Homeschoolers in Highschool, Part Three

[Copperfox]

>> "...I'm used to making apologies, it's not that hard for me anymore."


Alipang suddenly drilled his dark eyes into hers. "The way you say that makes me wonder if you haven't been forced at times to apologize when you _weren't_ in the wrong, and maybe the person forcing you to apologize even _knew_ you were innocent but forced you to apologize anyway....but don't say anything to me about that unless you want to. I can always fill up the yakking vacuum."

 

[dayhawk68]

>> "...I'm used to making apologies, it's not that hard for me anymore."


Alipang suddenly drilled his dark eyes into hers. "The way you say that makes me wonder if you haven't been forced at times to apologize when you _weren't_ in the wrong, and maybe the person forcing you to apologize even _knew_ you were innocent but forced you to apologize anyway....but don't say anything to me about that unless you want to. I can always fill up the yakking vacuum."

"Maybe a few times, but usually Im not the innocent one."

 

[Copperfox]

Now Alipang smiled completely and unreservedly for the first time in this encounter. "Look at you, Kim! You _could_ have said to yourself, 'There, I gave the kid the apology I owed him, now I don't have to concede any _more_ ground; I can grab the opportunity he just offered me to claim I'm always innocent otherwise.' But you _didn't_ use that weasel-dodge! You confessed to being wrong at _other_ times, when you didn't have to confess that, I wouldn't have known the difference.

"Kim, I meant it the day I told you you're the prettiest girl I've _ever_ seen; but now I'm a lot _more_ impressed by something beautiful I'm seeing _inside_ you: a truthful spirit! Which encourages me to hope you'll absorb the truth about my own experience....

"When I was an orphan in a Filipino slum, I wasn't fighting over childish insults. I fought for my life, my life-or-death LIFE. That period came after a happier time when I had a loving mother--I still haven't told you about her, and I'm still not ready to--so I knew there was something better; but the something better was stolen from me, leaving me under the law of the jungle, until my new Mom and Dad saved me. So no, I'm not an airheaded little boy playing war; I fight to protect, only I've learned that protecting the weak is _helped_ by putting fear into the evil. Mr. Kramer knows that, and he _does_ apply fear when it serves a justified purpose. But getting back to _this_ week in particular:

"On Tuesday, even though Leopard Man had _threatened_ my sister, not just 'insulted' her, I found a nonviolent means of putting him in his place: by giving the Principal my photo proof of his robbery attempt on Monday. Then came Wednesday, when you stepped in to do what you thought was helping....

"Truth is, if you'd been less interested in lecturing ME then, and paying more attention to the tactical situation, you might have noticed Dan lying on the floor where he'd been shoved down by Rocknose. NOT 'just words' there. And you might have noticed that Chilena, running to Dan, was putting herself in easy reach of the big jerk. I _needed_ to get his attention onto me instead of on Chilena; and even if Chilena hadn't been there, it still was true that what set everything off was a _physical_ assault....in a school which, as you must have noticed, WAS NOT protecting its students from violent threats. You were making it _harder_ for me to be on the job guarding my sister; and then it was rubbing salt into a wound when you made Bible references as if you really thought I wouldn't have known about them already.

"As for that, I'm sure now that you just didn't realize how deeply Christian homeschooling kids ARE taught Scripture. But it hurt me SO much that day, as if after you used my Trigonometry notes you had gone around bragging that it was YOU helping ME with Trig. I hate being condescended to; and it really hurt coming from a girl who---"

He suddenly looked away from her once more.

 

[dayhawk68]

Now Alipang smiled completely and unreservedly for the first time in this encounter. "Look at you, Kim! You _could_ have said to yourself, 'There, I gave the kid the apology I owed him, now I don't have to concede any _more_ ground; I can grab the opportunity he just offered me to claim I'm always innocent otherwise.' But you _didn't_ use that weasel-dodge! You confessed to being wrong at _other_ times, when you didn't have to confess that, I wouldn't have known the difference.

"Kim, I meant it the day I told you you're the prettiest girl I've _ever_ seen; but now I'm a lot _more_ impressed by something beautiful I'm seeing _inside_ you: a truthful spirit! Which encourages me to hope you'll absorb the truth about my own experience....

"When I was an orphan in a Filipino slum, I wasn't fighting over childish insults. I fought for my life, my life-or-death LIFE. That period came after a happier time when I had a loving mother--I still haven't told you about her, and I'm still not ready to--so I knew there was something better; but the something better was stolen from me, leaving me under the law of the jungle, until my new Mom and Dad saved me. So no, I'm not an airheaded little boy playing war; I fight to protect, only I've learned that protecting the weak is _helped_ by putting fear into the evil. Mr. Kramer knows that, and he _does_ apply fear when it serves a justified purpose. But getting back to _this_ week in particular:

"On Tuesday, even though Leopard Man had _threatened_ my sister, not just 'insulted' her, I found a nonviolent means of putting him in his place: by giving the Principal my photo proof of his robbery attempt on Monday. Then came Wednesday, when you stepped in to do what you thought was helping....

"Truth is, if you'd been less interested in lecturing ME then, and paying more attention to the tactical situation, you might have noticed Dan lying on the floor where he'd been shoved down by Rocknose. NOT 'just words' there. And you might have noticed that Chilena, running to Dan, was putting herself in easy reach of the big jerk. I _needed_ to get his attention onto me instead of on Chilena; and even if Chilena hadn't been there, it still was true that what set everything off was a _physical_ assault....in a school which, as you must have noticed, WAS NOT protecting its students from violent threats. You were making it _harder_ for me to be on the job guarding my sister; and then it was rubbing salt into a wound when you made Bible references as if you really thought I wouldn't have known about them already.

"As for that, I'm sure now that you just didn't realize how deeply Christian homeschooling kids ARE taught Scripture. But it hurt me SO much that day, as if after you used my Trigonometry notes you had gone around bragging that it was YOU helping ME with Trig. I hate being condescended to; and it really hurt coming from a girl who---"

He suddenly looked away from her once more.

When he gave her compliments, she blushed miserbly. "Yes?" she prompted him to finish.

 

[Copperfox]

Alipang mastered himself and faced her again. "Let's say, a girl whom I desperately wanted to have a good opinion of me. You seeming to think I was like little brats who fight over a candy bar...well...

"After the last time I spoke to you, I decided I had to prove--to you, to Grant, to the Principal--that I was NOT a crazy loose cannon, that I was in complete control of whether I fought anyone or not. So I found Rocknose outside with his hangers-on; I asked him how old he was; then I told him I would allow him to punch me once for every year of his age, without hitting him back.

"He has no real technique, only crude force. He wasn't even able to knock me down, though he did crack a rib--this one here. Miss Pendergrass bound up my torso, and my parents came out. _That_ was the reason why the school was forced to accept Mr. Kramer being brought in for security: Mrs. Lewiston was embarrassed, as she ought to be. But she sure couldn't accuse me of 'fighting,' when I never struck a blow. Meanwhile, I was waiting for a second point to be proven: that bullies and thugs DO NOT become tender-hearted when they get their way and escape all penalty for their bad deeds, but rather as it says in Ecclesiastes, their hearts are fully set to do evil.

"On Thursday, then, my second point was proven, all right. Rocknose got together with other punks to take advantage of me while I was weakened. Two of his buddies--apparently both brothers of one of the muggers I outmaneuvered on Tuesday night--made me think that they had grabbed Sammy Ashford, so I followed them into the ambush. If Brendan hadn't come along with his lacrosse stick, I would have gone down--even been killed, maybe, if they were that far gone crazy. As it was, FIGHTING most absolutely and certainly DID settle and resolve something: I'm here to talk to you because Brendan fought beside me. But I did get hit again, badly, on the same cracked rib. So I got an overnighter at the hospital, and I have to avoid lifting things, which is why I _haven't_ been able to go to work and enjoy the gorgeous view of YOU working beside me at Pansit Paradise."

 

[dayhawk68]

Alipang mastered himself and faced her again. "Let's say, a girl whom I desperately wanted to have a good opinion of me. You seeming to think I was like little brats who fight over a candy bar...well...

"After the last time I spoke to you, I decided I had to prove--to you, to Grant, to the Principal--that I was NOT a crazy loose cannon, that I was in complete control of whether I fought anyone or not. So I found Rocknose outside with his hangers-on; I asked him how old he was; then I told him I would allow him to punch me once for every year of his age, without hitting him back.

"He has no real technique, only crude force. He wasn't even able to knock me down, though he did crack a rib--this one here. Miss Pendergrass bound up my torso, and my parents came out. _That_ was the reason why the school was forced to accept Mr. Kramer being brought in for security: Mrs. Lewiston was embarrassed, as she ought to be. But she sure couldn't accuse me of 'fighting,' when I never struck a blow. Meanwhile, I was waiting for a second point to be proven: that bullies and thugs DO NOT become tender-hearted when they get their way and escape all penalty for their bad deeds, but rather as it says in Ecclesiastes, their hearts are fully set to do evil.

"On Thursday, then, my second point was proven, all right. Rocknose got together with other punks to take advantage of me while I was weakened. Two of his buddies--apparently both brothers of one of the muggers I outmaneuvered on Tuesday night--made me think that they had grabbed Sammy Ashford, so I followed them into the ambush. If Brendan hadn't come along with his hockey stick, I would have gone down--even been killed, maybe, if they were that far gone crazy. As it was, FIGHTING most absolutely and certainly DID settle and resolve something: I'm here to talk to you because Brendan fought beside me. But I did get hit again, badly, on the same cracked rib. So I got an overnighter at the hospital, and I have to avoid lifting things, which is why I _haven't_ been able to go to work and enjoy the gorgeous view of YOU working beside me at Pansit Paradise."

She made a laughing noise under her breath, "Well Im just glad you're ok. Some people said you died, but dont worry I didn't believe them." She shook her head, "I guess it'd be wrong to get revenge...or..." she rolled her eyes with a smile, "you could call it justice and kick their butts...but I guess that wouldn't do anygood anyways."

 

[Copperfox]

"My turn to roll my eyes," Alipang told her, but with a smile. "Weren't you listening? Kicking those goons' butts--which I did contribute some to, though it was mostly Brendan that afternoon--IS what saved me. And now the law has taken over, so they're out of my reach; all of them have been arrested.

"If I had not stood up to those bums, they would not have gotten the blood-hunger to go after me in a daylight mugging that they would almost certainly have been proven guilty of in any case. As it was, because they went too far and got busted after getting beat, the cops have picked up information which has led to arrests of a lot of crooks across this county. And singing Koom-baya at Rocknose would NOT have achieved that, anymore than it would have brought Rocknose himself to eternal salvation.

"I think that's enough to give you the picture. If you have time before work--or even on the WAY to work, since I was thinking of showing up as a customer for the volunteer luncheon--you could tell me something, anything you care to, about your family. Because your voice is beautiful too; listening to it is like fresh fudge brownies with a marshmallow topping."

 

[dayhawk68]

"My turn to roll my eyes," Alipang told her, but with a smile. "Weren't you listening? Kicking those goons' butts--which I did contribute some to, though it was mostly Brendan that afternoon--IS what saved me. And now the law has taken over, so they're out of my reach; all of them have been arrested.

"If I had not stood up to those bums, they would not have gotten the blood-hunger to go after me in a daylight mugging that they would almost certainly have been proven guilty of in any case. As it was, because they went too far and got busted after getting beat, the cops have picked up information which has led to arrests of a lot of crooks across this county. And singing Koom-baya at Rocknose would NOT have achieved that, anymore than it would have brought Rocknose himself to eternal salvation.

"I think that's enough to give you the picture. If you have time before work--or even on the WAY to work, since I was thinking of showing up as a customer for the volunteer luncheon--you could tell me something, anything you care to, about your family. Because your voice is beautiful too; listening to it is like fresh fudge brownies with a marshmallow topping."

She laughed, "I never heard that one before! Al you crack me up! Well what would you like to know? Give me something to start with."

 

[Copperfox]

"Never heard _that_ one, but I'm sure you hear plenty of compliments generally." Alipang sighed, silently reminding himself that, while it was a gigantic blessing to have had Kim actually give of her own accord the apology she had undeniably owed him, this did not change the fact that he didn't have, could not possibly have, a chance with this beauty queen.

"Okay, tell me something about your family. How you came to move to Smoky Lake, for instance. But don't forget your timing for work; and just a minute, I'll text where I am--" He sent a short text message--to his Mom, not to Chilena. He was still angry at his sister, also for condescension.

 

[dayhawk68]

"Never heard _that_ one, but I'm sure you hear plenty of compliments generally." Alipang sighed, silently reminding himself that, while it was a gigantic blessing to have had Kim actually give of her own accord the apology she had undeniably owed him, this did not change the fact that he didn't have, could not possibly have, a chance with this beauty queen.

"Okay, tell me something about your family. How you came to move to Smoky Lake, for instance. But don't forget your timing for work; and just a minute, I'll text where I am--" He sent a short text message--to his Mom, not to Chilena. He was still angry at his sister, also for condescension.

"Well you wanna walk to Pansit?" She suggested.

 

[Copperfox]

"Well, you wanna walk to Pansit?" she suggested.

"If it's with you, I sure do. I said in the text message that I'd 'seen someone I knew' and would call home later. I didn't say it was you; they would think I was in a raving delirium if I claimed that you spoke with--never mind, I don't want to sound like I think you're stuck up, when you're being so nice."

Only after they started moving did he add, "But this is more than I would have expected. I mean, the business of apologizing aside, just that ANY senior girl would bother talking to a sophomore boy outside of some practical necessity...." Suddenly, startlingly, he took out his balisong knife, whipped it open, and joked, "I may need to poke a hole in my head to keep it from swelling; I'm being talked to by the guaranteed Senior Prom Queen." He closed and pocketed the knife again.

 

[dayhawk68]

"If it's with you, I sure do. I said in the text message that I'd 'seen someone I knew' and would call home later. I didn't say it was you; they would think I was in a raving delirium if I claimed that you spoke with--never mind, I don't want to sound like I think you're stuck up, when you're being so nice."

Only after they started moving did he add, "But this is more than I would have expected. I mean, the business of apologizing aside, just that ANY senior girl would bother talking to a sophomore boy outside of some practical necessity...." Suddenly, startlingly, he took out his balisong knife, whipped it open, and joked, "I may need to poke a hole in my head to keep it from swelling; I'm being talked to by the guaranteed Senior Prom Queen." He closed and pocketed the knife again.

"Yeah right pshhh Prom Queen? But its not a big deal, I have freshman friends too. It doesn't matter to me. Nice," she said pointing to the knife, "so you wanted to know how I came here. Well we used to live in Georgia, in downtown Atlanta. Then my father divorced my mom, and so we came up here to get away so to speak. I was twelve when we came."

 

[Copperfox]

"So you would have been here maybe half a year before I first was brought over from the Philippines. Thus, you were _here_ for all of my _American_ life. But I'm sure I never saw you before last Sunday--whew, only six days ago!"

He looked at her more closely again. "You have every right to refuse to answer this one, but do you have a boyfriend now? If so, and if you admit to having one, just please tell me he _isn't_ a blockheaded, self-adoring football player."

Before Kim could reply to this, Alipang's phone was texted by his Mom:

Chi cryg wy?

He hastily texted back:

She kikd my shin sorta.

Putting away the phone, he looked at Kim again, trying not to let his eyes shriek at her that he wished HE could be her boyfriend. (Even without _hope,_ one was allowed to _wish_ for things.)

 

[dayhawk68]

"So you would have been here maybe half a year before I first was brought over from the Philippines. Thus, you were _here_ for all of my _American_ life. But I'm sure I never saw you before last Sunday--whew, only six days ago!"

He looked at her more closely again. "You have every right to refuse to answer this one, but do you have a boyfriend now? If so, and if you admit to having one, just please tell me he _isn't_ a blockheaded, self-adoring football player."

Before Kim could reply to this, Alipang's phone was texted by his Mom:

Chi cryg wy?

He hastily texted back:

She kikd my shin sorta.

Putting away the phone, he looked at Kim again, trying not to let his eyes shriek at her that he wished HE could be her boyfriend. (Even without _hope,_ one was allowed to _wish_ for things.)

"Ha ha no I dont have one, and if I did hewouldn't be a blockhead. I couldn't stand that."

 

[Copperfox]

Alipang had the sense to avoid the dweeb-ism of asking her what she wanted in a boyfriend. What's she supposed to say, "I want an adopted Filipino boy who's about 18 months younger than I am"? Instead:

"How about your sisters? Do they have men in their lives?"

As he spoke, he fleetingly thought about Summer. He did still intend to visit her father again; but there was Grant now to help in that quarter. As for Summer herself--he had never offered to be her boyfriend, and he had no clear sign that she wished him to be....

 

[dayhawk68]

Alipang had the sense to avoid the dweeb-ism of asking her what she wanted in a boyfriend. What's she supposed to say, "I want an adopted Filipino boy who's about 18 months younger than I am"? Instead:

"How about your sisters? Do they have men in their lives?"

As he spoke, he fleetingly thought about Summer. He did still intend to visit her father again; but there was Grant now to help in that quarter. As for Summer herself--he had never offered to be her boyfriend, and he had no clear sign that she wished him to be....

"Shannon has a boyfriend, and Susan too. Betsy and I are still single though. But its not so bad. Their boyfriends are great guys and all, but they do cry over them sometimes. I dont know, seems to be just another complication in one's life."

 

[Copperfox]

Suddenly, Alipang's mouth took on a life of its own; but at least his eyes reduced the damage by NOT looking at Kim as his tongue said its babble.

"I'm sure it _does_ complicate things. My sister Chilena was flirted with in the past by two successive boys who, after being rejected by our parents, later were exposed as criminal predators. Now she has a decent guy in Dan, but even with him she's on an emotional rollercoaster. I've never had a girlfriend in my life--big news flash, eh?--but I have a theory about it. I think that someday, without needing to follow the conventional dating career path, some female friend-friend and I will just naturally grow closer....and one day I'll be startled to realize that I have somehow _become_ her boyfriend, with option of eventual marriage."

 

[dayhawk68]

Suddenly, Alipang's mouth took on a life of its own; but at least his eyes reduced the damage by NOT looking at Kim as his tongue said its babble.

"I'm sure it _does_ complicate things. My sister Chilena was flirted with in the past by two successive boys who, after being rejected by our parents, later were exposed as criminal predators. Now she has a decent guy in Dan, but even with him she's on an emotional rollercoaster. I've never had a girlfriend in my life--big news flash, eh?--but I have a theory about it. I think that someday, without needing to follow the conventional dating career path, some female friend-friend and I will just naturally grow closer....and one day I'll be startled to realize that I have somehow _become_ her boyfriend, with option of eventual marriage."

"I wish it was like that, but usually the "we're in a relationship" tag gets stamped on your foreheads and then thus you're commited."

(ooc i g2g, its 4am over here!)

 

[Copperfox]

"Well, then," said Alipang, flabbergasted now at his own daring, "it sounds as if the best hope for a boy who wanted YOU....would be to find legitimate reasons to be in your vicinity and share activities with you...never blurt out and SAY openly that he was crazy about you...but let such positive qualities as he had be honestly made visible to you...on the chance that, over time, you might come to like what you saw. Maybe then, being committed wouldn't seem bad to you."

One corner of his mind was tapping his shoulder with a finger of guilt for having made Chilena weep; but then, his sister had made him feel pretty rotten herself. And unlike Alipang, Chilena had some kind of sweetheart to turn to. Though he could wish for one....admit it, wish for _this_ one walking with him right now.

 

[Gentle Voice]

Chilena had ran away after Al told her that he didn't care about her any more as a siter. She was in the woods now crying " What have done!?," she asked herself, sliding down next to a tree.


Someone text Al about Chilena Missing