I Found An Old Poem . . .
” . . . it’s hard to stand with broken kneecaps
and those two ribs were just so inviting
not to mention the perfect permanence
of his new nose . . .”
Old poem: 6 years or so. Completely forgot that I wrote it. But now I remember the situation.It was about losing my job. Actually, it was about sitting in the principal’s office (or the police station, not really sure), explaining that I knew fully why I lost my job. The reason: some young man decided to be beating up on his girlfriend, and I responded. Not kindly. Not with charity. Not with grace. Most definitely, not with mercy. No. Not with mercy.
One of my girls trying to get out of a relationship, just barely. Finally made the call after he, in fact, hit her one too many times for her to bare. Sadly, this was more than once. Luckily I entered the picture at the break-up stage. Luck for him.
He wasn’t a student any more. Graduated the year before I showed up on the job, but he still had friends there, so he was around often. Technically, he would be an adult. Not a minor. Different criminal charges.
Subsequently, we had two run ins. Once in the cafeteria, don’t really remember, but it left an impression. Months later he and some “friends” decided to make an appearance at a school function. They arrived to harass one of my boys over (apparently) some drug money. They were waiting outside the school. 4 deep.I show up.
One of his friends, “the leader” wanted to make an issue. The ex-boyfriend remembered me. He quickly persuaded his friend they should leave. Still sort of sad they did.
This probably makes me a bad person. Not quite “Christ-like;” then again, if Christ would drive off the pre-rock casting crowd from a woman caught in adultery, and whip the money lenders in the temple,
I can only image what he might do in the face of his daughter being abused.
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