It was an ordinary day, not unlike any other. I was daydreaming at my desk and avoiding anything that would classify me as remotely productive. (Sound familiar?)

Unfortunately, my comfortable reverie was rudely broken into by Mr. Lawson, who was calling for the class’ attention. Normally, this would mean “Time to focus on math/social studies/science!”

In other words, things that I cared very little about at that age.

But…this time his tone was different—and in a good way. It was obvious he didn’t want to teach, but instead tell a story. And by the sound of it, a really freaking cool one. No kid in his right mind was gonna pass up this opportunity, so we quickly hushed up and gifted him with our undivided attention.

“I was conducting an experiment,” he began, “and Jessie was the only one who responded to it.”

After an immediate multi-voiced call for clarification, he continued, “See, I was sitting at my desk watching you guys. Then, just to see what would happen, I decided to repeat your names in my head and see if any of you would respond.”

(I’m not making this up, I swear)

He went on to explain how he would call out names in his head, first one classmate then the other. He didn’t get a reaction from anyone.

“But when I went, ‘Jessie! Jessie! Jessie!’ she came up to my desk and said, “Yes Mr. Lawson, you were calling me?’”

He said this with the straightest face and most earnest tone. Jessie was standing next to him the whole time, shyly, but didn’t deny any of it.

I was floored. So was everyone else, and the class erupted in “Yeah right’s!” and “Wow’s!” and all other such exclamations of blatant disbelief and/or awe.

Seeing that he was confronted with a room of more than a few miniature skeptics, he asked us if we wanted him to prove it. Question was absolutely unnecessary, of course.

So we sent Jessie out of the room. Mr. Lawson asked us to agree on a number between 1 and 10, and he would think it in his head and have Jessie guess it. After some chaotic discussion, we agreed on the number seven.

Jessie was called in, and all eyes were on her.

Mr. Lawson sat in a chair and had her stand behind him. He placed her hands on both sides of his jaw, below his ears. He closed his eyes. Class was pin-drop quiet.

I distinctly remember hoping she would get it right, because I didn’t want her to get embarrassed if she messed up.

Seconds ticked by. I was getting very tense. I’m sure we all forgot to breathe.

Jessie’s face was concentrated. My teacher’s eyes were remained shut, and the rest of him was as still as a statue.

Ten seconds passed. Fifteen. She took her hands off.

“Seven?”

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Ladies and gentlemen, I once had a psychic classmate. Your arguments from here on out are invalid.