Mouse's Morally-Confusing Day

     Meet Mouse.  Mouse has a few problems in third grade.  Perhaps you can help him?

     Every day with Mouse at R. Nixon Elementary is a struggle.
     In the mornings, Mouse gets scolded for coming in too late, taking too long to situate himself in his seat, and not trying his best on his morning work.  During lecture time, Mouse is chastised for not sitting still, fidgeting noisily in his seat, and touching his neighbor’s school supplies for no apparent reason.  At the end of the day, Mouse gets a talking to from Mr. McManson about remembering to pack his homework up, stacking his chair, and putting his pencil box back into his cubby.
     But perhaps the worst time of the day for Mouse is at recess.  To understand why, you should probably know Mouse’s history.  You see, at Mouse’s last school, he was picked on.  His short size, mousy looks, and annoying habits would prompt the second grade bullies to kick his little ass.  Poor Mouse.  You see, it was so bad that although he didn’t want 1. uniforms, 2. stricter rules, or 3.  dance, ceramics, or orchestra classes….. Mouse still decided to ask his mom to send him to R. Nixon Elementary, School with an Emphasis on Fine Arts.  Mouse was to leave all his fighting days behind him.
     Or has he?  At recess, Mouse is very prone to getting upset, and hitting other kids, a thing that doesn’t happen often at R. Nixon, due to the stricter rules and threatening principal, Mr. Collins.  Mouse just can’t seem to keep his hands to himself!  He often can be found sitting along a brick wall instead of playing with the other kids, and not by choice!
     “We do not hit in this school!” shouts Mr. McManson at him.  “Mouse, I do not understand why you feel you need to hit other kids!  This is a safe school!  You’re in third grade!  You’re too grown-up to hit! We are peaceful!  We all are happy and peaceful and we do not hit!”
     It’s very confusing to Mouse, then…. how does Mr. McManson say such things…. when sometimes it’s not all that true?????
     Mouse was on the bus this morning, minding his own business, positive today would be different.  After all, as Mr. McManson had said so many times… there’s no reason to hit kids at recess.  Hitting isn’t permitted.  It’s not very grown-up to hit.  No hitting.  R. Nixon is a safe school.  No hitting!
     As Mouse fidgeted, and talked to his neighbors, he noticed that right outside the bus stood a woman… a R. Nixon parent, dropping her child off at the bus stop, wanting to have a quick word with Mouse’s bus driver.
     Mouse’s bus driver stepped off the bus, approaching this seemingly typical, suburban mother.   Mouse began to fidget again, when he heard a couple children shout excitedly.  He stood up, straining himself to see over the seat.  Kids were looking out the windows to the right.  Mouse scooted himself over to the side to look as well.  And what he saw stunned him.     
     The mother had just taken a swing at the bus driver.
     And the bus driver, a tall, strong, black woman… had swung back.
     Mouse stared, stupefied, as this suburban mom and his bus driver continued the brawl.  There was punching, hitting, hair pulling, and by the end they were rolling on the ground.
     Mouse watched in horror as the two women continued pummeling each other.
     As onlookers did their best to break it up, the police began arriving.  The bus was shut into lockdown to protect the children, and soon Mouse’s very own principal, Mr. Collins pulled up, after the bus driver was taken away to be treated (apparently hurt).

     Mouse arrived 20 minutes late to school today, and with new confusions and questions  brewing in his little head.

     For who, can truly be taught the value of peace and harmony, using word instead of violence, and how to pick and choose your battles wisely….. when one is watching adults beating the fuck out of each other outside of a school bus?

     Four hours later, as I drug Mouse’s stupid ass down to the principal’s office for once again punching a boy (who he at first thought had slid into him during a game of ball on purpose) during recess, I couldn’t help but feel just a tad sorry for Mouse.
     Today, he went home confused about what is right and wrong.  I do not blame him.