Kpop
Kpop
I’m in my forties and standing at the back of a small meeting room at middle school.
It was obvious that this was a place where few people used, but stored some extra stuff. About 20 school chairs are filled with other parents. Sadie has won another award for her compassion. Sadie hates this place but radiates joy as a default. It’s noticed three times as she gets awards for her compassion and kindness.
Unlike most awards, each winner was interviewed gently and thanked by the principal. It was a unique moment and these folks did this at some regular cadence and I am hoping all children at this school end up in this room. The format seems simple. The teacher would read a nice thing written by whomever nominated the recipient and then some “getting-to-know-ya.” That bit was held before a long bridge and the principal would state: Stop! Who would cross the Bridge of Death must answer me these questions three, ere the other side he see. Thankfully, the questions were:
- What’s your name?
- What’s your favorite movie?
- What’s your favorite music?
The first is boring but the other two are perfect for kids. Sadie is watching the first few kids. Almost every kid stated a single movie as their favorite: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. I remember liking all Jumanji and Sadie found the first to be one of the worst children’s movies ever and was not particularly passionate about the modern ones. Sadie would not find anyone to talk about her favorite director (what?), Hitchcock. We’d seen every Hitchcock movie except the older ones. She’d seen, I don’t know, 40 Hitchcock films at this point.
I notice Sadie looking slyly as it becomes her turn:
[PRINCIPAL] Stop! Who would cross the Bridge of Death must answer me these questions three, ere the other side he see.
Sadie is fearless and shouts “I will!”
[PRINCIPAL] What’s your name?
[SADIE] qua Snake Guy Sadie.
[PRINCIPAL] What’s your favorite movie?
[SADIE] qua Snake Guy Rear Window!
[PRINCIPAL] WRO… I’m sorry say whut?
[SADIE] qua Snake Guy Rear Window!
[PRINCIPAL] Wow. That’s pretty dark. Heh. Heh.
[PRINCIPAL] What’s your favorite music?
[SADIE] much slower, shrugging, not super important Ah. Anything my dad likes.
[PRINCIPAL] brightening, hopeful Oh. That’s cool, like Sinatra, Springsteen or something?
[SADIE] much slower, shrugging, not super important Oh. No. My father listens to Kpop.
Big laugh as most of the parents turn their head to look at me. I know I’m not being asked to chaperone dances here.