It would seem that my reputation as a royal nutjob is pretty widespread in school now. The odd thing is, this seems to be more true of the teaching staff than my fellow students. As the following story indicates-
Breaktime. I'm accosted by my totally incompetent but well-meaning German teacher. She wants to talk to me. I hesitate. Not because I'm nervous or scared of the woman in any way, but merely because in my experience teachers wanting to talk to you in private is not often a good thing. I go, slowly.
It's amazing how the mind speeds up in the few seconds before something happens to it. Five meters I had to walk into that room, maybe less, but my brain managed to squeeze in plenty of silly little thoughts in the meantime. Most of them based around the central theme 'Please-make-me-exempt-from-German-oral-summer-test'.
Alas, not. What I did get was a prayer and one of those necklace-cross type things to 'help me in times of anxiety'. A Benedict Cross, apparently. Christ.
Now, I appreciate the woman's heart was in the right place, and I was touched, but I'm as far from religious as they come. What, then, is the polite response to such a gesture? 'Sorry miss, but I find your beliefs to be utterly ridiculous, and you to be an obscene caricature of a naieve Catholic?' No, that wouldn't do at all. I just smiled, nodded politely and said thank you. And gave the Cross to a friend who might actually want it.
Bizarre. Oh well, it was really sweet of her, and it's good to know there are well meaning people out there, still. Just as long as she doesn't take it any further. I'm an athiest for fuck sake.
Peace and love and Benedict Crosses for all,
S.xxx
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