Return to the kids' table

For the past year, I sat at the faculty table in the school lunchroom, bumping elbows with the principal, the nurse, the janitors, the librarian and the lunchroom ladies.

However, with the beginning of the new school year, we have a new policy. Now, at least one teacher sits at each of the student tables. I have been designated to sit with some of the 7th graders, specifically a table of about 14 pubescent 13 year-old boys. They are loud, messy, childish, and infinitely more interesting to sit with than the faculty. Just yesterday, instead of serving as the disciplinarian, I found myself playing along with the old "steal-the-milk-from-kid-who-isn't-looking" joke. The missing-milk student, realizing his loss, even briefly looked to me for help, but I just shrugged my shoulders. Luckily, the dairy-thieves were merciful and returned the milk to its owner before too long, and most of the table had a good laugh...