When the school had been built the top floor was actually a suite. Someone in an office, probably at the school board, decided that the suite should also house the English Department.

The English teacher had just graduated from college and this was her first year of teaching. I’ll never forget her entry into our classroom. There she stood, her blond hair in a perfect beehive. She wore a light blue dress with a matching sweater and light blue heels. Her earrings sparkled, and her nails were perfectly manicured. She looked like a model in a fashion magazine.

She watched Mr. Gunyer leaping from table to table wildly swinging his net. “We are taking a test,” she said primly.

Mr. Gunyer seemed to stop in mid-leap. One foot on one table and the other foot on another table he pivoted on his toes and looked at her. I do not believe he had noticed her until she spoke. “Oh,” he said. “That’s nice. Umm! We are chasing bats!”

Her eyes grew large with horror as she looked at the ceiling for the first time. She reached behind her and opened the door that connected her classroom to the science room. The door closed quietly. She could not slam the door, though I suspected she wanted to, because they were taking a test. She locked the door and it remained locked for the rest of the school year. We could no longer enter English class by passing through the science room. We had to walk all the way around and enter through the hall on the other side.

The school board thought Mr. Gunyer was just to unconventional. I thought he was one of the most interesting teachers I ever met. I heard a rumor that he went to the Ozarks in southern Missouri and joined a research team. Some people talk about this or that teacher that had an impact on their lives. I do not know that Mr. Gunyer ever noticed I was in his class. But, I certainly never forgot Batman.