FURX
07-11-2004, 10:29 PM
...and yes it somewhat deals with trains.
This is a story that tells you that you can beat your enemies by being clever, and that chances are, more people than you think care about you.
It all started the day before sping break.........
It was 5th period, NSL (National, State, and Local Governments), Honors 10B. It was a half day, so 5th period was the last before going home.
We had a sub that day, and at the end of class, many of my classmates strolled over to the chalkboard, wrote messages about having a happy spring break., and drawing cute little pictures.
Being the person I am, I casually walked up to the chalkboard, and drew a train picture, a Western Maryland Eastbound Alpha Jet, comming over the Salisbury Viaduct.
When I was done, my freind Bobby looked at me and said "Whoa, dude, that's totally awesome!".
I replied "You think? Well thanks"
He went off about how I should become an artist, and stuff, and so forth.
I was quite pleased.
Back to school, (or the salt mines as I refer to it). Being the person I am, I usually didn't go to lunch. I would stay in my 5th period room, and either sleep, or hang with close freinds.
My 5th period NSL was my favorite class, and my teacher, Mr. Jon Mosier was quite a guy. I exceeded in his class, had a good work ethic, and was the only person in his class to enjoy his lectures and note taking.
So, that first day back, while everyone was at lunch, I sat in his room, and thought. I remembered how Bobby had said how he had enjoyed my picture.......and so I thought......maybe, it'd be nice to draw another.
I went up, grabbed a peice of chalk, and 20 minutes later, there was a Chessie SD40-2 on the board, pulling a freight train around a curve.
Under it, I wrote
"SAFETY FIRST" and a quote by the Chessie's president, Hays T Watkins
"This road will always offer two things, safety, and service"
I signed my initials, and the date "JLS-04"
It looked quite nice.
Lunch was over, and everyone came back. Each person as they walked into the room, couldn't help but notice the large drawing covering the blackboard, and to my surprise, would say things like "Holy crap, who drew that?" and "Whoa dude".
With the exception of Mr Mosier, and a few close freinds, I didn't tell anyone else who drew the picture.
Everyday at lunch, I would draw a different picture. I let only a few people know that it was I drawing them.
Yessir, everything was going grand.
Grand until, one day I cam into the room.
Next to my picture, someone had written "Trains are gay".
All that effort...I didn't know what to make of it.
Still, I persisted, and wrote back, complete with another train drawing;
"Hello, ...so I am gay, huh? I thought name calling stopped in 5th grade. You are nothing but a blip on my radar. I draw these pictures because people like them, and they get a smile out of it. Have a nice day, JLS"
The very next day, there was another message that someone didn't like my drawings.
Another reply.
"Hi again, main, you must really lack b@!!$ to not leave a name, or to not even have the decency to say it to my face. Have a safety-first day!,-JLS"
More and more days, more pictures, and notes. They were nominal, but becoming more and more annoying.
They started to bother me.
Then, one Monday afternoon, I was cutting my grandparent's grass. Out of the blue, I got an idea.
I would take one of my regular pencil drawings on paper, make 100 photo copies of it, and hang them all over the board, with a note telling this joke to take them as a token of grattitude, and free of charge.
I couldn't help but smile, I really liked the idea.
My mom is a teacher, so I have easy access to a photo copier.
I approached my mom with what I wanted to do, and asked her if she could me the copies. To my surprise, my mom said it was a really good idea, and that she'd help any way she could.
On Wensday afternoon, I had selected a picture I drew of WM #3579, pulling a train through Deal Pa, and I had 120 copies made of it.
I decided a Friday would be best, so the weekend would pass before I might be punished if something happend.
On Thursday, I told Mr Mosier my plan. He thought greatly of it, and told me he had no problem.
Ok, the big morning, May 14th 2004.
I ate a hearty breakfist, got everything I needed, put on my black Dickies, a Ramones black t-shirt, my black Chuck Taylors, and my watch.
I got to my first period. Since I didn't know what period this little person used this classroom, I would have to hang the pictures before school started.
Here is where a problem came up.
The 5th period class room wasn't Mr Mosiers. He just used it for 5th period. The teacher's class room belonged to one Mrs. Biser.
I did not have her, and since I've never met her, I was concerned about her approval of mu plan. Without her, I would be doing a thing.
I got into my 1st period, biology. I bit my lip, and decided to confront Mrs Biser.
I found her in the social studies office, drinking coffee, and working on the computer.
I apprached her with a smile, a handshake, and I introduced myself.
I then explained to her that it was I who was drawing the train pictures, and that I did not appreciate this little person talking trash about them.
She looked at me, and surprisingly began to apoligize. She went on about how all the kids loved the pictures, and that she had no idea who the little punk writting stuff was.
I told her I didn't need an apology, just permission to hang over 100 photocopies on her black board.
To my surprise, she told me that is was a grand idea.
I thanked her graciously, and I hurried to the room. First, I wrote the note.
"Hi agian. Thank you for encouraging my to draw even more pictures! As a thank you, here are 100 photo copies of one of my drawings, just for you, and free of charge! Have a nice day!, JLS".
I taped it in the center of the board, and very quickly started taping of pictures.
Kids started arriving to class, watching me with wide eyes. I must admit, I looked crazy.
Just as the bell rang, I finished the last picture, and I bolted down the hall to my 1st period, faster than anything on CSX's rails :)
The waiting began.
In my 4th period, I noticed two girls had taken copies of my pictures, and put them into their binders. Elie said "Jeff, your in for a surprise in 5th period!".
I didn'y know how to take this...it might not be a good thing.
5th period, lunch before class, I ran into room 256. Mr Bonfels is another teacher who uses this room for one period before leaving. He was going through the dorrway when I got there.
He pulled me aside, and said
"Are you the kid drawing train pictures on the board?"
"Yes"
"Well, look on the board, I think you'll like it. Oh, and by the way.,. that punk @$$ that was writting stuff...well, I caught him writing something this period, caught him red handed, and he's being put in an in school suspension for several days"
I didn't belive it. I had beaten him...without confrontation....without fighting....I outwitted him.
I walked into the room, and in amazment, looked at the board.
People had taken pictures, and signed their names where they had taken them...and written incredible messages like "Jeff is my hero" and "I love Jeff", and "Keep drawing Jeffrey".
It was quite a sight.
I wrote another note.
"Wow, thanks. I had no idea I'd get something like this, I had no idea it'd turn out like this. Thank you. This for all the kids who get made fun of, all the people who make fun of me, all those spineless pr!ck$, thank you, you can have a peice of me. Thank you so much, engineer Jeff"
After lunch, everyone was going up to the board, taking a picture, and signing their name. It was somethng, everyone was all lined up, I felt so great.
I had to leave that classroom for 6th, and then 7th period.
I left everything up.
Late 7th period, I decided that Mrs Biser shouldn't have to clean everything up, and that it'd be responsible on my end to erase everything. I ran up there late in the day.
I opened the door, and the class grew quiet. To my amazment, everyone started clapping, and chearing. I was flattered....nothing like it.
I took down the remaining pictures (very few, maybe 3, or 4), and erased all the writting.....the messages bleeding through the smeared chalk powder.
I thanked Mrs Biser, and flew back down to the portables.
My day had ended.
I continued to draw pictures up to the end of school, and I was no widely known for what I did. I had random people comming up to me in the halls thanking me, and saying hi. They didn't have to, but they chose to.
One nice after effect was one day I was in the hall, and this girl I'd never met before came up to me, and asked "Hey, are you the dude who draws trains on the board". I told her that I was, and for a moment, she shared with me how much they brightend up her day, and I had written some cool quotes, and song lyrics along with the pictures. I thanked her, and she pecked me on the cheek, and said "See ya around".
I'd never imagine what happend did....more people cared about me than I thought, and I had given this one Kevin Wiederman a first class ticket through the school's justice system (which is pretty pathetic)
So, next time somone makes fun of you for liking trains, look at them and smile, and say "Have a nice day".
Stay safe,-Jeffrey Sessa
This is a story that tells you that you can beat your enemies by being clever, and that chances are, more people than you think care about you.
It all started the day before sping break.........
It was 5th period, NSL (National, State, and Local Governments), Honors 10B. It was a half day, so 5th period was the last before going home.
We had a sub that day, and at the end of class, many of my classmates strolled over to the chalkboard, wrote messages about having a happy spring break., and drawing cute little pictures.
Being the person I am, I casually walked up to the chalkboard, and drew a train picture, a Western Maryland Eastbound Alpha Jet, comming over the Salisbury Viaduct.
When I was done, my freind Bobby looked at me and said "Whoa, dude, that's totally awesome!".
I replied "You think? Well thanks"
He went off about how I should become an artist, and stuff, and so forth.
I was quite pleased.
Back to school, (or the salt mines as I refer to it). Being the person I am, I usually didn't go to lunch. I would stay in my 5th period room, and either sleep, or hang with close freinds.
My 5th period NSL was my favorite class, and my teacher, Mr. Jon Mosier was quite a guy. I exceeded in his class, had a good work ethic, and was the only person in his class to enjoy his lectures and note taking.
So, that first day back, while everyone was at lunch, I sat in his room, and thought. I remembered how Bobby had said how he had enjoyed my picture.......and so I thought......maybe, it'd be nice to draw another.
I went up, grabbed a peice of chalk, and 20 minutes later, there was a Chessie SD40-2 on the board, pulling a freight train around a curve.
Under it, I wrote
"SAFETY FIRST" and a quote by the Chessie's president, Hays T Watkins
"This road will always offer two things, safety, and service"
I signed my initials, and the date "JLS-04"
It looked quite nice.
Lunch was over, and everyone came back. Each person as they walked into the room, couldn't help but notice the large drawing covering the blackboard, and to my surprise, would say things like "Holy crap, who drew that?" and "Whoa dude".
With the exception of Mr Mosier, and a few close freinds, I didn't tell anyone else who drew the picture.
Everyday at lunch, I would draw a different picture. I let only a few people know that it was I drawing them.
Yessir, everything was going grand.
Grand until, one day I cam into the room.
Next to my picture, someone had written "Trains are gay".
All that effort...I didn't know what to make of it.
Still, I persisted, and wrote back, complete with another train drawing;
"Hello, ...so I am gay, huh? I thought name calling stopped in 5th grade. You are nothing but a blip on my radar. I draw these pictures because people like them, and they get a smile out of it. Have a nice day, JLS"
The very next day, there was another message that someone didn't like my drawings.
Another reply.
"Hi again, main, you must really lack b@!!$ to not leave a name, or to not even have the decency to say it to my face. Have a safety-first day!,-JLS"
More and more days, more pictures, and notes. They were nominal, but becoming more and more annoying.
They started to bother me.
Then, one Monday afternoon, I was cutting my grandparent's grass. Out of the blue, I got an idea.
I would take one of my regular pencil drawings on paper, make 100 photo copies of it, and hang them all over the board, with a note telling this joke to take them as a token of grattitude, and free of charge.
I couldn't help but smile, I really liked the idea.
My mom is a teacher, so I have easy access to a photo copier.
I approached my mom with what I wanted to do, and asked her if she could me the copies. To my surprise, my mom said it was a really good idea, and that she'd help any way she could.
On Wensday afternoon, I had selected a picture I drew of WM #3579, pulling a train through Deal Pa, and I had 120 copies made of it.
I decided a Friday would be best, so the weekend would pass before I might be punished if something happend.
On Thursday, I told Mr Mosier my plan. He thought greatly of it, and told me he had no problem.
Ok, the big morning, May 14th 2004.
I ate a hearty breakfist, got everything I needed, put on my black Dickies, a Ramones black t-shirt, my black Chuck Taylors, and my watch.
I got to my first period. Since I didn't know what period this little person used this classroom, I would have to hang the pictures before school started.
Here is where a problem came up.
The 5th period class room wasn't Mr Mosiers. He just used it for 5th period. The teacher's class room belonged to one Mrs. Biser.
I did not have her, and since I've never met her, I was concerned about her approval of mu plan. Without her, I would be doing a thing.
I got into my 1st period, biology. I bit my lip, and decided to confront Mrs Biser.
I found her in the social studies office, drinking coffee, and working on the computer.
I apprached her with a smile, a handshake, and I introduced myself.
I then explained to her that it was I who was drawing the train pictures, and that I did not appreciate this little person talking trash about them.
She looked at me, and surprisingly began to apoligize. She went on about how all the kids loved the pictures, and that she had no idea who the little punk writting stuff was.
I told her I didn't need an apology, just permission to hang over 100 photocopies on her black board.
To my surprise, she told me that is was a grand idea.
I thanked her graciously, and I hurried to the room. First, I wrote the note.
"Hi agian. Thank you for encouraging my to draw even more pictures! As a thank you, here are 100 photo copies of one of my drawings, just for you, and free of charge! Have a nice day!, JLS".
I taped it in the center of the board, and very quickly started taping of pictures.
Kids started arriving to class, watching me with wide eyes. I must admit, I looked crazy.
Just as the bell rang, I finished the last picture, and I bolted down the hall to my 1st period, faster than anything on CSX's rails :)
The waiting began.
In my 4th period, I noticed two girls had taken copies of my pictures, and put them into their binders. Elie said "Jeff, your in for a surprise in 5th period!".
I didn'y know how to take this...it might not be a good thing.
5th period, lunch before class, I ran into room 256. Mr Bonfels is another teacher who uses this room for one period before leaving. He was going through the dorrway when I got there.
He pulled me aside, and said
"Are you the kid drawing train pictures on the board?"
"Yes"
"Well, look on the board, I think you'll like it. Oh, and by the way.,. that punk @$$ that was writting stuff...well, I caught him writing something this period, caught him red handed, and he's being put in an in school suspension for several days"
I didn't belive it. I had beaten him...without confrontation....without fighting....I outwitted him.
I walked into the room, and in amazment, looked at the board.
People had taken pictures, and signed their names where they had taken them...and written incredible messages like "Jeff is my hero" and "I love Jeff", and "Keep drawing Jeffrey".
It was quite a sight.
I wrote another note.
"Wow, thanks. I had no idea I'd get something like this, I had no idea it'd turn out like this. Thank you. This for all the kids who get made fun of, all the people who make fun of me, all those spineless pr!ck$, thank you, you can have a peice of me. Thank you so much, engineer Jeff"
After lunch, everyone was going up to the board, taking a picture, and signing their name. It was somethng, everyone was all lined up, I felt so great.
I had to leave that classroom for 6th, and then 7th period.
I left everything up.
Late 7th period, I decided that Mrs Biser shouldn't have to clean everything up, and that it'd be responsible on my end to erase everything. I ran up there late in the day.
I opened the door, and the class grew quiet. To my amazment, everyone started clapping, and chearing. I was flattered....nothing like it.
I took down the remaining pictures (very few, maybe 3, or 4), and erased all the writting.....the messages bleeding through the smeared chalk powder.
I thanked Mrs Biser, and flew back down to the portables.
My day had ended.
I continued to draw pictures up to the end of school, and I was no widely known for what I did. I had random people comming up to me in the halls thanking me, and saying hi. They didn't have to, but they chose to.
One nice after effect was one day I was in the hall, and this girl I'd never met before came up to me, and asked "Hey, are you the dude who draws trains on the board". I told her that I was, and for a moment, she shared with me how much they brightend up her day, and I had written some cool quotes, and song lyrics along with the pictures. I thanked her, and she pecked me on the cheek, and said "See ya around".
I'd never imagine what happend did....more people cared about me than I thought, and I had given this one Kevin Wiederman a first class ticket through the school's justice system (which is pretty pathetic)
So, next time somone makes fun of you for liking trains, look at them and smile, and say "Have a nice day".
Stay safe,-Jeffrey Sessa