Thursday, May 16, 2013

Daniel Snaps

Last night Daniel snapped at one of the teenagers.

Remember last week when he got high and mighty after I went all Carrie on them? And Daniel was all like, "calm down Eli! Think of the children!" And then he lectured me in the car on the way home about patience? And then he asked me the next day what I had learned from that experience? Remember that?

That guy. That very same scolder and walking heckler snapped at one of the teenagers.

Daniel has a great relationship with all of the kids. But there is one with whom his interactions have always been slightly hostile. The animosity goes both ways but if you ask him, SHE STARTED IT!

She just turned 18 years old, so technically she's not a kid anymore. So back off angry moms. He didn't snap at a child. He's not like me. He defends the children.

This teenager is very smart and she comes from probably one of the most healthy and wonderful homes in all of Palau. She's also very well-liked and has way too many friends. So this isn't one of those troubled child things. She's a straight-A student and is about to head off to college in the U.S. at a great university where she'll probably gain the education she needs to take over the world one day.

The problem is that she's got attitude and is too quick-witted for her own good. And while she means no harm, she inflicts it on Daniel. Every single week. She heckles him on Wednesday nights while he teaches lessons and eggs on the others to do the same. She mocks him openly. And she's good at it. And sometimes I'm like, "why didn't I think of saying that yesterday when Daniel started irrationally freaking out at me for using his toothbrush again since mine had ants on it!?"

Daniel has taken the abuse in stride since it started last October. It's been entertaining to watch, actually. I was beginning to believe that he had the world's greatest patience because he just never really seemed to be very fazed by it. Sure he would ask her to quiet down. But he sort of just had a grown up and mature "kids will be kids" attitude about the whole thing. And never once did he yell at her or consider stooping to her level.

Until yesterday.

Daniel threw a pizza party for the kids last night since the school year has come to an end. I would say that "we" threw the pizza party, but truthfully I didn't help. Unless you consider complaining about it the whole time "helping." Which Daniel doesn't, according to his, in my opinion, overly harsh reaction last night when I said that "we" had pulled it off and put my hand up for a high five that was not properly acknowledged.

Teenager from Hell was in a particularly obnoxious mood and was stirring up trouble with the other kids right as we got started. The kids are supposed to sing a song for a church event next week and Daniel and I were asked to join them for it and sing one of the verses ourselves. Last night we practiced this song and when it became our turn to sing, teenager from Hell began her mockery, whispering insults just loudly enough for us to hear.

The song ended, and that's when it happened.

Daniel said he had one quick suggestion to make the song "better." Then he pointed at teenager from Hell and said, "I'm just going to say what everyone here is thinking. It would be a lot better if you would tone it waaaaaay down. Your voice is ruining the song."

And everyone immediately did that unison "oooooooooooohhhhhh," which punctuated Daniel's diss exactly how he hoped.

She was stunned. Because he had never responded to her this way before. And a huge smile came over her face. And she looked at him like she had never been so impressed with anything before in her life. And for the rest of the evening she was perfectly respectful.

When we got into the car to leave Daniel cut me off the moment I opened my mouth. "NOT A WORD! I don't regret it one single bit! And if I could go back and do it again, I would have used a lot more profanity!"

Daniel: Destroying the self-esteem since 2013.

Addendum: I just informed Daniel via gchat that I was posting about this today and he responded: "I didn't say 'shut up.' I want that to be clear."

~It Just Gets Stranger

37 comments:

  1. Woah. He is sooooo outta control right there. Next thing you know he'll be looking for her in the supermarket to see if she needs flogging with an expensive and flaccid lettuce. Some people, seriously Eli, you'll have to watch him.
    Bridg

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. " flogging with an expensive and flaccid lettuce" Love this! I am stealing this! think i will workin into conversation today.

      Delete
  2. Maybe you should send him away to an anger management school. It really isn't ok to let his behavior go unchecked. First he's snotty to a kid, next thing you know he's burning schools down.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Gee, Daniel. Way to ruin lives. She'll probably end up in prison now, thanks to you.

    Just kidding. Nice way to handle the situation, though. Surrusly. I doubt I'd have been that decent.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Tut...tut...tut!

    ReplyDelete
  5. You're learning how to use gchat! Congratulations. See, technology can be your friend!

    ReplyDelete
  6. You know what? I have known people like that. The woman my dad married after we were all grown and out of the house was not likable. She gave me grief over everything when we visited. We were taught to be polite. When I finally had enough, though, and gave her shit right back, she was a whole different person to me. We ended up having a great relationship. Some people just want to know what you can take. Give it back to 'em!

    ReplyDelete
  7. It's like in Anne of Green Gables, when she becomes a teacher and promises to never ever beat a student, but she finally breaks on one kid who'd been giving her grief for a while, and after she proved she was a 'real' teacher to him, he finally respected her.
    Also, I'm 14, so no complaining about the old crazy cat lady shoving classics in your face.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! I'm glad people still talk about these books nowadays... :)

      Delete
    2. Let's face it. We ALL wanted to beat that Pringle girl.

      Delete
    3. Your my favorite person now, I love that series! I read it three summers in a row when I was younger, actually my library card number was the only one in the books for a while because I sort of monopolized them. :D

      Delete
    4. Also Eli I don't think you're thinking of the same thing as Eileen, I'm pretty sure she's talking about a boy who didn't think women could handle being teachers... but she probably should've beat that Pringle girl too that girl was a real jerk

      Delete
  8. Sounds to me like teenager from hell has a major crush on Daniel.

    Quick, pee on him to claim him'

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ^Yes! Hurry! We can't lose him!

      Delete
    2. My thoughts exactly, well, not the peeing part, but who wouldn't have a crush on you two handsome men?

      Delete
  9. Sounds like someone has a crush on Daniel. And at long last he noticed her. What a beautiful story.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Daniel's got a giiiirlfriend, Daniel's got a giiiirlfriend.

    ReplyDelete
  11. She's a crush on Daniel. Me jealous 'cause those 'kids' get to spend time with you and DANIEL!

    ReplyDelete
  12. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Every youth group leader has that one kid that drives them nuts and is allowed to lash at at said teenager at least once, and I don't think this one counts. To be fair, though, I don't think your lashing out counted either. The ones that count involve meetings with your pastor or the police getting called out.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I am going to ask what I think everyone is thinking.... Did you really use Daniel's toothbrush? You can tell us Eli. Your strangers love you, just the way you are. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh silly Danielle. I don't brush my teeth.

      Delete
  15. She sounds like a brat. Send her to the piece of land (discussed yesterday) with QofC. Whoever wins, gets the land... I'd put money on QofC.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Is it really awkward for you to read comments from women talking about wanting to marry you and Daniel?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like to think that it prevents them from cat hoarding.

      Delete
    2. Ah. That works. Anything to help, right?

      Delete
    3. We all have to do our part. I love you/want to marry you/ want to have your babies Eli and/or Daniel! See? Another cat saved.

      Delete
  17. Daniel, I love you :)Great job out there! <3

    ReplyDelete
  18. Daniel was not being the picture of patience to the Teenager from Hell all this time.

    He was waiting for her to turn 18, and no longer be considered a child.

    So he could put her in her place and maintain his saintly protect-the-children image at the same time.

    I think he and she are plotting to take over the world together.

    Well played, Daniel, well played indeed.

    ReplyDelete
  19. She's definitely crushing and he finally noticed her. Be ready for way to forward sexual behavior.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I don't think you made the point you thought you were making. It still sounds to me like Daniel has the patience of Job. And maybe he should've "snapped" a long time ago. Just sayin'. :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Eli. Get an it just gets stranger app. And post weekly videos.
    Of you and the giant.


    Kthxbye.

    ReplyDelete
  22. She loves Daniel. I'm calling it.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Is it bad that I totally recognized myself as that girl. I wonder how many grown ups wanted to say similar things to me when I was an obnoxious teenager...

    ReplyDelete