This choice: An arrogant boy who thinks he's smarter than Lucy • Go Back... The school's guidance counselor was kind enough to loan Lucy her office. Young Tyler Jacobson sat in a chair, arms crossed in defiance, waiting for his punishment. This wasn't the first time his attitude got him in trouble.
"Hello, Tyler," Lucy said, taking the seat opposite him.
"Hi," he said, in an attitude fully reflecting his unhappiness. The other kids were out at recess, and here he was, talking one-on-one with some lady. He just listened to her talk for almost an hour. Now he was forced to listen to her talk even more.
"You didn't like the assembly today, did you?" Lucy asked.
"No," Tyler said, matter of fact. Lucy appreciated the boy's honesty. When she confronted adults in similar manners, they always tried to deny their arrogance or misogyny. They tried to walk back their deeds and words. They tried to lie about what just happened. But children were direct. It saved a lot of time.
"I'm a little upset, Tyler. I came all this way to speak to your school. I tried to be helpful and friendly."
"Yeah, I know."
"It's okay if you didn't like my speech. You don't have to. No one was making you. But there were lots of students in the room who did want to hear me speak. And when you acted out, you were denying them of that."
Tyler tried to find the right words. He considered for a moment trying to fake an apology to get back to class. But he realized Lucy wasn't a teacher. She wasn't staff. She was just some lady who liked to talk. She had no authority over Tyler. She couldn't punish him any more than he already was.
"It's just so stupid," he said. "You're not saying anything important. 'Do your homework, try your hardest, set reasonable goals.' Any dope could figure that out on their own."
Lucy took a moment to collect herself. Tyler was impetuous and rude, but he was a child. She couldn't just recite the rules and tell him he was wrong. She needed him to understand his transgressions on his own terms.
"Tyler, I can tell you are a very smart young man," Lucy said, with a knowing nod.
"Uh-huh," Tyler replied, as though Lucy just told him the sun was hot.
"Being smart is a gift. Whether you were born smart, or had to work hard to learn everything, you possess wisdom. No one else in your grade has a mind like yours."
Tyler nodded along, trying to speed up the platitudes.
Lucy continued. "When you possess wisdom, you can either use it to help others, or let it corrupt you. And I'm sorry, I'm beginning to see you've been corrupted."
"So what? I don't care," Tyler said.
"You've started down a path long before you ever met me, Tyler. You'll continue down that path long after I'm gone. All I'm saying is this: try to consider what type of person you want to become."
Ordinarily, Lucy would offer a handshake or a formal goodbye, but Tyler was being obstinate. He didn't want to be here, he didn't want to listen, and he didn't like Lucy telling him what to do. She had said all she could. She stood up, and left the room.
Recess was still going on for another 10 minutes. Tyler was stuck in the guidance counselor's office for the duration. Maybe even longer. Tyler stared upwards at the ceiling tiles. They were boring, but they had all his attention. He didn't even notice Lucy leaving a copy of her Young Gain-A-Life System book on the table.   indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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