Jimmy sat like a small Buddha. His hands were clasped tightly together. His shirt had a predominant green stripe that matched his green corduroy pants. His hair was brown and sprouted from an expanse of freckles. Jimmy was scared. Down in the very deepest part of himself, he was terrified - they wanted to take it away from him, he knew it.
The rest of the kids were fascinated. No one had ever said 'no' to Ms. Griffin. And none of them knew Jimmy. Like really knew the things that went on in his mind. The things that mattered too him. They did not know that he was quite funny. He was good with voices. He could draw.
There was almost complete silence as the kids stared and Ms. Griffin glared - the tick, tick, tick of metal on metal from the tetherball - they were stuck in the silence, the glint of the sun. Horror. Surely. This was something. This was different. The kids savored it slowly like a caramel, letting the flavor of it slither down inside them.
Principal Crow was like an old country preacher. He was famous for his slightly bemused demeanor. He was loved. His glasses made him look like an owl, but he was not wearing them now. He was frustrated. Angry. The kids unconsciously moved forward with the smug Ms. Griffin.
"Jimmy, I understand that you disobeyed your teacher."
Jimmy didn't answer. He tried to shut his eyes and to concentrate on the tether ball.
"Jimmy. Open your hands."
There was a hurricane in Jimmy's brain. He was suddenly on fire with a kind of irrational panic. He couldn't move. Couldn't think of what would come next. That anything possibly could come next. His eyes were shut but he opened them when he smelled sweat and aftershave. Principal Crow was very close to him. He smiled. Then he grabbed Jimmy's hands and began to twist them apart. Jimmy held on for a few seconds. The kids edged closer.
And then it was gone. They had taken it, and Jimmy was sitting in the sun, surrounded by his bewildered classmates.
They had taken it, after all. Jimmy did not cry. Not until many years later.
JD, You’ve captured, again in a few words, what it means to lose a dream. I weep for the Jimmys of the world, as I weep for my own lost childhood. It’s just not freaking fair.
ReplyDeleteThanks Erin. And no, it's not fair...sad truth.
DeleteI like the way you leave it so the reader can put whatever their imagination conjures, into the hands of that small boy.
ReplyDeleteI see the lifeless cut off plait of ponytail from the most admired little girl in school. His prize
Thanks much. That's a good one. I was hoping people would say what they imagined.
DeleteI echo Erin's sentiment. Those who consider themselves authority figures often have the power to make or break a spirit. Poor Jimmy.
ReplyDeleteThanks Yvonne. The worst thing is that once power is taken, it is very hard to get it back.
DeleteJD, You have an amazing ability to take the reader to the dark depths of your imagination and leave them there to find their own way out. And the journey back is a little bit scary.
ReplyDeleteThanks Pam. I have succeeded then. ;)
DeleteThis is a heartbreaker, JD. The pain of childhood - a lack of power, the inability to express oneself, the lack of acceptance of differences.
ReplyDeleteYour words and worlds always resonate. Thank you for this.
Thank you, Jo. I think everyone has been Jimmy and most of us will be again.
DeleteWe will be, won't we? Yep.
DeleteOf course.
DeleteI remember well when I was Jimmy. Right down to the brown hair and freckles. If only I had a stronger grip, I might still have it.
ReplyDeleteYou are one of the few people I know who still have it, brother. And that is a compliment of the highest order.
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