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Dec. 7th, 2013 06:03 pmDad holds his hand up for silence at the dinner table.
"Nobody is getting expelled." he says, quietening the five kids. "I have spoken to the head today, in light of her recent improvement in grades, Brooke is to come back in for a meeting and to sign a behavioural contract. Coral and Rahne, regardless of what happens with Brooke, you will not be asked to leave either, the head said you were both a credit to the school."
Coral, whose time at the school has generally entailed a running battle between effort and dyslexia, goes red with quiet pride.
"Do I get to go back to the hockey team?" Brooke asks.
"No, the head said regardless of whether you intended to break the window, there is no denying that you shouted 'abusive language' about another student in her presence and that punishment has to stand." Dad says. "I'm sorry Brooke, actions have consequences."
"Then I don't want to stay there." Brooke says. "I'll only break the behavioural contract and get expelled later. Jenny's uncle is on the governors and half the class think I tried to kill her."
***
"So basically they're trying to find anywhere with a space." Brooke says, as she exits the changing rooms towards the dojo. Ruby, her friend at the same level, is staring at her wide-eyed at the story, as are some of the smaller girls in the other classes.
"You really got expelled?" Six-year-old Gina asks, staring at her.
"Not expelled, just suspended. I messed up and got in heaps of trouble and now I can't go back because half my class hates me and there's no way I'm going to be able to stick to even stricter rules..."
She looks up, and sees Kitamura-sensei and Morgan-sensei watching her. Instantly she feels bad. Morgan-sensei frowns slightly, and takes the younger children off to their class.
Kitamura-sensei's expression remains passive as she goes through the class. Afterwards, he beckons her over to the office.
"Tell me what happened?" he asks, sitting down, and gesturing for her to do so also.
Brooke relates the tale again, feeling worse by the minute. As she reaches the end, her sensei sighs.
"You are a good student here, and a role model to the little ones. You think quickly, you must learn to think further ahead. Only that way will you reach your potential within your team."
"My team?"
"Your friends. And your siblings." Sensei says.
"I'm not like them." Brooke says.
"Of course not. The five of you exist in a balance." Sensei says, smiling gently. "I have taught each of you, remember. Your brother Alexander is a fighter of mind learning to control his physical and interpersonal skills. Your sister Coral is a peacemaker learning to stand up for herself. Your brother Gilbert is a survivor who deflects the battle with humour. Your foster sister Rahne exists between the four of you, listener, fresh eyes, and catalyst. And you, Brooklyn, are a fighter of body, who must learn to control your mind."
Brooke nods, soberly.
"Don't be discouraged." Sensei adds. "The butterfly and the dragon flourish best in different environments."
"Nobody is getting expelled." he says, quietening the five kids. "I have spoken to the head today, in light of her recent improvement in grades, Brooke is to come back in for a meeting and to sign a behavioural contract. Coral and Rahne, regardless of what happens with Brooke, you will not be asked to leave either, the head said you were both a credit to the school."
Coral, whose time at the school has generally entailed a running battle between effort and dyslexia, goes red with quiet pride.
"Do I get to go back to the hockey team?" Brooke asks.
"No, the head said regardless of whether you intended to break the window, there is no denying that you shouted 'abusive language' about another student in her presence and that punishment has to stand." Dad says. "I'm sorry Brooke, actions have consequences."
"Then I don't want to stay there." Brooke says. "I'll only break the behavioural contract and get expelled later. Jenny's uncle is on the governors and half the class think I tried to kill her."
***
"So basically they're trying to find anywhere with a space." Brooke says, as she exits the changing rooms towards the dojo. Ruby, her friend at the same level, is staring at her wide-eyed at the story, as are some of the smaller girls in the other classes.
"You really got expelled?" Six-year-old Gina asks, staring at her.
"Not expelled, just suspended. I messed up and got in heaps of trouble and now I can't go back because half my class hates me and there's no way I'm going to be able to stick to even stricter rules..."
She looks up, and sees Kitamura-sensei and Morgan-sensei watching her. Instantly she feels bad. Morgan-sensei frowns slightly, and takes the younger children off to their class.
Kitamura-sensei's expression remains passive as she goes through the class. Afterwards, he beckons her over to the office.
"Tell me what happened?" he asks, sitting down, and gesturing for her to do so also.
Brooke relates the tale again, feeling worse by the minute. As she reaches the end, her sensei sighs.
"You are a good student here, and a role model to the little ones. You think quickly, you must learn to think further ahead. Only that way will you reach your potential within your team."
"My team?"
"Your friends. And your siblings." Sensei says.
"I'm not like them." Brooke says.
"Of course not. The five of you exist in a balance." Sensei says, smiling gently. "I have taught each of you, remember. Your brother Alexander is a fighter of mind learning to control his physical and interpersonal skills. Your sister Coral is a peacemaker learning to stand up for herself. Your brother Gilbert is a survivor who deflects the battle with humour. Your foster sister Rahne exists between the four of you, listener, fresh eyes, and catalyst. And you, Brooklyn, are a fighter of body, who must learn to control your mind."
Brooke nods, soberly.
"Don't be discouraged." Sensei adds. "The butterfly and the dragon flourish best in different environments."
