The Principal's Office

Boy, did Mrs. Lim make me mad. I let her know with a few choice words.

Now I sit in the principal’s office. He’s calling my parents. I’m going to be grounded for sure.

I was wishing for my mom. My dad walks in. I tremble.

The principal explains that I’ve been naughty. “What did he do this time?” my dad causally asks.

“He called his teacher… something bad.”

“What did he say?”

The principal fidgets, uncomfortable in his chair. He even blushes a little. He pauses not wanting to repeat my words.

My dad turns to me. “What did you call Mrs. Lim?”

I take a breath.

“A mother-fucking, titty-sucking, ten-ball bitch.”

The look on his face surprises me. In his most stern voice, he says,

“Kurt, how many times do I have to tell you… don’t exaggerate. Two balls would have been enough.”

I knew that face. It wasn’t scolding. It was pride.

Not in the words I had spoken, but the fact that I had stood up to someone I believed wasn’t righteous authority.

I'm still proud of my first suspension from school. I wasn't even get grounded.