The Boy, The Girl, and The Teacher
The boy stood before her, tears streaming down his face, his body shaking as he struggled to explain himself. His flushed cheeks were wet, and his forehead felt burning to the touch.
It was evident something was terribly wrong. The teacher knelt down, recalling the reprimand she'd given him for his actions toward that girl. She never expected his parents to take it this far.
More Than Just Discipline
Science teacher Ms. Amanda Shaw had no idea that the punishment imposed by the boy's parents was part of a far more troubling and complex situation.
She'd met his mother at a parent-teacher conference earlier in the year, and even then, something about her had unsettled Amanda. But it wasn’t until she found young Cole curled up, sobbing in the bathroom stall, that she realized she’d missed the gravity of the situation.
An Unexpected Morning
When Amanda arrived at school that morning, she expected an ordinary day. The streets were damp from the rainstorm the night before, and the air was chilly.
After a few quick chats with her colleagues, she reviewed her lesson plans and headed to class. Little did she know, her day was about to take an unexpected turn.
A Different Path
Teaching in a small North Carolina school hadn’t always been Amanda's plan. She had dreamed of becoming a zoologist, working in the tropics to discover the hidden wonders of the world.
However, a friend persuaded her to try teaching for a year. She never expected it to become her true calling.
The Restroom Encounter
As Amanda made her way to class, she heard faint sobbing coming from the boys’ restroom. The hallway was empty, as the students had all already headed to their classrooms.
Clutching her materials, she knocked on the restroom door, expecting to find a typical tantrum. But what she encountered would be far from ordinary.
Investigating the Sound
After waiting a moment, Amanda decided to step inside, announcing she was coming in. The restroom was empty except for a navy blue backpack resting on one of the sinks.
The sobbing was coming from one of the stalls, its sound filled with pain and desperation, like an animal caught in a trap. With furrowed brows, Amanda approached the source of the cries.
Asking the Right Questions
“Hello,” she called gently. “Is everything okay in there?” When there was no response, she considered asking one of the male teachers for assistance. Perhaps the boy felt uncomfortable talking to her, a woman.
“Do you want me to get help?” she asked. Still, there was no reply. Determined, she placed her materials by the backpack and walked over to the stall. She was going to solve this mystery, no matter what.
A Teacher’s Duty
The most rewarding part of teaching had always been helping students. In that moment, Amanda felt right at home. After reassuring the boy that he wasn’t in trouble for missing class, she asked his name.
With 500 students in the school, it could be hard to remember everyone, but Amanda prided herself on knowing each one. She never expected what happened next.
Cole's Identity Revealed
"Cole," the boy whispered. "Cole Lieberman?" Amanda froze. She couldn’t believe it. Cole was known as one of the toughest and most feared kids at school.
How many times had she sent him to detention for bullying, pranks, or disrespecting teachers? He was the kind of kid who never showed vulnerability. She never imagined he'd be hiding, sobbing in a bathroom stall during the first period.
Facing His Fear
“What's wrong, Cole?” Amanda asked. “Do you need help with something?” Given Cole's history with authority, Amanda knew bringing in additional adults might push him to clam up. She repeated, “What’s wrong?”
“I can’t go to class,” Cole sobbed. “I can’t. They'll laugh at me.” “Who will laugh?” Amanda inquired, thinking this was another bullying incident. She had no idea it was much worse.
He's Upset
"The other kids," Cole answered. It was clear that he was upset, given the sobbing and sniffling. "Why do you think they'll laugh at you?" a curious Amanda asked.
But then she remembered what had happened the previous day and stood up. She swallowed back a curse, recalling what Cole did and the administration's retaliation for his actions.
His Actions
The day before had been a normal one for Amanda, who, after her morning classes, was in the staffroom enjoying a quick snack. But she heard a commotion in the hallway, prompting her and another teacher to investigate.
She found Cole, alongside some of his friends, laughing over a little girl named Linda. Amanda was quick to help her to her feet as the other teacher reprimanded the boys. But that was only the beginning.
Where It Started
Amanda walked Linda into the staffroom and asked what was happening. She learned that Linda's mom had been battling cancer and had just undergone chemotherapy.
Since she hadn't seen her daughter in months, the ailing mom drove her to school that morning. Linda was more than happy that her mom was strong enough to take her to school. She didn't know Cole and his friends were watching closely.
Little Linda's Account
Cole spent the entire day making fun of Linda's situation, calling her mom names because she'd shaved her head. He insisted that Linda was going down that same path.
Amanda had to stifle several winces as she heard Linda's account. She had to excuse herself afterward to go and compose herself. She was close to breaking down as the little girl spoke. Cole and his friends wouldn't get away with this.
Taking Action
Amanda called Cole's mom, alongside the other boys' parents, and told them everything. She explained Linda's situation and how hard her family had it. What Cole and his friends had done wasn't fair.
Amanda only hoped that the parents would talk to their kids. She had no idea she'd find Cole crying inside the boys' washrooms. But this was only the beginning.
He's Still A Kid
Amanda pinched the bridge of her nose as she wondered about the best course of action. She realized that in her pursuit to make Cole pay for what he'd done to Linda, she'd forgotten that he was also still a kid.
This realization had her crouching back down as the anger that had cropped up inside her slowly ebbed. She would help fix what was happening.
Please, Let Me Help
"I'm going to need you to open the door, Cole," she began, hoping the boy would trust her enough to let her help. "I want to assist, but I can only do that if you let me."
A solemn quietness took over the washrooms before the door clicked open. Amanda stepped back at what she saw.
The Consequences
Oh my word, she almost said but quickly swallowed her words. The boy's head, which had been covered by thick blonde curls the day before, was reduced to patchy bald spots.
His tears doubled as the door swung to a halt. He rushed out and hugged Amanda, crying as he held on tightly. What was happening?
A Victim
The first thing Amanda did was reassure Cole that everything was alright. She convinced him to accompany her back to the staffroom, telling him no one was there at that time of day.
Even though Cole was renowned for being the school bully, that morning, it was clear that he was a victim. But this ran deeper than an unfair haircut.
Settle Down
Amanda waited for Cole to settle down before finally asking the needed questions. She'd already called in a favor from another science teacher, asking them to take over her morning classes.
Cole's apprehensiveness and endless tears quickly revealed to her that more was going on here. She pulled a chair before him and commenced the questioning.
The Extent Of His Revelation
Amanda asked Cole to start from the beginning. The boy recalled the previous day's events, apologizing for everything he and his friends said to little Linda.
But that was the extent of his revelation. Amanda still needed to get to the root of his distress. She continued asking questions, prodding as carefully as possible. But one thing was becoming apparent.
Stepping Up
Whatever upset Cole was more than the expected ridicule he'd get from his friends. Amanda sat back, deciding that instead of just quizzing him on what happened, she would also work on negating the consequences of his haircut.
She'd offer Cole a day off so he could go home and regroup. He'd get a chance to visit a barber and have time to rebuild his confidence. But that would only be the first part of the fix.
The Second Part Of Her Plan
Amanda would also have to shadow him the next day to ensure that kids didn't make fun of him. It was clear that he was remorseful for hurting Linda. Two wrongs never make a right. So, Amanda would protect him as best as possible.
She shared her conclusions with Cole, hoping that a day away from school would at least dry his tears. Amanda wasn't ready for his response.
Crippling Fear
Cole began trembling, the fear in his eyes almost boring a hole through Amanda. He couldn't even cry, only shook where he sat, his irises darting all over the staffroom.
"What is it?" Amanda asked, alarmed. The boy's eyes were wide, his limbs shaking. Had she struck something that she wasn't supposed to?
Mental Walls
"Are you okay, Cole?" she asked. He was hyperventilating, frantically trying to hold back from crying. Amanda hurriedly knelt before him.
Did she unknowingly trigger a past trauma in him? In her experience, kids stored such harrowing memories behind thick mental walls. Breaking those walls could result in unmitigated disaster.