallway. This jar is jam packed full.

Today, in my LA class, I grabbed the jar of pencils and addressed the class: "You guys," I started, "listen. When you leave your pencils in my classroom, I keep them here and I never give them back, wanna see?" I held up the jar, and pulled all the pencils out. I began fishing through them and selected one with a name tag on it.

"Liam," I read, as I placed the pencil on the table. I grabbed another. "Liam." Another. "Liam." Soon, the rest of the class (including Liam) had joined in, chanting, "Liam" every time I placed another pencil on the table. Finally, when the count had reached 10, I no longer had anymore of Liam's pencils.

"How many pencils do you have in your desk?" I asked him.

"Like 2."

"Well, I have like 10. So please take them and use them and never leave them all in my classroom again, ok?"

So Liam agreed, and grabbed the pencils. Minutes later the class ended.

"Liam!" I called, as he left my room, "do you have your pencils?"

He nodded proudly and held up a fist full of yellow pencils, freshly sharpened by yours truly, and walked out of my classroom.

As I was tidying up around the chairs, I found a pencil. I picked it up, and turned it to read the name tag...

Liam.