The Buck Stops Here

When I was in 5th standard, my class teacher was Leena, a young, stylish lady who was also our sports teacher. One fine day, we went out to the ground to play and just as we assembled there, she called me aside and asked me to get the 'buck'. Now, I had just started learning English and my vocabulary had no word named buck yet. But being the topmost student of the class and all, I didn't want to sound ignorant and lower myself in Leena Teacher's eyes. So I kept my doubts to myself and set out to get that unknown object called buck. What in the world could it be? Then the thought struck me that it must've been mug that she was asking for and I had heard it wrong! This was a happy thought but only for a minute. I didn't know where to find a mug now! The only mug that I knew existed in school was in our toilet but I couldn't imagine she would want that anyway. So fully troubled by now, I went to the place where I thought I could get some help; the headteacher's room where I knew sundry things existed. I peeped in and saw the headteacher and Sharada teacher, the senior-most in school. I excused myself, went in and told them Leena Teacher had asked for a mug. They were baffled too and asked me why she wanted it. No explanation was forthcoming so after some serious thought, they concluded that the object in question must have been a jug! What could I say!

When Leena Teacher saw me coming back with a jug full of water and presenting it to her, she was aghast. What in the world is it for, she asked. I believe all she wanted was her leather whip with a whistle. Even after so many years, I can't help blushing when I recollect how the whole class laughed at me.

God knows why she called it a buck!