Little Wolf

A first grade teacher explains to her class that she is a Carolina Tarheel. She asks her students to raise their hands if they’re Tarheels too.

Not really knowing what a Carolina Tarheel is but wanting to be like their teacher, their hands explode into the air like fleshy fireworks. There is, however, one exception. A girl named Kristen has not gone along with the crowd.

The teacher asks her why she has decided to be different. “Because I’m not a Tarheel.”

“Then,” asks the teacher, “What are you?”

“Why I’m a proud NC State Wolf,” boasts the little girl.

The teacher is perturbed now, her face slightly red. She asks Kristen why she is a rebel.

“Well, my mom and dad are Wolfs, so I’m a Wolf too.”

Her teacher is now angry. “That’s no reason,” she says loudly. “What if your mom was a moron, and your dad was a moron. What would you be then?”

A pause, and a smile.

“Then,” says Kristen, “I’d be a Tarheel.”