All About Others

Mr Walsh continued. “Mr Dwyer. There is no ‘real’ history of Robin Hood. There is a legend, there are versions, and each has it’s own truths I am sure. But, there is one clear issue. He was a thief. That is a label that cannot be removed, no matter how generously they paint the picture of him. No matter how much they create an icon of what they want him to be, he was still a thief. He robbed people. He stole. I don’t know if he only robbed the rich people. I am sure, at some point, that he robbed people who could afford it. No doubt he probably also robbed people, who could not afford it. But whoever started telling the history of Robin Hood, they only spoke about the rich people he robbed. Not necessarily because it was true. Probably, because it was a better story. So it stuck. Through time. Through …history.

But he was and always will be a thief.

He looked at me, somewhat sadly. “Taking the money of ‘E’ and ‘K’ today was very wrong.” Mr Walsh continued. “It doesn’t matter what you did with the money”. He looked hard at me. “By your actions today, you have shown that you are a thief. That you cannot be trusted around other people’s property.” He waved his hand about the room. “That we cannot trust you. Cannot leave you alone in case you steal from us.” Mr Walsh looked out at the playground. He looked at the children playing. “That you would steal from your friends?” He asked. “They’re not my friends. None of them like me”. I said.

“And why would they?” Mr Walsh asked, ignoring the whine in my complaint. “If they know you are going to steal from them?” Mr Walsh went on. “But I have never stolen from them…”, I said. Mr Walsh looked at me. He raised one greying eyebrow. “Till today” I said, my voice fading away quietly. “Till today.” Mr Walsh repeated. “And after today?” He suggested. “I won’t steal”’ I said. “But, how can we know that?” he asked. “You have let down a lot of people today, Mr Dwyer. Your mother and father, for example.” At the word ‘father’ I know I flinched. “Do you think they will be proud of what you did?” I shook my head. Mr Walsh continued, “You have let down your classmates. What will happen when I tell them what you have done?” He offered. I shook my head looking down, hard, at my desk. I knew I was starting to cry. I could feel the tears beginning. The shimmering, from the water, blinking over my eyeballs.  Mr Walsh was not yelling or screaming at me. But what he was saying upset me enormously. “You have also let ‘me’ down.” Mr Walsh stopped. I looked down at the desk. Tears fell “How can I trust you in my classroom after this?” he asked.

I started to say something, “I only…” “Quiet” He said softly and I was.

(Continued tomorrow)