English corner, the Wiley Cody, and a Special Present

This Friday I will work at an English corner for 1.5 hours. We simply get together and have free discussions about anything they want to talk. We had some Good discussions last week. I hope that those continue. It is at a C bookstore in the city -- pretty small. We are asked to share the significant thing each time.

I also work at an orphanage on Saturday afternoons. Last week a little boy was sitting in the corner of the room keeping to himself. He was not participating in the activities and not talking. He looks like he is 4-5 so maybe he is 7-9. Anyway you know me. I was drawn to him. It was my duty to get him laughing or talking!

After a few minutes I was successful. I was playing with a pencil sharpener that pulls apart. You stick the pencil through the hole and when you begin to turn the handle it closes around the pencil and pulls it into the sharpening device. It makes a clicking so I acted like I was shocked. This made the boy laugh. We did this quietly while the lesson was going on.

We had so much fun that when we went out to play, he decided he wanted to sit on my lap. I was talking to a Chinese friend and he was sitting on my lap, just having a good ole time watching the other kids play.

Then, whap! Out of nowhere the kid slaps my neck. I said bu (no) and he slapped me again digging in deep with his nails or claws which ever you prefer. Having worked with kids at SKRBC, I knew to get down to his level face to face and I said no no no. This obviously did not please him, for he puckered up and hocked a good one right on my face. Wow! I wasn't expecting that one.

The bad part is that I had a cut on my lip and it was opened. This kid is tough. As I was carrying him into the building he grabbed my throat and began to squeeze, so I gently put him on the ground and repeated myself no no no.

After the fact, I was told that they didn't want us playing with him because he might have some disease.

Ahhhhhhhhh! Can you hear my panic? I just hope he does not have TB or Hepatitis or AIDS.

I think he may be deaf. He is a smart kid, but he just won't or can't talk. Perhaps he has been abused; I don't know. I know that he is troubled and has a lot of pent up rage. I hope they allow him to return to the lessons this Saturday. I think I will name him Cody (only I will remember him as the Wiley Coyote).