December 21, 2007
As a child I studied as hard as I could but math was something I found really hard to grasp. We wrote a test one day when I was in 7th grade. I knew I wouldn't do well but I hoped to at least pass the test.
No such luck.
Mrs. Fokk (or Ma Fokk as she was known by the students) handed out all the tests, and as per usual, saved mine for last.
“Ah. Mr. Romain,” she said with her familiar smirk. “Guess what? You failed again. Am I surprised? No. Why? Because you’re an idiot. You should be at a special school because of your, uhhh, little remedial problem (I am dyslexic). You should not be here at King Edward School. You are dropping the class average and making me look bad.”
She approached me and prodded my forehead with her stubby finger. “You irritate me.”
“Mr. Romain,” said Ma Fokk. “Get to the front of the class and tell your classmates why you are such an idiot.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” I said. All female teachers at my school were referred to as ma’am.
I lowered my head and went to the front of the class.
I stood there, not knowing what to say.
“Well!” she said.
“I dunno,” I said, softly. Feeling totally humiliated.
“Typical,” came her reply. “You don’t know. Pah!”
“According to you, I’m an idiot,” I said, suddenly. “By my grandfather says I’m a genius. I wonder who I’m going to believe?”
Ma Fokk, a rather large woman, grabbed my by the collar and propelled me out of the door. She took me down to Mr. Corbett’s office where I was caned three times for insubordination and told not to show my face in his office again.
I dreamed last night that Ma Fokk was tormenting me again. She’s been messing with my dreams for thirty-two years.
I woke up this morning and decided that I’ve had enough of her. I have made a decision to retire Ma Fokk as my tormentor. She is therefore released from duty forthwith.
It is over.
Done!
I will no longer be Ma Fokk’s victim because, truth be told,I am not a victim. I just happened to be a little, dyslexic kid who messed with a math teacher’s beloved averages.
So long Ma Fokk.
Posted by trevor at December 21, 2007 07:03 AM