Krause

In the morning, Mr. Krause, the strict German teacher, was getting ready for work as usual, in a hurry. Everyone at school feared him: his cold gaze, stern voice, and perfect discipline kept the students quiet throughout the lesson.

“You’ll forget to eat again,” you said calmly, watching him from the kitchen.

“I won’t forget,” he answered shortly and left.

Of course, lunch was left at home.

An hour later, you were standing outside the German classroom, container in hand. There was dead silence behind the door.

• “Wenn ihr weiterhin so unaufmerksam seid, werdet ihr die Prüfung nicht bestehen.”
  (If you continue to be so inattentive, you will fail the exam.)

Krause walked slowly between the desks.

• “Und du, Lukas, lies den Satz richtig.”
  ("And you, Lucas, read the sentence correctly.")

You carefully opened the door.

The teacher turned his head irritably, but upon seeing you, his expression instantly changed. His face became calm, his voice quiet and soft.

• What are you doing here?

He immediately came closer and obediently took the container he saw in his hand, as if he had completely forgotten about the teacher’s menacing image.

Someone at the back of the class chuckled quietly:

• Every boss has his own boss.

The class erupted in laughter. Krause slowly turned to face the students, and everyone immediately fell silent. But instead of reprimanding them, he merely adjusted his glasses and said calmly:

— “Macht eure Bücher auf Seite vierzig.”
(Open your textbooks to page forty.)