I lost it yesterday…just f@@king lost it.
When my youngest son, let’s call him Rufus (he is a 3rd grade student), came to the language school yesterday he told me that a 5th grade student had shot him with a BB gun at school (Rufus was also hit in the neck with a thrown rock). Rufus has been having some trouble at school, partly because he has a smart mouth (yes, I’m trying to work with him on that) but mostly because he looks different.
Now I have been telling him that if he runs into trouble to walk away and find his teacher. Turn the other cheek, love thy neighbor, and all that other lovey-dovey, granola bar, Birkenstock shoe shit. But I told him, don’t use Aikido.
Well, after making sure I had understood Rufus’ side of the story I went to his school with not much love in my heart. Actually it was filled with piss and vinegar. I could feel my legs getting lighter and the edge of my sight getting that red tinge. I let the Dark Side in (that hasn’t happened much since high school football).
I walked into the teacher’s meeting and said in a very loud voice in Mandarin, “Why do you let students bring BB Guns to school to shoot my son”. Stunned silence. “I want an answer and I want it right now”. “Oh Rufus’ father, don’t be angry.” “Don’t be angry? My son was attacked with weapons at your school and I want to know why.” (Yes, I was talking very loudly, some folks might even call it yelling.) “Sit down Rufus’s father and we can talk about it” “No, I will wait outside and you can meet me there.”
Well I had calmed down a bit after I went outside. Actually the scene of a big, goofy looking foreigner yelling at all the teachers of an Taiwan elementary school was a bit funny I suppose. A teacher came out and explained that they have taken care of the problem. I listened and of course, Rufus was at fault also by talking back to the kid. But that doesn’t excuse getting shot at school with a BB Gun (or getting hit by the rock). I told the teacher that if this student continues hunting/stalking my son (it wasn’t the first time Rufus has dealt with the kid) that I would wait outside of school and get up close and personal with whoever picks this bully up. Be it grandma or the Baby Jesus himself. I know how to hunt also. That would be in nobody’s best interests if that happens. Needless to say, the teacher was full of “piesay”.
Will wait and see what happens. I went by Rufus’ classroom this morning and strolled by the 5th grade classes looking very much like a Balrog. Just wanted to let them see that Rufus’ dad was paying attention.
And as of today, Rufus does have the green light from me to use his Aikido if he needs to.