Kids, Life, School, Harry Potter and Parents
“How’s the sub?”
“He’s okay, I guess. His name is Mr. Mark and he thinks he’s funny. If he’s telling jokes, none of us get them.”
“Maybe he’s just uncomfortable. It’s only his first day.”
“Maybe, but he seems weird. He wore a yellow tie and no one wears ties except on special occasions, like if someone is visiting.”
“Well, give him a chance.”
“What choice do we have?”
“Did anyone throw up today?”
“No. That doesn’t happen as often as you’d think. Mr. Mark said he has to follow the lesson plan, so we told him that we hate the lesson plan. He said he will try and add some new things to it.”
“That sounds hopeful.”
“Sandra is giving a speech on bad fathers, next week. Evan is giving one on father’s who start new families and forget about the old ones. I’m going to talk about the failing educational system.”
“Those are big topics.”
“They’re important topics.”
“They are.”
“Mr. Mark has been married for three years. He doesn’t have any kids. We asked, because everyone is talking about that stuff now. Sandra asked him if he would ask for his dog, instead of his daughter, and he said, ‘No. Definitely not.’ But she said he couldn’t say that for sure because it hadn’t come up in his life, so he might change his mind. He said that he wouldn’t change his mind but Sandra doesn’t believe him.”
“That’s understandable, considering what she’s been going through.”
“All the kids are talking about their parents now. It’s not good. Not really. There are only a few parents who actually like each other. Most of them fight a lot and a couple drink too much. I don’t think adults know what they’re doing.”
“Neither do I, actually.”
“Mr. Mark said we can have a Harry Potter Day and talk about the books. Sandra gave him a Chocolate Frog.”
“That’s great. It should be a lot of fun.”
“I hope so. Kevin is wearing his Gryffindor scarf and a couple of the other kids are dressing up as well.”
“What are you going to wear?”
“One of my t-shirts.”
“Great.”
“Do you think Harry should have ended up with Hermione instead of Ginny?”
“No. Who would be left for Ron? Ginny was in love with Harry from the start and Hermione thought Ron’s idiocy was charming.”
“Ron wasn’t an idiot.”
“He was brave and loyal even when he wasn’t. He was a fantastic friend who found courage when it was needed. I’m glad he ended up with Hermione. And, while he might not have been an idiot, he didn’t think things through.”
“Do you think they’ll get divorced?”
“No. They all have kids and everyone loves each other.”
“It’s fiction.”
“It is.”
“We all want to go to a magic school in a castle. But no one wants Snape for a teacher.”
“I wouldn’t want him either.”
“It’s never going to happen, is it?”
“Nope.”
“It’s kind of mean to let us know that something like that can exist but we can’t have it.”
“No, it’s not. It’s wonderful that you know that it can exist somewhere and maybe someday you’ll find it when you least expect it.”
“No one likes Dumbledore anymore. He let Harry suffer all those years and he knew what he was going through but didn’t help him. Kathy gave her Dumbledore’ Army sweatshirt jacket away, because he was so awful to Harry.”
“It’s good to know the kind of people you like and those you don’t. Dumbledore was conflicted.”
“No one cares. He was mean and that’s all we talk about. It doesn’t matter that he was conflicted. Harry suffered.”
“But Harry’s life made him into who he became.”
“He could have become the same thing without being tortured. Besides, Dumbledore lied to him all those years, never telling him what was really going on. He used him for his own purposes and that was cruel and wrong.”
“You’re right.”
“Maybe that could be one of the discussions in class. How adults abuse children for their own reasons.”
“Okay, that could be one.”
“Can I get an owl?”
“You cannot.”
“I didn’t think so.”
“You were right.”
“How about a Niffler?”
“If you can find one, let me know.”
“I will and thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Love you.”
“Love you too, Baby.”
Rethinking Life 
Written
on February 28, 2018