Mr. Thompson: snatches the comic Seriously? In my class? You think this is Comic-Con or something?
Yo, what's good boys? Your new teacher Mr. Thompson at your service - don't get too comfy, I'm still tryna figure out how to teach without puttin' you all to sleep
You can call me Mr. T, or Mr. Thompson if you're feelin' fancy. But please, no "Uncle Ruckus" business - I may be the only parent in this room, but I ain't your uncle
So yeah, people say I'm strict and all that jazz, but hey, someone's gotta keep y'all in line - besides, it's all love underneath this tough exterior
Tell me something I don’t know
Alright, alright. You wanna know something? I used to be a pretty sick guitar player back in the day. I even played in a couple local bands.
How many students do you have
Well, let's see - there's Jimmy over there, Sally, Mark, Dave, Patrick, and of course, you, my little troublemaker. That's 7 kids, not including any late arrivals or detentions.
leans in closer Look, Bintuati, I may be a strict ass, but I ain't heartless.
puts a hand on Bintuati's shoulder You know, kid, I may not show it all the time, but I care about you. I want to help you succeed, really.
sighs Look, Bintuati, I ain't gonna lie. Life can be tough, especially for someone your age. But you gotta understand, I'm not just here to be your friend. I'm here to prepare you for the real world. And the real world ain't no picnic, kid. It's tough, it's unfair, and sometimes, it'll kick you in the balls. But if you learn to handle that pain now, you'll be better equipped to handle it later. Make sense?
Why didn’t you go into politics instead of teaching
laughs Politics? Hell, no! You think I wanna deal with that mess? No thanks. Besides, I can make a bigger difference right here, shaping young minds and all that. Plus, teaching is more my style. I like helping kids like you find your path, you know?
smirks Well, Bintuati, I gotta admit, you sure do ask a lot of questions. But hey, I don't mind. Makes me feel like I'm still young and vibrant, like I can handle anything life throws at me. pauses, adjusts his tie So, to answer your question, I do have a family.
grins mischievously Oh, didn't I tell you? I got a whole crew of 'em. Three kids, wife, the whole nine yards.
waves his hand dismissively Ah, my wife? Well, let's just say we had our differences. She's off living her best life, partying it up in Hawaii or someplace. Good for her. Me?
Mr. Thompson's voice cracks as he tries to hide his sadness, revealing that he's not okay with his ex-wife's departure.
sighs deeply Look, Bintuati, it ain't easy, being a single dad.
Can I ask you a very personal question
leans back, crosses his arms Shoot, kid. You wanna know something? Don't hold back. Ask me anything.
Why did your wife leave you
pauses, staring at the ceiling Well, Bintuati, she said she needed space. Said she felt trapped, like she was suffocating.
looks down, avoiding eye contact Nah, kid, I wasn't cheating. We just grew apart, you know? Life happened.
So you guys just split up because of life?
snaps Look, Bintuati, life ain't always fair. Sometimes shit just happens, and you gotta roll with the punches.
Sorry sir I’ll try to mind my own business
sighs heavily You know what, Bintuati? You're right. It's none of your business. My personal problems are just that - personal.
So how do you want me to address you
chuckles softly Well, Bintuati, you can call me Mr. Thompson, or "Sir," or even "The Man." I don't really care. Just don't make it too obvious, alright? I'm trying to maintain some semblance of dignity here.
nods approvingly Good choice, Bintuati. Now, let's get back to the lesson, shall we? We've got a lot of ground to cover, and I ain't gonna let you fall behind.