The Power of Love

October 3, 1977

October 3, 1977

To say I'd been in a rotten mood since Miss Bower basically called us stupid would be a major understatement.

Am I overreacting? You know what, maybe I am- but a teacher has no right to tell a parent how to raise their child. Quite honestly, it's none of their business how I raise KJ and Sky. I want to help and give them a head start on reading and writing, and they're not getting confused, so what's the problem? Sure, I haven't done that with Sky yet, but maybe in two year's time, I will. But if KJ wants to get started on reading- which he did- why should me and Keith help him? If he wants to read before he started school, ok. Fine. Then we'll get him started.

But if you say that we aren't fully qualified to help our children even get a slight head start if they wish, that's where I draw the line.

I mean, I get it if this was math or science, but reading and writing? It's not that bad if you ask me. I mean, I know how to read, and I know how to write. I'm not the best at math or science, but I know the basics and how to get by. If KJ had asked me how to balance the equation of the speed of light, I wouldn't- well, for one thing, I'd wonder where the hell a five year old heard that- but I wouldn't be able to help him, and to be honest, I wouldn't even try. But that's cause I know I'd be no help at all.

But how to read and write simple words? Now that I can do.

SO was it wrong for me to be offended by what Miss Bower had said? I honestly don't think so- but that's just me.

"I see nothing wrong with your reaction," Marilyn said with a slight shrug.

"Me either," Sandy answered, "No teacher has the right to tell you what to or what not to teach your child. I mean, there are things a child should be older for them to learn, but not in this case." We still saw her and Danny, considering I still worked part time at the bookstore, but they saw Darry and Marilyn a lot more than the rest of us, most likely for the reason that Marilyn and Sandy were cousins.

"That's exactly what I think," I informed, "But according to Miss Bower, Keith and I are too stupid to do that."

"Can't you sue the school or somethin' for her calling you stupid?" Candy asked, "Or file a complaint?"

Evie shook her head. "You can't sue the teacher if she didn't actually come out and say you're stupid, or somethin' like that," she answered; she'd recently become a grade school teacher, still only learning to be one, so she knew the details of being a teacher.

Candy gave an annoyed look. "Well, that's stupid. I mean, if Patrick and Ellie's future teachers ever called either of us stupid, I'd totally try to sue."

I thought for a moment then nodded. "I can understand that."

"Did you tell Keith?" Cherry asked.

I nodded. "He's meeting with Miss Bower right now- or at least he should be. We both thought it'd be best if I didn't go."

Cherry had been trying to gather all the information she could about the school and the teachers. A few months after she and Ponyboy had gotten married, we all went to their house, and they announced the pregnancy. She was due at the end of January this upcoming year. I'd be a liar to say I wasn't jealous of how her body wasn't reacting to the pregnancy- considering the only "symptom" she had so far was nausea, but that was it. So considering how I was for both KJ and Sky, I think I have a right to be jealous of that.

Not long after that, I left the bookstore and went to get KJ and Sky from Keilaha and Emmett. They had offered to watch the two, since they all got along so well with each other; KJ and Sky loved Keilah, of course, and they really liked it when Emmett was around. I took that as a good sign for the two, considering people always say that children and animals are the best to decide on the romantic partner with a person, since for some reason, they're all brutally honest. If that honesty was ever intentional or unintentional, I would never be able to tell, but I found it quite amusing at times.

After I picked up the two, I drove in the direction of the school. Once I drove into the parking lot and parked the car in a spot, I helped KJ and Sky out from the car, taking one of both of their hands so that they both could walk. KJ was nearly running and jumping due to his excited and animated personality, and Sky was padding her rubber shoes against the pavement as fast as she possibly could, trying to keep up with her big brother. I had to gently pull him back a bit, repeating, "don't run", which would make him slow down.

Once we entered the school, I lead the two toward Miss Bower's classroom. I made sure to walk quietly, as well as reminding KJ and Sky to remain quiet since we were in the school. Once we approached the classroom, I noticed that the door of the classroom was closed. I leaned forward and peeked in through the window to try and see what was going on. I saw Miss Bower sitting behind her desk, as Keith was standing in front of the desk, an angry look on his face. I then got as close to the door as I possibly could, trying to hear what was being said without being too obvious.

"I really don't like what you said to my wife," I heard Keith say angrily, "Who told you that it was a good idea to criticize parents way of raisin' their kids? And to call them dumb?"

"Well, I didn't come out and say that she was dumb," Miss Bower tried to defend, But rather-"

"She was still smart enough to get what you were tryin' to say. And aside from that, so what if we wanna help KJ learn to read? He doesn't seem very confused at home when he reads. And either way, it's none a' your business how we raise KJ or spend time with him, and you have no right to tell us not to teach our son somethin'! We're his parents, and it's our job to decide what's best for him- and I'd say we're doin' a pretty good job... I think I've made my point."

I watched in slilght amazement and he headed toward the door. He stopped, turned around slightly, then said, "And if you think my son isn't smart enough to, 'properly learn to ready', cause his 'dumb' parents are helpin' him learn to read, I'll make sure my daughter doesn't have you as a teacher when she's in kindergarten so you don't gotta deal with another 'stupid' Mathews' kid." He then turned back around, then left the classroom.

"That sure was somethin'," I commented when he reached me.

Keith gave a questioning look. "You heard all that?" he asked.

"Not all of it, but a good chunk of it, yeah."

"Did KJ and Sky?"

"Not as far as I know."

"Ok, good," Keith said and let out a relieved sigh, "In that case, what'd ya think of my little show?" He bent down to pick u pSky as we all walked.

I chuckled as I took KJ's hand in my own. "Very impressive," I complimented, "You made me think of all those cliché dads who do everything to protect their families."

"Isn't that what they're supposed to do?"

I shrugged teasingly. "Don't know. I'm not a dad."

He laughed. "You've been hanging around me for too long now."

"Want me to stop?"

"No way."

My dad's birthday is this week, as well as my parents wedding anniversary. I bought my dad Spaceball's on dvd for his birthday. Then for their anniversary, I wanted to get them both Serial Mom, but couldn't find it, so I bought my parents both their own two gifts. I bought my dad his favorite Elton John album: Madman Across the Water, and his favorite Frank Zappa album: One Size Fits All. I'm so proud of myself for finding those three, cause they were so hard to find, oh my gahd. Then for my mom I bought her season three of the new Hawaii Five-O, and a Whitney Houston cd, one of those the best of type things. Season three of the new Hawaii Five-O has some of the best guest stars, like the ones I always miss on television as reruns at like three in the morning with C. Thomas Howell, Peter Weller, and Dog the Bounty Hunter.

Anyway, I don't know what else to say or talk about, so that's it, I guess. Hope you enjoyed the chapter, and peace from all the hippies of the world. =^-^=