Mr Nutt
Mr Nutt was my English teacher in the first year of secondary school. He was an ex-boxer, and had eyes that could read people like a piece of prose.

He had given us homework; read the book he had assigned us (I forget what it was), then get our parents to sign our homework diary.

A week later, I was sitting in the middle of the class, in a position that lent itself to anonymity. I needed it. I had read the book, but had forgotten to get my diary signed. In desperation, I had faked my mother's signature from another page of the diary.

Mr Nutt went round the class, checking every pupil's diaries. Woe betide the fool, the poor soul, who had forgotten a signature.
A woman scorned? No, the wrath of this English teacher was a far worse fate (especially if you're eleven years old)

He reached my desk. He peered at my diary, at the intricately copied signature.

"Your mother's signature looks like the number 2. Does it always look like this?" his interrogation started

"Yes sir." I replied.

His eyes scanned me. I kept forcing myself to believe this was the real signature, that I hadn't faked it.

After a long pause, he gave me his verdict

"Fine, good work".

I almost cried with relief. I felt like I had cheated death!

Given that this is a story about my English teacher, I'm sure you will take great joy in pointing out any errors in spelling/grammar!
(tarbin tarbis, tarbit, tarbamus, tarbimus, tarbant, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 13:29, 4 replies)

So...
... did "Fine, good work" refer to the homework, or the forgery? Bet you never thought of that, eh?
(gordonjcp, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 13:37, closed)

at school
I avoided this problem by never letting the teachers see my parents actual signatures, all the signatures were done by me so consistency was guaranteed.
(randomer has a 20 sided die with your name on it, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 13:42, closed)

the secret to successful forging
of the homework diary was to never get your parent to sign. always do it yourself, from day one.

edit: bah, randomer got there first
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 13:42, closed)

@gordonjcp
Well, he did give me this look of

"Hmm, I think you've faked this, but it's convincing and you got some cohones, so I'll let this one go"

Possibly also

"Try it again and you're a dead man. They'll never find the body"

Also @randomer & @Vipros: good point!
(tarbin tarbis, tarbit, tarbamus, tarbimus, tarbant, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 13:58, closed)