Teachers: they always think they're so clever, don't they? Take my little sister's teacher, for example. She's always so sure she's right. At Christmas all the kids brought her in presents. The first kid up was Joey Malley. His ma works in the florist in the Square.

She shook the parcel, held it over her head and said: "I bet I know what it is: flowers!" "Yeah," said Joey. "How did you know?" "Just a wild guess," said Miss Flanagan.

The next kid up was Aoife Maher. Her grandad owns the sweet shop beside Centra. Miss Flanagan holds the present up, shakes it and says: "I bet it's a box of sweets." "You're amazing, miss!" said Aoife sarcastically.

The next present was from the boy whose dad has an off-licence. It was a big cardboard box with a lid. Miss Flanagan barely held it up, she was so happy. Then she noticed it was leaking. She tasted a drop on her finger. "Is it wine?" she asked. "No," said Johnny. She tasted another drop. "Is it champagne?" "No." "Okay, I give up. What is it?" "A puppy," said Johnny.

It can be hard being a teacher, though. Take Ms Moone, the kindergarten teacher. One of her students asked her to help him put on his boots. She could see why. With her pulling and his pushing the boots still didn't want to go on.

When the second boot was on she had worked up a sweat. She almost cried when the little boy said: "Ms Moone, they're on the wrong feet."

She looked and, sure enough, they were. It wasn't any easier pulling the boots off than it was putting them on. She managed to keep her cool as, together, they worked to get the boots back on. This time, when they were on right, he then announced: "These aren't my boots." She bit her tongue rather than getting in his face and screamed: "Why didn't you say so?" Once again she struggled to help him pull the ill-fitting boots off. He then said: "They're my brother's boots. My mum made me wear them."

She didn't know if she should laugh or cry. She managed by the grace and courage she had left to wrestle the boots on his feet again. She then said: "Now, where are your gloves?" He said: "I stuffed them in the toes of my boots." All I would have to say to that teacher would be good luck. Her trial starts next week.

Niamh Murphy
The Cat's Pyjamas, St Mark's CS, Tallaght, Dublin 24

What the judges say: 'A new Deirdre O'Kane. Brave and funny, with good storytelling'