The Return of the Ding

Hallelujah!! What once was lost, now is found! My prize student, D (the scourge of public school toilets everywhere), has returned from…wherever the hell he went after he got kicked out of our school three weeks ago. And, true to form, he picked up right where he had left off. Calling kids names, trying to start fights, and spouting nonsense in the middle of class.
At recess yesterday, D said something that actually had me at a loss for words, and that just doesn’t happen very often. After several of the kids had accused him of cursing at them, I was busy giving him a piece of my mind. I had just finished saying, “Why on earth would you come back and start doing exactly the sort of thing that got you kicked out of here in the first place?” when D suddenly exclaims, “My birthday coming up soon!”
I just really had no answer for that one.
In much sadder news, I also lost a student yesterday, and she was one of my favorites. Little S, who is a very friendly and bright girl, brought in withdrawal papers yesterday. At first, I told her I wouldn’t sign them, but of course I had no choice. Her family is moving to Lancaster, which isn’t all that far from here, but it’s far enough to put her in another school. Maybe once she gets to her new school, her mother will allow her to obtain a pair of forbidden glasses.
Losing a sweetheart, and regaining a headache – what a great way to start the week!!