Intentional Lack of Interest

Feeling great, feeling happy, feeling keen, 
feeling snappy, better than some years.
The other side of the table cannot stop crying, 
fully concentrating on his sadness.
This could have some other counselors feeling badly, 
but I sense crocodile tears.
 
Chuckling within, marveling at his talent. It is a fantastic day! 
I think as we sit, he and me.
I have tried all of my tricks, none of them have worked. 
He is sniffle-crying, gives a little twerk.
Silently jumping for joy, dancing and twirling away, 
on the other side of the table, is me.
 
My feelings are fine, they are smarter than I, 
almost on fire. I am not a bit blue.
He is giving me the eye now; a tiny glare is beginning. 
He is determined to ruin my day.
I sit here writing, waiting for his list of ten 
good things that he likes to do.
 
He wails and he whines, but I do not react. 
So he gives a deep sigh and picks up a pencil.
We write in silence, this drama queen and I. 
We write fast and hard, a race for us two.
He was probably goaded into listing some things by my intentional 
lack of interest. Totally trained in outwaiting children,  I plan to win.
 
I explain that he has to stop listening to the 
green monster inside his head.
The worst scenario entity that tells him 
he is a bad boy and should be dead.
I have spoken to his mother six times today. 
She tells me he likes to come up here to play.
 
We sit in silence, he and I. Him thinking of every 
worst scenario, and me feeling like a spy.
I talk and he listens, and there is a breakthrough. 
But the second he gets settled a tiny bit down,
He begins wailing and shrieking, to try and get out of math class, 
for he does not like to round, multiply, add or divide.
I can relate, because I detest math, I have an unnatural fear of it.
And so we dance, he and I, almost daily, and ......
Always during math class.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2019


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Date: 1/12/2019 4:56:00 PM
What a head to head confrontation! Were you totally spent after all was said and done? I know I would have been. But you enjoyed the challenge, I think!
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Krutsinger Avatar
Caren Krutsinger
Date: 1/12/2019 6:41:00 PM
I am always up to a little fun - especially with someone who has skipped into the office with a big smile, and a happy jaunt only to turn and see me and instantly burst into tears. It is great fun being silent and watching.
Date: 1/12/2019 6:48:00 AM
So do I; fascinating pen.
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Krutsinger Avatar
Caren Krutsinger
Date: 1/12/2019 6:43:00 PM
Thank you! I am so glad you stopped by M.L. I was almost laughing as I was frantically writing my poem while he was glaring at me, trying to figure out how to write down some good things about his life. I knew he did not want to, as he comes daily, and he wants me to know how sad he is at 9:22 during math class.
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