Wolf Growls

Possible rant ahead – I won’t know til I get there – just thought you’d like to know.

I got to school this morning at 7:30 and opened up the cafeteria for the early bird children as usual.  (Mini-rant – school starts at 9 and some parents drop off their kids at 7 – when there is NO ONE at the school! grrrr)

I was sitting and talking with a couple of the kids when one of the custodians came in.  She was in obvious distress and wanting to talk to me.  Her English is limited and so is my Spanish – so I called over a student to interpret.  

"Ms. Wolf, she say your garden – it is ruined."

WHAT?

Another custodian came in and the three of us went to the garden.  I guess the extra custodian was in case I passed out – it would take both of them to pick me up – believe you me.

My whole hydroponic system was pushed over.  The planters are made of styrofoam…and several of them had been crushed/ripped apart.  The lock which had been "securing" the gate  was broken and lying in the dirt by the gate.

A word about the lock – it wasn’t heavy duty.  It was meant to discourage vandals, not protect Ft. Knox.  I just thought that if they saw the gate secured by a lock, vandals would assume it is easier to throw a rock through a window.  Silly me.

I was angry.  I was sick.  Angry?  I was one pissed off Wolf!!!  How DARE anyone do that!?!?!!?!!!!  The custodians tried to help me put it back up and salvage it – but I just couldn’t focus.  I picked up my broken lock and trotted into the Asst. Principal’s office.

When I got there, I laid the broken lock on his desk and I seethed.  I oozed seethe.  I seethed ooze.  I was still one pissed Wolfie.  AP promised to investigate and pursue.

Principal arrived.  I told him.  He matched me pissed for pissed.  He went out and told the custodians to fix it as best they could.  Then he put up a $100 reward for any student giving up info that would lead to apprehension and CONVICTION of the vandal. 

The faculty was stressed and distressed.  Some of them offered to put in more money towards a reward.  One offered to cover my first class so I could go chill out a bit.  Before she did, I spoke to my first block.  They were upset and angry. 

During my 3rd class, 4 different students came up to me and told me they knew who did it.  They all named the same person – a student who was expelled, not just from our school, but from the entire county, about 2 weeks ago.

I know this boy and it is entirely possible that he did this.  He is a very angry young man with a definate impulse control problem.  However, accusations do not mean he really did it….

The day is nearly over – and I am worn out.  Being that angry will really take it out of you, I guess.  I am angry about the money we will have to spend to fix it.  I am angry because I put a lot of myself into that garden.  I am angry because there were so many more people involved that also got hurt – faculty, students, staff….  I am angry that WHOEVER did this has no more respect for property, other people or themself than that.  I am angry because I went out of my way to bring something different, unusual and fun to the school – and this happened.  I am angry at myself for feeling that I never want to do anything nice again because I know that the vandal(s) is a minority.  More kids benefitted from it than are "haters". 

But it hurts to be rejected – and this feels like a really big rejection.

I suppose I’ll get over it.

Tomorrow I’m wearing shorts to school.  I have a garden to fix……and it’s hot as blazes here in Sunny Florida.