Getting Picked On

 

(The world is filled with bullies)

Yesterday, I taught my classes. I’m still reading The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky with my high schoolers. They’re very nice kids who never give me a bit of trouble.

Our conversation suddenly turned to films.

I said, “My favorite actor of all time is Al Pacino. If you can name his most famous movie, I’ll give you two candy points.”

I give points over a website called ClassDojo. If they reach forty, they get a piece of toffee. Children these days have no appreciation for toffee, but I remain a huge fan.

A boy raised his hand. “The Godfather!”

“Yes, that’s correct. How do you know the film? It’s old enough to be your father.”

He ignored my question. “I actually liked The Godfather II better than the first.”

I nodded. “You’re right. It is better than the original. I’ll give you another point if you can name Pacino’s famous co-star in that particular work of art.”

The question stumped him. This made me feel better.

I shot him a smug smile. “Robert DeNiro! No points for you!”

Then I started to discuss Jack Nicolson.

I said, “The first R-rated movie I ever saw was The Shining directed by Stanley Kubrick. I watched it with my father at a drive-in theater back in 1980. I was only twelve-years old at the time. Dad said it was crap, but I looked him in the eyes and told him it would go on to become a classic.” I paused for dramatic effect. “I was right, and he was wrong.”

A girl raised her hand. “Do you have Netflix?”

“Oh, yes. That goes without saying.”

One of the things I like about my job is talking bullshit with the students. I won’t be able to do this when I go back to Texas and get a gig at the Waffle House. I will definitely miss the banter.

I got home at 6 p.m. and changed into my jammies. I had chicken gizzards and French fries for dinner. The meal might sound gross to your ears, yet it tasted delicious. For the last few months, I’ve been dining exclusively on fruit, rice, and raw eggs. So meat was a welcome surprise.

My stomach has been giving me some issues lately, and I soon had to run to the bathroom to take a shit. I read the headlines on my smartphone while sitting on the toilet. The subject of bullying has become a huge issue in Korea. Lots of adults are posting sad YouTube videos describing the torture they were forced to endure as they attended school. But my heart remained hard as stone due to my own ordeal. I used to get beaten on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. And I was simply thankful that my abusers gave me Tuesdays and Thursdays to rest. My point? Sometimes, you have to let the past go.

I went to my bedroom and switched on NBA League Pass. Then I viewed the contest between Dallas and the Jazz. It was a fun game. The Mavericks managed to pull away with only a couple of minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. With that said, I don’t see this uneasy marriage between Doncic and Irving lasting too long. The two star players don’t seem to share much chemistry.

After that, I enjoyed Netflix for a couple of hours. I’m currently involved in season two of Vikings Valhalla. And what can I say? I’m loving every minute of it. The show comes with my highest recommendation. It’s filled with blood and drama. Give it a try. You simply can’t go wrong.