The Crush (0:15)

This is also one of my favorites. Ardel is an Irish eight year old who has a crush on his teacher, Miss Purdy. Miss Purdy is a wonderfully sensitive teacher and all is well in Ardel's life. Until. . . he and his mother run into Miss Purdy and her finance. Ardel doesn't think the boyfriend is good enough for his teacher. Ardel takes action by challenging the boyfriend to a duel after school. And it's a duel to the death. This is an absolutely charming short story. It is well written, Ardel is just wonderful as the smitten boy who cleverly comes to the rescue.