Out of Necessity and Stupidity, Part Two...

I read the book, internalizing, or trying to, its instructions. I purchased the lock pick set. I tried picking this lock—I failed. I spent a good ten minutes on it, and still failed.

I asked a student to try it—he failed. Another—she failed.

My next option—and this is not an admittance of defeat, I don’t know what is—is to buy a bolt cutter and a new lock. Since I have a hammer in my desk, I entertained the idea of banging on the handles until one of them breaks, but that would completely defeat the purpose of securing a closet in my classroom.