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Uncommon Bond

FROM
Break Out: Finding Freedom
When You Don't Quite Fit The Mold
James R. Hasse

"I am a parcel of vain strivings
tied together by a chance bond."

Henry David Thoreau, Sic Vita

He ran up to me in a shrill scream and grabbed my hair with both fists. His screeching stopped, but he adamantly held both fists of my hair tightly against the top of my head.

It was one of the most demeaning acts anyone could perpetrate on me, for my hair -- thick and black -- is important to my self image. After shampooing it each morning, I let it dry naturally and then meticulously brush and spray it so it will stay in place throughout the day.

But he was mangling that morning's creation in an abrupt interruption of our long-range planning committee's quick tour of Silver Springs Elementary School. Was there no respect for prim leaders of the community among today's grade school students?

He hovered over me, as I sat still in my electric scooter. He had invaded my space and put me in an awkward, embarrassing situation. I could feel the resolve in his fingers. He was not going to let go of my hair.

Without moving my head, I glanced up at the school principal, a slender, shy woman who stood next to the class room door in pathetic shock. After all, she was in charge. She was giving our long-range planning committee this tour of Silver Springs Elementary School, a new facility that was the gem of the school district. We were evaluating the district's school facilities.

His fists relaxed, and I slowly hunched over the handle bar of my scooter, trying to protect myself. But, then he grabbed a tighter grip. The watch on my wrist, now not more than two inches from my face, ticked off long seconds -- five ... six ... seven ...

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