Waited patiently.
And whilst waiting, unearthed a passage from the best part of 40 years ago. A period of introspection How long should such a period last?
It was probably penned at 3am. I doubt that it’s 3am right at this moment, but it’s an ongoing dilemma.
Imbeciles and fools, and they’re bending all the rules,
Forgetting there’s a human being sitting here.
Our Walter! Or, in Oprah Winfrey terms… the inner voice. Oprah tends to think that the inner voice is the voice of God. Who am I to argue with Oprah Winfrey? I only managed to catch a glimpse, but from what I was able to gather they were discussing Intuition.
“What’s Intuition, our Walter?”
“Read Jung – The Integration of the Personality.”
“Thank you.”
Was it to my advantage? I developed a vague understanding of the Law of Cause and Effect. Hence, when I sat, listening to my daughter’s teacher telling me that my daughter needs to learn to pay attention… “For example, when I read them a book…”
At which point my mind wandered – travelling back in time – seeking the cause… Stop!
Recently, I had the good fortune to be stood outside my daughter’s classroom whilst the teacher read a story to the class. While she read, her mind wandered – the children became restless – she made the story sound dull. It may have been the case that she was preparing a meal – or perhaps she was picturing a secret rendezvous. Whatever it may have been, the children lost interest. She picked on one or two of the children and insisted that the pay attention - while I read you this ‘dull story’.
License!
“But Miss, I am a child of God – I am spontaneous, I am intuitive – I am Love personified.”
“Yes, well, we’ll soon make you forget about all of that nonsense.”
“But Miss, aren’t you a child of God? Aren’t we all God’s children?”
“Listen, little boy…”
“I do miss! I listen all the time – I listen to my inner voice!”
“Well, if you wish to learn, you’d best stop listening to your inner voice, and listen to me!”
“But he tells me you’re wrong, Miss!”
“Oh he does, does he? Well, will you and your inner voice come to the front of the classroom.”
“Yes Miss.”
“Stand there.”
“Yes Miss.”
“Now then, this inner voice of yours…” the teacher is distracted. “Why have you got your hand up. Sophie?”
“Please Miss, I’ve got an inner voice, as well.”
“Have you indeed? Come to the front, Sophie.”
“Yes Miss.”
The teacher opens a desk drawer. “Stand next to Peter.”
“Yes Miss.”
“Okay. Do you see this plimsoll I have in my hand?”
“Yes miss.”
“Yes miss”
“Yes – Miss Tagen!” the teacher is vexed.
“Yes, Miss Tagen.”
“Yes, Miss Tagen.”
“What does your inner voice have to say about this gym shoe, Peter?”
“He says, I shouldn’t be afraid, Miss.”
“Miss Tagen!!”
“Miss Tagen.”
“Sophie? What about you? What does your inner voice have to say?”
“There is nothing to fear but fear itself, Miss.”
“Tagen! Miss Tagen.”
“Miss Tagen.”
“I see, The pair of you – bend over the table, please.”
The teacher brings the shoe down on Peter’s backside. Thwack!!!
“What does it say - now, Peter?”
“Though I walk through the valley of death…”
Thwack. The teacher strikes the child again.
“Now then, Sophie… What does your inner voice have to say?”
“It says you should listen to Peter’s inner voice.”
THWACK. The teacher strikes Sophie.
“Peter?”
“Please, Miss Tagen. It tells me you should hit me and NOT Sophie.”
“Go and sit down, the pair of you.” The teacher casts a glance over the rest of the class. “Now… is there anyone else who thinks they have an inner voice?”
Silence.
Meanwhile, in a classroom down the corridor. “Two twos are four – three twos are six – four twos are eight…”
Meanwhile in a classroom – further down the corridor.
“Sit up straight,” the teacher demands. “Pay attention! I will say it one more time, for the benefit of those who were not listening on the first two occasions… If a man walks in to a shop with three pounds in his pocket, how many choggs can he buy if each chogg costs twenty five pence?”
“Please sir, what’s a chogg?”
“Nothing boy – it’s purely symbolic.”
“Please sir, what’s symbolic?”
At which point there is a knock at the door. Outside stand Sophie and Peter.
“Come in.”
“Please sir, Miss Tagen asked us to bring the register down.”
“Thank you, children. Put it over there with the others.”
The children do as instructed and are about to take their leave.
The teacher stops them. “Before you go back to your classroom… does either one of you know what the term ‘symbolic’ means? Sophie? Peter?”
“No Sir.”
“Afraid not, Sir.”
Turning to the class, the teacher asks, “Does anyone in the class have any idea?” No answer is forthcoming. He turns his attention back to Sophie. “What does your inner voice tell you, Sophie?”
Sophie bows her head, “I don’t have an inner voice sir.”
“Nonsense! We all have an inner voice, don’t we Peter. What does your inner voice tell you, Peter?”
Peter bows his head. “I don’t have one, Sir.”
The teacher chuckles. “Does anyone in the class have an inner voice?”
All hands go up.
“There you are, Peter – Sophie… I suggest you go back to your class and ask Miss Tagen to explain all about your inner voice. Ask her to explain things like spontaneity, intuition… dare I say it, LOVE.”
The two children remain silent. They take their leave.
“Now then…” the teacher turns his attention back to the lesson. “Where were we?”
“Symbollocks, sir.” A lone voice calls. There is muffled laughter.
“Ah yes, symbolic. Incidentally, children… Miss Tagen will be your class teacher next term.”
One or two of the boys cheer. Miss Tagen is a bit of a looker.