Mug Shot Mondays

 

For Mug Shot Monday, I'd like to share the antagonist from Miss Nelson is Missing!

 

 

Miss Viola Swamp

By Harry Allard

Published in 1977



One of the very first antagonist I remember reading from my childhood was Miss Viola Swamp from Miss Nelson is Missing! She arrived as a substitute teacher for sweet Miss Nelson, of whom non of her students listen to. She’s truly one unlikable character with all business and no play when it came to getting school work done. I can’t imagine any kid liking Miss Swamp as their substitute teacher with her witch-like persona.


Here is an excerpt from Miss Nelson is Missing:



A woman in an ugly dress stood before them.

“I am your new teacher, Miss Viola Swamp.”

And she rapped the desk with ruler.

“Where is Miss Nelson?” asked the kids.

“Never mind that!” snapped Miss Swamp.

‘Open those arithmetic books!”

Miss Nelson’s kids did as they were told…





…“We’ll have no story hour today,” said Miss Swamp.

“Keep your mouths shut,” said Miss Swamp.

“Sit perfectly still,” said Miss Swamp.

“And if you misbehave, you’ll be sorry,” said Miss Swamp.



When Miss Swamp left, Miss Nelson returned to school again. Her students learned their lesson and listened and behaved for her.



There is a fun twist at the end that I won’t ruin for you.



Side note: I’d like to compare her with Miss Agatha Trunchbull from Matilda by Roald Dahl. A book quote from Matilda, "I cannot for the life of me understand why small children take so long to grow up. I think they do it deliberately, just to annoy me."- Miss Trunchbull. This book was published in 1988.