Tit for Tat

In today's story, Tit for Tat, a teacher tries to impart an important lesson before school lets out for Spring Break 

Today's prompt was chosen from a list of common expressions. If you have a suggestion for a writing prompt, please let us know! 

More about Susan Quilty

Susan Quilty mainly writes novels, including two standalone novels and her YA series: The Psychic Traveler Society.  Susan's short stories for Freely Written are created during quick writing breaks and shared as a way to let go of perfection and encourage writing for fun.

Website:  SusanQuilty.com
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Transcript

Below is the transcript for Season 1, Episode 161 of Freely Written, a podcast by author Susan Quilty:

Welcome to Freely Written, where a simple prompt leads to a little unplanned fiction.  

[Light piano music]

Hi, friends! I’m Susan Quilty, and today’s prompt is Tit for Tat.

I’ve been pretty busy on the writing front lately. My current novel-in-progress is coming along well, and I’m in the final stages of approving and publishing my first audiobook, which narrates my first novel, The Insistence of Memory. The voice over artist who narrated it, Jenna Rose Stein, has done a fantastic job, and I can’t wait to share it with the world!

You can learn more about my novels and my upcoming audiobook at my website: SusanQuilty.com

In the midst of all that work, it’s nice to take a break from my novels and enjoy some free writing. The beauty of free writing is that it lets me set aside any planning and just let the words spill onto the page. It’s a great way to foster creativity and maybe tap into whatever might be bubbling up in my subconscious mind. 

As a reminder, here is my very simple Freely Written process: I sit down with a prompt and write whatever might come to mind, with no planning and very little editing. Then, I record the story and share it with you. 

Here’s what came up today:

Tit for Tat

“He pushed me first!”

“Nu-uh, he started it!” 

Mary Richardson pressed her lips together and took a long, slow breath. She had been settling petty squabbles all year and was very ready for Spring Break to begin. But first, she had one more day—and one more petty squabble—to get through. 

“Let’s skip the who-started-it part of the story, shake hands, and make up. We only have three hours left in the day; let’s make them good ones, okay?”

Tom and Jamie, her two most belligerent third graders, did not seem keen on that idea. They both scowled and crossed their arms. Twin images of outrage and frustration. 

Mary sighed and looked at the rest of her students who were settling into their desks after returning from lunch. She could ask for witnesses, but knew that would only stir everyone up and take up more of their time. 

She told the class to take out their math books, then turned back to Tom and Jamie with the most sympathetic look she could muster. 

“Sometimes people get upset with each other over little things. It can feel very bad. But after you walk away, and cool down, whatever started it doesn’t seem so big. You might even forget all about it. Now, is this argument big enough for you both to go see the Vice Principal right now, or can you try to let it go?” 

The boys began shifting their feet and glancing at each other. They were still angry but didn’t want to be sent to the Vice Principal, who would probably call their parents and get them in bigger trouble. 

Sensing their softening, Mary asked them to take their seats and get out their math books. She smiled, feeling her shoulders relax as they glanced at each other, then grudgingly complied. 

But it wasn’t over. 

Tom and Jamie sat four seats and two rows apart. Their seating had been a strategic attempt to keep them apart after Mary saw the friction between them. It worked during their math lesson, from Mary’s perspective. They both followed along and answered questions, seeming to forget what had happened in the hall. 

When Mary gave the class time to answer some problems on their own, Tom got up to sharpen his pencil. Busy helping another student, Mary scarcely noticed and forgot that the trip would take Tom past Jamie’s desk. 

A shrieking thud snapped her back to attention. Students laughed as Tom jumped to his feet and brushed himself off. His face flushed as he yelled, “You tripped me!” 

“Did not!” Jamie shouted back. “You tripped over your own big feet.” 

“Enough!” Mary called out as she hurried to check that Tom was not hurt. 

“I didn’t trip him, Miss Richardson. Honest, I swear!” 

Mary looked at the surrounding students who shrugged or shook their heads, showing they hadn’t seen anything. Or nothing they were going to tell her. 

“Okay, then. Tom, please take your seat.” 

Mary went to the front of the room and pulled her desk chair in front of the rows of desks. She sat down and asked everyone to close their math books. 

“Does anyone know the expression ‘tit for tat’?” 

Some giggles floated around the room, but Mary kept a neutral look on her face. 

“Okay, tit for tat is an expression that explains a big word: reciprocity. Reciprocity is when you do something and someone else responds in kind. Now, if Shanice gives Annu a cool rock she found on the playground, then Annu might let Shanice use her glitter pens.” 

Shanice and Annu smiled at each other, happy to be singled out for kindnesses they hadn’t done but definitely felt they would. 

“But,” Mary continued. “What if instead Shanice didn’t give Annu her cool rock and wouldn’t even let Annu hold it?” 

The girls' smiles faded. 

“Would Annu still let Shanice use her glitter pens?” 

A chorus of “no” rang out as Annu’s hand shot up, desperate to respond. 

“I would still let Shanice use my glitter pens!” 

“And I would give her my rock!” Shanice added quickly. 

“Well, yes, you might,” Mary agreed tentatively. “But the point is that we’re more likely to respond to a good action with another good action, and to a bad action with another bad action. Tit for tat.”

“No, I don’t like that,” Annu answered quickly, feeling entitled since she was the example. 

“I think it’s better to do a nice thing when someone is mean to you,” Shanice added. “My mom says that’s being the bigger person.” 

“Yes,” Mary agreed. “That’s where I was going with this. Tit for tat is not a good idea when it comes to bad actions because the bad choices keep coming. Someone needs to be the bigger person and stop the cycle.” 

She looked pointedly between Jamie and Tom. They were both slumped in their seats, scowling. 

“Unless someone bullies you,” Shanice suddenly said into the heavy silence. 

“Yeah, especially if they, like, shove or hit you,” Annu agreed with a vigorous nod. 

“What?” Mary turned back to the girls, then saw the other students nodding knowingly. 

“You have to hit back,” Annu said confidently. “Enough to make them stop. That’s self-defense.” 

“You can’t be a doormat, or they’ll walk all over you,” Shanice agreed. “My mom says that, too.” 

“Oh, well, I think maybe, in some extreme cases, but… It’s better to find me, or another teacher instead.” 

“So you can send us to the Vice Principal?” 

Mary turned sharply, surprised to see that this comment hadn’t come from Tom or Jamie, but from Ryan, the most well-behaved boy in her class. 

“I think we’re getting away from the point,” Mary said weakly. 

“Hey, Jamie,” Tom called across the room. “Let’s be friends. You can call me tat and I’ll call you—“

“That’s enough!” Mary cut in, getting to her feet and rolling her desk chair back in place. “I think I’ve made my point, and we can move on.”

“It’s okay, Miss Richardson,” Jamie called back. “I don’t mind being called—“

“Enough!” Mary cut him off and closed her eyes as the class giggled. “Get out your history books, so we can finish our work in time for our spring party.” 

The reminder about the spring party, planned for the last hour of the day, was enough to get everyone back to work. But Mary caught Jamie and Tom exchanging sly smiles and wondered if her lesson may have gotten them past their squabble—if not exactly the way she had planned. 

Either way, Mary looked at the clock and smiled. Just a few more hours until Spring Break. 

The End 

Thanks for listening. I hope you enjoyed that spring-themed story, which could also be a dedication to all the teachers out there who are enjoying Spring Break and looking forward to summer. Teachers have one of the hardest and most important jobs, and they don’t get nearly enough credit, or compensation, for all that they do. Here’s hoping they can at least get a little laughter out of some of the things that happen in their classrooms. 

If you’re enjoying my stories here on Freely Written, please share them with your friends. I would also love for you to check out my novels and other books. It can be really hard to get the word out and expand my audience, so I’m very grateful if you can help others find my writing. You can visit my website, SusanQuilty.com, or search for “Susan Quilty” wherever you buy books. There are also links in the show notes. 

Until next time, try a little free writing of your own. Let go of any planning and see where your imagination takes you. 

[Light piano music]