On Subbing.

This isn't really a 'zine per se, although it's got many of the same elements: personal stories, self-deprecating humor, funny stories. It's a collection of (very) short stories that read like journal entries of a guy named Dave that cover his first four years of working as a substitute education assistant for special education kids. Didn't know what to make of it at first, and thought it might turn out a little tedious, it's actually pretty hilarious throughout. And, of course, sad at times. It's got tales of unruly special needs kids shitting their pants or sneezing on him, the general loathing that most teachers seem to show towards him, and attempts by the author to convince others that he himself is not retarded. Some of the more interesting threads hover about the punk rock--trying to turn kids on to the good stuff, avoiding the awkward situation when a kid realizes he's been to a show at the author's house, avoiding getting caught shoplifting (since the pay's so low). Since it's a collection of stories that range from a short paragraph to four pages, it's easily digestible in short installments. It's published by Microcosm Publishing out of Portland, OR (who publish some other nifty stuff), so look for it at a coot store near you or contact: microcosmpublishing.com