Ollie Returns to School 41

He heard the ruckus and crashing noise down the hall as he walked towards room 102.  But he smiled as he limped with his trusty cane, and the smile was that of extreme confidence, and he began to sing the old basic training marching song he learned years ago, quietly, so no one could hear: I wanna be an Airborne Ranger, live a life of sex and danger —Airborne Ranguh!  Sex and danguh.  I wanna be a fighter flyer, fly my plane up higher and highyuh —Fighta flyyuh, higher and highuh—and then he opened the classroom door, infused with energy from the past. His smile vanished and he was ready for war now.  He remembered the president’s words to him: attack this problem Ollie, and try to guide our children back to the wonderful bright light we call the United States of America.

“Well look.  The old man came back to have more fun!” said one of the hoods in the back.  Then several others yelled, “Go back to the nursing home you old grandpa!”

Ollie stood be hind his desk, dropped a briefcase down and smiled, and looked into the eyes of each of his students, studying them, saying nothing, but understanding that they were individuals, trapped into a situation that was hopeless without intervention or hope.

“Now tell me, who took the time to complete the simple homework assignment I gave last time?”

A few of the girls in front, sheepishly raised their hands. 

“Only three of you?”  Ok, you three, hand in your papers with the definitions of the words obstreperous and insolent.  He looked at the papers and smiled when he saw the correct answers:  obstreperous:  noisy, unruly and difficult to control or manage.  Insolent:  someone who is boldly rude, disrespectful or impudent, typically towards and authority figure.

“This was a simple baby assignment.  Three of you passed the assignment with an “A” and the other 29 of you failed with an “F” for the assignment.”

“Hey grandpa, we don’t give a shit. We gonna pass high school wid you or widout you, you know dis?”

“It’s not widout. If you want a job in your life and be off welfare, you need to learn how to say without.”  The kid became incensed and picked up a chair and threw it at Ollie, and Ollie ducked quickly to the right, and the chair missed him, crashing against the wall. Then the kid ran to Ollie ready to hit him, but the old man deftly took his cane and used the crook to trip him and he fell to the floor, unhurt, but embarrassed, laying on his back, cursing, but Ollie put his foot on his chest and said, “Get out of my room son, before you regret it.  Don’t come back until you have learned to be a man, apologize to the class, and can recite the Pledge of allegiance and the first 10 amendments to the constitution of this great country.  Not everyone here is worthless, and some want to learn and be productive in society.”

The kid got up and walked away, saying nothing.

Then, Ollie went back to his desk and said, “After this display, I am not going to ask you to individually recite the Pledge, as I asked last time, but instead, you have 15 minutes to write it down and turn it in for a grade.”

The kids began writing feverishly.   The room was silent with intense concentration.

After the papers were put on his desk, Ollie said, “for those of you who failed the homework assignment today, you will have other chances to improve your grades. But there are no guarantees you will graduate high school unless you pass my class and show effort.”

“And one more thing,” said Ollie.  Where is Jerome, that kid I kicked out last class previously who also tried to attack me?  The kids looked at each other and finally one said, “He in jail.  Got in trouble man.”

“Which Jail?”

“Cook County.”

Ollie then said, “Ok class.  I want you to read the first chapter of your U.S. History book and I will give you a quiz on it next time.  In the mean time I am going to Cook County Jail to see Jerome.  He needs some help, and I am the only one who can do it.   Have a nice day.  “

The class staired in stunned silence as the old man left the room.  No one moved.  They grew to realize that no one cared to help them and no one would think of helping Jerome.  Until Ollie.

©SRCarson Publications