Thoughts while Traveling
3.16.2004
I was presented with a situation that took me back to my childhood. There was a young boy that was accused of something- and I found out he didn't do it. I found myself overwhelmed with the desire to make sure his mother knew he was not at fault. Once I did, I started thinking about how terrible it is for a child to be falsely accused. Then I took a trip back. I remember like it was yesterday...
I was in the fourth grade. My teacher was returning assignments that she had just graded the night before- and she didn't have mine. I was getting a zero. But I did it! And I turned it in! I knew i turned it in because we had to turn it in in order to leave. It was a math assignment. The day before, she assigned it just beore it was time to go- the instructions were to hand it in on our way out the door. I did. And now I was getting a zero. And no one doubted that I didn't turn it in. The whole class was judging me. But I knew I turned it in! One of my classmates even said "I don't know how he snuck out of class without turning it in." I remember her name: Beth Chandler. She said that. I felt so alone. All I could say is that I knew I did it and I knew I turned it in- but it wasn't enough. I remember the other kids whispering- "he didn't do it," "it was easy," "how'd he get away with it." I was devestated.
Somewhere in the fray I felt myself begin to cry. I didn't want it to happen... it just did. Then there were more whispers. Then my teacher's voice came in like a half-hearted trumpet:
"Oh, Justin. Here it is. It was stuck to this other paper." She then came over and apologized. The apology was heartfelt- I could tell. But I was still stinging. My tears were drying and I felt barely vindicated. Then I heard stupid Beth Chandler- "I can't believe he was crying." And I snapped.
"Of course I was crying! It's not about the assignment, it's that no one believed me! You'd be crying too if the whole class and your teacher called you a liar when you knew you were telling the truth.
You dumb bitch."
I wasn't in trouble for not turning in my assignment anymore. Man, that was a painful memory.
I was in the fourth grade. My teacher was returning assignments that she had just graded the night before- and she didn't have mine. I was getting a zero. But I did it! And I turned it in! I knew i turned it in because we had to turn it in in order to leave. It was a math assignment. The day before, she assigned it just beore it was time to go- the instructions were to hand it in on our way out the door. I did. And now I was getting a zero. And no one doubted that I didn't turn it in. The whole class was judging me. But I knew I turned it in! One of my classmates even said "I don't know how he snuck out of class without turning it in." I remember her name: Beth Chandler. She said that. I felt so alone. All I could say is that I knew I did it and I knew I turned it in- but it wasn't enough. I remember the other kids whispering- "he didn't do it," "it was easy," "how'd he get away with it." I was devestated.
Somewhere in the fray I felt myself begin to cry. I didn't want it to happen... it just did. Then there were more whispers. Then my teacher's voice came in like a half-hearted trumpet:
"Oh, Justin. Here it is. It was stuck to this other paper." She then came over and apologized. The apology was heartfelt- I could tell. But I was still stinging. My tears were drying and I felt barely vindicated. Then I heard stupid Beth Chandler- "I can't believe he was crying." And I snapped.
"Of course I was crying! It's not about the assignment, it's that no one believed me! You'd be crying too if the whole class and your teacher called you a liar when you knew you were telling the truth.
You dumb bitch."
I wasn't in trouble for not turning in my assignment anymore. Man, that was a painful memory.
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