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Description

"Ah, Aliferous," Mr. Samson greeted the teacher when xe arrived. He was a rather portly albino man who dressed in earthy tones; usually various shades of brown and gray. Given his clothes, pale complexion and white hair, he always made xem think of a s'more. Whimsy had heard that he used to work with at-risk youth in juvenile detention halls before he switched over to working as a principal for a kindergarten. To be completely honest; knowing his work history, Whimsy tried to avoid him as much as possible. If he made a living working with rebellious adolescents, he probably had little-to-no patience for any sort of misconduct or insubordination from his staff or students. But this; this was important. This was something he needed to hear.

"Good morning, sir. I'm here with Danni LaMonta," Whimsy introduced the lass, carrying her plushie and her little box of snacks.

"Oh, yes; LaMonta. I heard you had to go in for an emergency operation last week. How are you feeling?" he asked kindly. Danni set down her box of snacks and lifted up her shirt to reveal her surgical scar. Mr. Samson chuckled a bit at her choice of response. "Well, you seem to be healing nicely." Danni asked in sign language if she could eat. "Of course, friend. You can have a seat right here. Just try not to make too many crumbs." She settled into the chair he indicated and opened her snack box, which had strawberries and dark chocolate with almonds.

"Anyways, sir--I gave Danni a little communication journal to use in the classroom, and she wrote something that needs to be addressed." Whimsy handed him the journal, open to the correct page.

"Hm..." He pushed the button on the intercom system. "Basquiet Bear, please come to the front office; Basquiet Bear."

***

"I asked you to take her to the restroom," Whimsy snapped at the assistant, "not stare at her while she pees." Thankfully, Bear hadn't done anything worth getting arrested for. He was, once again, just treating Danni like she didn't know anything.

"You're blowing this WAY out of proportion," Bear replied in a dismissive way, shrugging his shoulders like it was a common misunderstanding. "It's the same thing I do with the younger students."

"She's FIVE," Whimsy remarked. "All of our kids are fully potty-trained, and you know that too. It's no wonder she feels uncomfortable around you and doesn't want you touching her. You don't even give her any decency when she's using the restroom." Admittedly, xeir voice was a little louder than it needed to be (but if they were anywhere else, xe would be absolutely shrieking at the man), and Whimsy knew better than to be raising voices around a child, but Danni didn't really seem to care one way or another. She just sat in the chair, twiddling around with Sweet-tooth's arms and legs.

"Basquiet Bear," Mr. Samson started off sternly, "if you are to assist a student with restroom duties, I suggest you pay better attention to the student's needs. Otherwise, your actions could be wildly misconstrued. I also suggest that you take the teacher's requests into more careful consideration." There it was; that hardened edge from working with rebellious adolescents.

"Yes, sir." Whimsy half expected Bear to tell Mr. Samson that he was being too strict. Was the compliance because he was the boss, or because he was a man? Either way, it was aggravating.

Danni hopped down from the chair, leaving Sweet-tooth in her place, and went around Mr. Samson's desk. The man turned to face her. "You're a good guy," she signed with a sweet smile. "Can I have a hug, please?"

"Oh! How polite of you to ask first. Yes, you may have a hug."

Aww. I want a hug. First time meeting the man and Danni was already comfortable enough to hug him. Of course, it's not going to ruin my school year if you never hug me. You do what makes you comfortable.

Bear glared at the wall while the principal and student shared a brief embrace. "You give good hugs," Mr. Samson told Danni as she returned to her seat. He then turned to Bear, who assumed a polite smile. "You will receive a form at the end of the week, detailing what we discussed today. I'll need you to sign it and return it to me promptly."

"Yes, sir."

"You have my leave to go."

"Yes, sir." Now, it was just Whimsy, Danni, and Mr. Samson in the office. For a moment, Whimsy considered xeir options. Mr. Samson didn't seem terribly agitated. Perhaps he would be willing to listen to a few more grievances?

"Mr. Samson, if you could spare another moment... Could you also talk to Bear about how he enters and exits the classroom? He loudly announces himself, and it's honestly disruptive. Beehive and I have tried to talk to him about it, but he tells us that we are being too strict."

"I will tell him to be more respectful of the classroom procedures."

"Also... would it be taking it too far to if I had him stay away from Danni, unless absolutely necessary? He clearly makes her uncomfortable, and I don't want her to feel unsafe when she is at school."

"Yes. Bear came to me earlier, telling me that Danni was using profanities and splashed paint water at him," Mr. Samson nodded. Danni glanced up at the man sheepishly. "I assume there is more to the story?"

"The profanity was uncalled for," Whimsy stated, only because it was the correct thing to say in this situation. "But she splashed paint water at him because he wanted to touch the top of her head, which she doesn't like. When he first tried to touch the top of her head, she pushed his hand away. The second time he tried was when she splashed him with paint water."

"Hm... Danni? We need to have safe hands, and kind hands when we are at school. We don't want to hurt others. Understand?"

"I understand. Sorry." Whimsy wouldn't blame Danni if she was only sorry for breaking Mr. Samson's rule, and not so much sorry for cussing at Bear and throwing paint water at him.

"And no; I don't think it would be taking it too far if Bear were to stay away from Danni. At least ,for now. If he tries to argue with you, have him come see me. On a separate note; I can tell that you care deeply for your students' well-being, and you are quite passionate about it, but I will have to ask you to be a bit more civil when speaking. Children don't like being yelled at, and they certainly don't like hearing adults yell at each other."

"Yes, sir. I'm sorry."

Danni handed Whimsy the journal, which was open to a new page.

I am okay. Mama and Papa wold yell a lot too.

That's not something you should get used to, Whimsy thought dismally, closing the journal back up and tucking it under xeir arm.

"Well, if you will allow me a few moments to type up a report; I will come down to observe your classroom shortly."

"Understood, Mr. S'more--SAMSON! Sorry; Samson. My apologies. I'm hungry, and seeing Danni's chocolate made me think of s'mores." And the award for Lamest Excuse Ever goes to Whimsy Aliferous! Danni held up the snack box to her teacher, offering up the untouched dark chocolate.

The man chuckled a bit. "That's a new one. Back in the day, before I grew this gut, people would call me 'Mr. Snowflake.' What do you think, Danni? Do you think I look like a s'more?" Please don't answer that... The lass looked at the man for a moment before wiggling her hand, making a "so-so" gesture. This made him laugh harder. "All the best, Danni. All the best, Aliferous."

"All the best, sir."

Mildly embarrassing, but definitely not the absolute worst thing to happen when talking to your boss, Whimsy thought as xe and Danni returned to the classroom. The man knew how to put his foot down, but he wasn't iron-fisted in any way. He was more like a... like a fair, no-nonsense dad that could be silly when the situation called for it. Xe noticed Danni was still holding the snack box open. "Thank you." Whimsy took a piece and popped it in xeir mouth. "Do you like dark chocolate?" Danni shook her head. "You might like it when you get older. At least you ate your strawberries and almonds."

Description

"Ah, Aliferous," Mr. Samson greeted the teacher when xe arrived. He was a rather portly albino man who dressed in earthy tones; usually various shades of brown and gray. Given his clothes, pale complexion and white hair, he always made xem think of a s'more. Whimsy had heard that he used to work with at-risk youth in juvenile detention halls before he switched over to working as a principal for a kindergarten. To be completely honest; knowing his work history, Whimsy tried to avoid him as much as possible. If he made a living working with rebellious adolescents, he probably had little-to-no patience for any sort of misconduct or insubordination from his staff or students. But this; this was important. This was something he needed to hear.

"Good morning, sir. I'm here with Danni LaMonta," Whimsy introduced the lass, carrying her plushie and her little box of snacks.

"Oh, yes; LaMonta. I heard you had to go in for an emergency operation last week. How are you feeling?" he asked kindly. Danni set down her box of snacks and lifted up her shirt to reveal her surgical scar. Mr. Samson chuckled a bit at her choice of response. "Well, you seem to be healing nicely." Danni asked in sign language if she could eat. "Of course, friend. You can have a seat right here. Just try not to make too many crumbs." She settled into the chair he indicated and opened her snack box, which had strawberries and dark chocolate with almonds.

"Anyways, sir--I gave Danni a little communication journal to use in the classroom, and she wrote something that needs to be addressed." Whimsy handed him the journal, open to the correct page.

"Hm..." He pushed the button on the intercom system. "Basquiet Bear, please come to the front office; Basquiet Bear."

***

"I asked you to take her to the restroom," Whimsy snapped at the assistant, "not stare at her while she pees." Thankfully, Bear hadn't done anything worth getting arrested for. He was, once again, just treating Danni like she didn't know anything.

"You're blowing this WAY out of proportion," Bear replied in a dismissive way, shrugging his shoulders like it was a common misunderstanding. "It's the same thing I do with the younger students."

"She's FIVE," Whimsy remarked. "All of our kids are fully potty-trained, and you know that too. It's no wonder she feels uncomfortable around you and doesn't want you touching her. You don't even give her any decency when she's using the restroom." Admittedly, xeir voice was a little louder than it needed to be (but if they were anywhere else, xe would be absolutely shrieking at the man), and Whimsy knew better than to be raising voices around a child, but Danni didn't really seem to care one way or another. She just sat in the chair, twiddling around with Sweet-tooth's arms and legs.

"Basquiet Bear," Mr. Samson started off sternly, "if you are to assist a student with restroom duties, I suggest you pay better attention to the student's needs. Otherwise, your actions could be wildly misconstrued. I also suggest that you take the teacher's requests into more careful consideration." There it was; that hardened edge from working with rebellious adolescents.

"Yes, sir." Whimsy half expected Bear to tell Mr. Samson that he was being too strict. Was the compliance because he was the boss, or because he was a man? Either way, it was aggravating.

Danni hopped down from the chair, leaving Sweet-tooth in her place, and went around Mr. Samson's desk. The man turned to face her. "You're a good guy," she signed with a sweet smile. "Can I have a hug, please?"

"Oh! How polite of you to ask first. Yes, you may have a hug."

Aww. I want a hug. First time meeting the man and Danni was already comfortable enough to hug him. Of course, it's not going to ruin my school year if you never hug me. You do what makes you comfortable.

Bear glared at the wall while the principal and student shared a brief embrace. "You give good hugs," Mr. Samson told Danni as she returned to her seat. He then turned to Bear, who assumed a polite smile. "You will receive a form at the end of the week, detailing what we discussed today. I'll need you to sign it and return it to me promptly."

"Yes, sir."

"You have my leave to go."

"Yes, sir." Now, it was just Whimsy, Danni, and Mr. Samson in the office. For a moment, Whimsy considered xeir options. Mr. Samson didn't seem terribly agitated. Perhaps he would be willing to listen to a few more grievances?

"Mr. Samson, if you could spare another moment... Could you also talk to Bear about how he enters and exits the classroom? He loudly announces himself, and it's honestly disruptive. Beehive and I have tried to talk to him about it, but he tells us that we are being too strict."

"I will tell him to be more respectful of the classroom procedures."

"Also... would it be taking it too far to if I had him stay away from Danni, unless absolutely necessary? He clearly makes her uncomfortable, and I don't want her to feel unsafe when she is at school."

"Yes. Bear came to me earlier, telling me that Danni was using profanities and splashed paint water at him," Mr. Samson nodded. Danni glanced up at the man sheepishly. "I assume there is more to the story?"

"The profanity was uncalled for," Whimsy stated, only because it was the correct thing to say in this situation. "But she splashed paint water at him because he wanted to touch the top of her head, which she doesn't like. When he first tried to touch the top of her head, she pushed his hand away. The second time he tried was when she splashed him with paint water."

"Hm... Danni? We need to have safe hands, and kind hands when we are at school. We don't want to hurt others. Understand?"

"I understand. Sorry." Whimsy wouldn't blame Danni if she was only sorry for breaking Mr. Samson's rule, and not so much sorry for cussing at Bear and throwing paint water at him.

"And no; I don't think it would be taking it too far if Bear were to stay away from Danni. At least ,for now. If he tries to argue with you, have him come see me. On a separate note; I can tell that you care deeply for your students' well-being, and you are quite passionate about it, but I will have to ask you to be a bit more civil when speaking. Children don't like being yelled at, and they certainly don't like hearing adults yell at each other."

"Yes, sir. I'm sorry."

Danni handed Whimsy the journal, which was open to a new page.

I am okay. Mama and Papa wold yell a lot too.

That's not something you should get used to, Whimsy thought dismally, closing the journal back up and tucking it under xeir arm.

"Well, if you will allow me a few moments to type up a report; I will come down to observe your classroom shortly."

"Understood, Mr. S'more--SAMSON! Sorry; Samson. My apologies. I'm hungry, and seeing Danni's chocolate made me think of s'mores." And the award for Lamest Excuse Ever goes to Whimsy Aliferous! Danni held up the snack box to her teacher, offering up the untouched dark chocolate.

The man chuckled a bit. "That's a new one. Back in the day, before I grew this gut, people would call me 'Mr. Snowflake.' What do you think, Danni? Do you think I look like a s'more?" Please don't answer that... The lass looked at the man for a moment before wiggling her hand, making a "so-so" gesture. This made him laugh harder. "All the best, Danni. All the best, Aliferous."

"All the best, sir."

Mildly embarrassing, but definitely not the absolute worst thing to happen when talking to your boss, Whimsy thought as xe and Danni returned to the classroom. The man knew how to put his foot down, but he wasn't iron-fisted in any way. He was more like a... like a fair, no-nonsense dad that could be silly when the situation called for it. Xe noticed Danni was still holding the snack box open. "Thank you." Whimsy took a piece and popped it in xeir mouth. "Do you like dark chocolate?" Danni shook her head. "You might like it when you get older. At least you ate your strawberries and almonds."