THE STUDENTS in Grade 3 were NOT happy campers. Miss Inez, their teacher, announced that she would be out for two weeks. She told them to expect a substitute teacher, Mrs. Burn.

"We'll expect her all right!" said one girl, Olivia, and you could tell she didn't mean it in a good way.

The next Monday Olivia brought a boombox to class, and everyone was laughing and talking while loud music was playing. When Mrs. Burn tried to get them to sit down, Olivia stood up. When Mrs. Burn asked the class to be quiet, Olivia talked louder. Finally, when Mrs. Burn asked Olivia to turn off the boombox, Olivia calmly took out her headset and continued to listen and sing along. Before you knew it, Olivia was on that long walk down the hall to the principal's office. It didn't seem like a good day for Olivia, or for Mrs. Burn.

That night Mrs. Burn prayed about what to do. She must have been listening to God awfully hard, because she went to bed smiling and happy.

On Tuesday Olivia was back, Mrs. Burn was back, and a small box that said ABIGAIL was in the corner of the room. Mrs. Burn explained that Abigail was a puppet who would be visiting the class for the next two weeks. Everyone began to push and shove to see what Abigail looked like, but they had to wait.

Abigail was very shy. In fact, she didn't talk. She whispered. She whispered to Mrs. Burn, and Mrs. Burn would then tell the class what she said. But she could not come out until everyone was quietly sitting in their seats. The whole class became very quiet. They were watching the stage, watching for Abigail.

Mrs. Burn coaxed her to come out and wave hello. Instead of coming out on the stage, Abigail buried her head in Mrs. Burn's shoulder. Pretty soon, Abigail was brave enough to turn around and look at all the faces staring at her. The kids in the class were being very quiet. Abigail waved one paw. They waved back.

Mrs. Burn asked Abigail if she would like to bake a cake. Abigail nodded yes. Mrs. Burn told her she had to clean her room first. Abigail was not happy about this. She started throwing all kinds of things out of the puppet stage: a banana peel, a used tissue, some clothes that needed to be folded. The kids all laughed. They knew what it was like to have a messy room!

When it came time to bake the cake, Abigail wanted to do everything HER way, so she put the egg into the bowl, shell and all, and stirred it in. Once again, the kids laughed; they knew it was best to stop and listen to directions before just throwing things in the bowl. The cake was a special Abigail cake, only good for puppets to eat, and it was sort of crooked, but Abigail was proud of it. All the kids clapped for her.

For the next two weeks, after the study part of the day was over, Abigail would come out, and Mrs. Burn would let the children and Abigail get to know each other more. Sometimes the boys and girls would come up one at a time, so they wouldn't scare her, and give Abigail a hug.

One day, Olivia asked if she could take Abigail to her desk. Mrs. Burn said yes. Olivia put Abigail on her hand and quietly talked to her as if she were a real person. She told Abigail she was sad. Very sad. All her friends had moved on to the fourth grade, but she needed to repeat third grade over. She was afraid that being held back meant she was stupid.

After that, every day Olivia and Abigail sat alone for a few minutes. Abigail would bring Olivia little notes that said things such as, "Everybody has a right to ask questions and say when they don't understand something. That isn't being stupid, that's being smart, because that's how you learn." Or, "Like stars or snowflakes, you are the only you there is."

On her last day, Mrs. Burn was starting class, and Olivia yelled out, "Fruit roll!" She had asked every kid to bring a piece of fruit, and each one rolled the fruit on the floor to Mrs. Burn. Later, Olivia gave Mrs. Burn a note. It said, "I am sad today because Abigail has to go. She is like a sister to me, and I love her."

Before she left for the day, Mrs. Burn asked Olivia to come over to Abigail's special box. Abigail leaned way over the stage to give Olivia a hug and whispered, "I love you, too!" Then Olivia kissed Abigail's nose, which made it tickle, so Abigail sneezed. Olivia and Mrs. Burn laughed and gave Abigail a tissue. Then Olivia helped Mrs. Burn carry all the fruit to her car.

Mrs. Jean Burn was a professional puppeteer. She made her own marionettes and hand puppets, including the puppet Abigail. Currently, Mrs. Burn is still working as a puppetmaker and makes puppets for theater productions across the USA. She is also a retired teacher and lives in Reston, Virginia. This story about one of her classroom experiences was told by her daughter Wendy.

The Sentinel talked with Mrs. Burn about her work as a puppeteer. Here's what she told us:

How did you decide to become a puppeteer?

I started out making puppets for my own children. Then I was asked to do simple puppet shows for other children and their families. I graduated from birthday parties to mother-and-daughter banquets, Cub Scout banquets, holiday celebrations, and large company parties. Most of the technique and the building of the marionettes I learned by myself from books. I also had mentors along the way—other puppeteers—who encouraged and advised me.

What was the hardest thing about this work?

Learning how to communicate with the audience through the puppets. Often I had an age range from 2 to 92. I kept the way the puppets talked simple, so everyone could understand them.

What did you like best about being a puppeteer?

A puppeteer is able to control everything. The play, the costumes, the scenery, the lights, the dialogue. It's miniature theater at its very best.

What would you tell someone who is interested in this?

Go to your library and read all you can about puppeteering. Find others who are interested in puppetry and talk with them.

Could you tell us a little about how you make puppets?

I make them from several different types of material. Almost anything can become a puppet in your hands. A sock, a wooden spoon, household materials can all be animated. Some of the materials I use are papier-mâché, plastic wood, foam, and wood.

A simple puppet can be made by draping a handkerchief over your hand. Place a tennis ball on your index finger by making a hole in the ball. Insert thumbtacks for eyes, and draw features with magic markers.