djh
Senior Nomad
Posts: 936
Registered: 1-2-2005
Location: Earth mostly. Loreto, N. ID, Big Island
Member Is Offline
Mood: Mellow fellow, plays a yellow cello...
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Rusty and Chip
“Rusty” lived in the corner of my office.
Rusty was an old metal baseball bat that I’d found on the school playground one Monday morning, walking to work.
Although I was sure that he hadn’t come from it, I thought about putting Rusty in playground equipment checkout box. But . . . I never got around to
it. Rusty was old, weathered, and had sustained many dents (from hitting rocks ?) and lots of corrosion, I decided to retire him to the corner of my
school counselor office. I had my own share of corrosion and dents, and it seemed that Rusty and I were destined to become friends.
Rusty was happy…. Occasionally, I’d take him out to hit a few rubber softballs with the kids (when I didn’t have meetings with teachers, parents, or
other local folks involved with law enforcement, child safety and welfare, probation, lawyers, private practice folks. . . . well you get the idea.)
I always told the kids, “I work for you, not the teachers, administrators, or your parents, and YOU can come see me anytime.” Often, those other
“professional folks” would just have to wait until recess was over.
I’d seen a lot in my career already. Children, living in filth and squalor - often because of parents vacated - from meth, severe alcoholism,
generational poverty, lack of basic parenting, and ignorance. Physical and sexual abuse of innocent children. . . ? More than I can bear to
remember.
I was about to see more.
I received a call from Nate’s mother. She was a bit hysterical. Nate’s father had been released from prison where he had just served 5 years for
repeatedly sexually assaulting Nate, who was also severely developmentally delayed.
Twenty minutes later, I received a call from the county sheriff, relaying a message from the warden and the psychologist at the same prison. Nate’s
dad had told them that he was “gunna go git my boy, cause he needs his rightful daddy.”
I told my principal and secretary what was brewing. I knew the threat was not immediate, as the prison was hours away. I told Nate’s teacher what
was amiss, and that Nate was not to go out to recesses or be out of the classroom without his or my personal escort. I locked all but two exterior
doors in the school, told my classroom teachers why, and gave them a “work-around.”
I gathered up an armful of work and started out of my office…. And then I stopped. I thought about Rusty. I looked at him over in the corner. My
ailing memory tells me that I smiled before I picked him up, but that might be a reflection that has become blurred by years…. Years of keeping the
story to myself ~ half trying to forget and half wondering WHO would believe that an elementary school counselor would actually experience such
things….
I set up camp for the afternoon in the teacher’s work room. The window looked across our parking lot. I also had the best view of Nate’s classroom
door, a weathered old portable. I had plenty of work to keep myself busy. A 504 accommodation plan to write, phone calls to return, and appointments
to keep with kids who wanted to see me. “Why are we meeting here instead of your office…..?”
At 2:45 I was convinced that we were going to make it through the day without incident. Nate’s mother would be there at 3:00 to pick him up before
the regular 3:15 dismissal time as I’d suggested. As I was logging off my computer, I heard ~ and saw an old pickup truck smoking its way into our
parking lot. My heart sunk as I observed a 6’6” +/- muscle- bound man in a dirty t-shirt and cowboy hat step out of his truck. He seemed to know
where he was going. So did I.
The adrenaline was pumping. I do remember that. I don’t remember feeling nervous. Determined would better describe it. I hit the emergency / 911
button on my cell phone and while answering “what is your emergency?”, I grabbed Rusty and headed out the door, onto the walkway between the parking
lot and Nate’s portable classroom.
“I know who you are (you lousy F - - - . *) A police car is one minute away. Dispatch is still on the line. You take one more step, I’m going to
introduce you to Rusty ~ and you will never speak a complete sentence again.”
I had not rehearsed what I would say. I actually surprised myself at my sudden clarity of purpose and gift of succinctness.
.
.
.
These many years later, my principal-friend and I still joke about Rusty. I remind him: “I’m a hundred and thirty five pounds of raw man…. Don’t f -
- - with me (and Rusty)”
Don’t take a knife to a gun fight? Yup…. Good advice.
There is NOTHING, however that will substitute for a clear purpose and determination. A twelve gauge cut for personal security is useless without
clear intent.
Nate is a young man now, struggling with his own demons and disability.
I got in one good swing at Nate’s “rightful daddy” that day ~ just before the sheriff (and city police) arrived.
I lost custody of Rusty as a result of a review of my actions….. although I know where he has been cached in a district office closet, and I fully
intend to regain custody when I retire in a couple of years.
Can I introduce you to “Chip”. Chip is a retired golf club, an “Attack Wedge” that lives in the corner of my office.
djh
(name changed . . . for obvious reasons.... Sadly, a true story.)
Its all just stuff and some numbers.
A day spent sailing isn\'t deducted from one\'s life.
Peace, Love, and Music
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longlegsinlapaz
Super Nomad
Posts: 1685
Registered: 11-18-2005
Location: La Paz
Member Is Offline
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djh, sad....but very well told & well written. I would have voted for you to have kept Rusty in your "protective custody"! 
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13237
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
Member Is Offline
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me too.
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Paula
Super Nomad
Posts: 2219
Registered: 1-5-2006
Location: Loreto
Member Is Offline
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That's an interesting story, David. I hope I get to hear some of your stories next time you and Shing are in town, sounds like a nice dinner I missed
recently!
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Marc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2802
Registered: 5-15-2010
Location: San Francisco & Palm Springs
Member Is Offline
Mood: Waiting
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You are a decent man. Chip and Rusty will get along just fine.
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