Only On My Birthday…

Why do they send the kids with the guns in their backpacks to MY room?

Sigh.

Today is my birthday.  Yay.  Whoopee.  I suppose having a birthday is better than NOT having a birthday.  But today was happy and tearful.  My sis called me early to wish me a happy day.  Nice!  And then I got to school and darn those allergies, I started tearing up because my daughter and granddaughter aren’t here for my birthday.  My son sent me a text message – happy birthday. 

A text message.

You gotta be kidding.  Could he get ANY more impersonal?  I’m his MOTHER, not a distant acquaintace.  It may be time for a little wolfie discipline for the cub who’s too big for his britches….

Then my daughter sent me a beautiful bouquet with roses in it……..and the roses smelled so WONDERFUL.  Have you noticed that often times when you get roses, they don’t smell?  These were rose-a-licious!

And my students made me cards when they found out it was my birthday – overwhelming!  We love you Ms Wolf.  Happy Birthday Ms. Wolf.  You’re the best Ms. Wolf…  so nice to know that even with all my growling, they appreciate what I try to do and who I am.

Then came the last period of the day…. I walk into the room from hall duty and a boy jumps up and says "MS WOLF!  SOMEBODY IN THE CLASS HAS A GUN!  THEY’RE AT THAT TABLE. I SAW IT."

So…in all my infinite wisdom and thinking quick, I say………. WHAT????

And he repeats himself.

OK.

I look at the potential group of gangsters at the table of the accused… and they all say NOT ME!

OK.

I instruct everyone to sit in their seats and I go over to the intercom/phone to call the office.  I called the 1st assistant principal.  No answer.  I called the 2nd assistant principal.  No answer.  I called the 3rd assistant principal.  No answer.  I called the 1st secretary.  No answer.  I called the 2nd secretary.  No answer.  I called the principal and………can you guess?  No answer.

I began calling again.  Still no answer.  I don’t dare leave the room.  I send a student next door to get another teacher.  He comes and I fill him in and he goes off to locate some help.  Finally some success.  In comes one assistant principal and our deputy.  (Our deputy is a BIG SCARY looking guy – love him!)  They pull out the potential offenders…and class goes on. 

Turns out that one boy DID have a gun in his backpack.  A BB gun.  Not a 9 millimeter, to be sure, but a gun in school nonetheless.

I couldn’t wait for the class to be over.  I headed home pronto!

And my sister had dropped by and left a big balloon bouquet – Happy Birthday!

Yes, I guess it was.

But come Monday, I am going to have some pretty strong words for the Principal…….about emergency situations and response time from administration………