The Substitute Who Knew Too Much

The Substitute Who Knows Too Much

When the announcement came that Mr. Thompson, the history teacher, was out sick, the students of Room 204 thought it would be a free day. Everyone knew substitutes usually just handed out worksheets and scrolled through their phones.

The Substitute Who Knew Too Much.

But the moment the substitute walked in, the room fell silent.

He wasn’t what anyone expected. Dressed in a perfectly pressed suit, with silver hair combed neatly back, the man radiated an air of authority. He introduced himself simply as “Mr. Grayson” and carried no books or materials just a small leather notebook tucked under his arm.

“Let’s begin,” he said, his voice smooth yet commanding.

At first, it seemed like any other class. Mr. Grayson asked a few questions about their current lesson, the Revolutionary War, and gave a brief, eloquent lecture without looking at a single note.

Then things got… weird.

Secrets Exposed

“James,” Mr. Grayson said, suddenly turning to a boy in the back row. “Do you know why Benedict Arnold betrayed the Patriots?”

James blinked. “Uh, because he thought he’d get more money?”

Mr. Grayson tilted his head. “Partly, yes. But tell me, James, how does one explain betrayal? Like when you told Alex you’d meet him at the skate park last weekend but went to Trevor’s party instead?”

The class froze. James’ mouth dropped open. “How do you know about that?”

“I know many things,” Mr. Grayson said with a mysterious smile, moving on without another word.

Next, he stopped at Emily’s desk. “You seem distracted today, Emily. Is it because you’re worried about what your mother will say when she finds out you didn’t turn in your math homework again?”

Emily gasped. “I I don’t ”

Mr. Grayson raised an eyebrow. “Relax. I won’t tell her. But you should, before she gets the email from your teacher.”

Whispers rippled through the room. The students exchanged nervous glances. How did this guy know all of this?

“Dylan,” Mr. Grayson continued, locking eyes with a boy chewing on his pencil. “You really should stop hiding your sister’s art supplies. It’s not her fault she’s better at drawing than you are.”

Dylan nearly fell out of his chair.

Theories Fly

By lunchtime, the entire school was buzzing.

“He’s got to be a spy,” James said, slamming his tray onto the lunch table. “How else would he know about Trevor’s party?”

“Maybe he’s psychic,” Emily whispered, glancing nervously toward the teacher’s lounge.

“Or an alien,” Dylan added, looking genuinely terrified.

“He’s probably just stalking our social media,” Mia offered. But even she sounded doubtful after all, not everything Mr. Grayson mentioned could be found online.

When the bell rang for their next class, no one wanted to go back to Room 204. But curiosity won out.

The Revelation

“Welcome back,” Mr. Grayson said, his tone as calm as ever. He stood at the front of the room, his hands folded behind his back.

“Who are you?” James finally blurted out. “How do you know all this stuff about us?”

Mr. Grayson chuckled softly. “I told you, James. I know many things.”

“But how?” Emily pressed. “Are you… like, magic or something?”

Mr. Grayson considered this for a moment, then smiled. “Let’s just say I have an unusual way of seeing the world.”

He paused, scanning the room. “But here’s what you really want to know: why I’m telling you these things. It’s not to embarrass you. It’s to remind you that your actions, however small, have consequences. Every choice you make leaves a mark, even if you think no one’s watching.”

The students sat in stunned silence.

“Now,” he said, clapping his hands together, “shall we get back to history?”

The Final Mystery

By the end of the day, the students were more bewildered than ever. As the final bell rang, Mr. Grayson packed up his notebook and prepared to leave.

“Will we see you again?” Mia asked hesitantly.

“Perhaps,” Mr. Grayson said with a sly smile. “If the need arises.”

Then, just as he was about to walk out the door, he turned back and said, “Oh, and Emily? Tell your dad happy birthday for me.”

Emily’s jaw dropped. “Wait, how did you ”

But he was already gone.

The students of Room 204 never saw Mr. Grayson again. Over time, they came up with theories some plausible, others ridiculous but none of them ever solved the mystery of the substitute who knew too much.

Still, one thing was certain: they never forgot his message or the uncanny way he seemed to know them better than they knew themselves.