School Tales: Dr. Phil(lis)

I love it when "old" students stop by my classroom because they "miss" me. They come with various motives: just to hang out, update me on their latest intrigues, use my room as a confessional in which to disclose deep, dark secrets, or ask for advice (eg: "There's this FIIIIINE guy, Miss K..." ). Babysitter, priestess, and counselor- three of my favorite teacher roles :)

One of my little football players from last year came by after school today for tutorials...just to say hi. He is a quiet, somewhat sensitive, and sad kid. His parents had a messy divorce last year after dad had a baby with another lady. Anyway, we started talking, I inquired about his grades, teachers, girlfriends, etc. All of a sudden he had a confession:

"Miss K, remember last year when I wasn't doing my work, and I would just sit there in class and wouldn't do anything, and that time I had DMC and slept all day and didn't do my work?"

I thought to myself "How could I forget? And to which time are you referring?"

"Well...uh...I asked Pilar (another one of my students) out last year, and she said she'd think about it. She never said yes or no, she just ignored me. And then, one day, I saw her when I was walking home and...uh...she told me that she wanted me to kiss her, so....uh......"

"So, you kissed her."

"Yeah, and then she told me that she had a boyfriend."

"So you felt really crappy and wished you hadn't kissed her."

"Yeah."

He was so sad.

"Well, she sounds like a really skanky girl. I hope you don't still talk to her. Stay away from trashy, sleazy girls who don't really care about you!" And I nearly bust out with a little Lauryn Hill.

"Guys you know you better watch out
Some girls, some girls are only about
That thing, that thing, that thiiiiiing"

We quickly moved on to happier topics, such as the cookies I had made, fresh out of the oven :) However, I was reminded that little girls are users too and little boys are not as tough as they seem.