kiss a cobra. They asked for one volunteer from our SEAL team. For some reason I volunteered.”
“Wow. Really?”
“Yeah.”
“And you kissed him.”
“Somehow, yes. It took a long time and a lot of courage, but you are right. Eventually I realized I had to keep calm. The calmer I was the easier it was to get closer to the cobra.”
“And you weren’t scared?”
“I was terrified. At least at first.”
“Wow. I’m going to tell everyone at school that.”
“You might not have to, honey.”
“Why dad?”
“Cole.”
“Jasmine, I’m going to come to your school today and give a presentation. About discipline, fitness, and making the right choices for you as an individual.”
“You’re coming to school! Today?”
“Yep.”
“Cool! I can’t wait.”
“Do you have Ms. Compton for math last period?”
“No. I have math in the morning. And Ms. Compton isn’t my teacher for any subjects. I just met her for the first time in the parking lot during Parent’s Day.”
“Ok. Well then, we won’t see each other. At least in the classroom. Maybe in the halls though or after school.”
Jasmine laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
“So today dad will come to school to pick us both up.”
I guess you’re right.
“You’re like Billy Madison. Back to school.”
“Very funny. Not like that, but yes, I’m going back to school today.”
“Cool. I can’t wait.”
“OK, team. Are we ready to head out?” Jax asked.
“You bet.” I replied.
“OK, we’re off.”
We dropped Jasmine off at school and headed to the gym just in time to take the shipment. We laid out the mats and then headed back out for light bulbs and some simple sparring gloves we could find at the sporting good store in case anyone signed up that was a little more advanced.
We stopped for a long lunch and caught up on old times from Thailand. Cobras, jungle militants, and beautiful beaches. All amazingly close to inebriated backpackers enjoying gap year travel and summer holidays. Hard to believe how close chaos was to paradise. After lunch we returned to the gym and put in all the lights.
“That does it. We’re ready to go.”
“We are. And now if you don’t mind can I get a ride to school?”
“A ride? Brother, I’m going to sit in on this presentation. If it’s OK with you at least.”
“That would be the best.”
“Then let’s do this.”
An urban handshake and a slaps on the shoulder and we were off.
We arrived at the reception and I immediately noticed a familiar face. She stood and offered her hand.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Callahan. Nice to see you again.”
“My pleasure. Last time I didn’t get your––”
“Rebecca. Rebecca Rader.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Miss Rader.”
“All mine, Mr. Callahan. And sorry if I was a little rough around the edges last time.”
“I didn’t even notice. Believe me, where I come from that qualifies as a warm welcome.”
Rebecca laughed. “Miss Compton told me about your background. Very impressive.”
“Thanks. Definitely some interesting times. Any time I didn’t have to kick down a door I felt like I was a VIP visitor.”
Rebecca laughed again. “Well you’re definitely our VIP here at the school today. Everyone has been talking about your visit.”
“Great. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone. Especially the students. It’s been awhile since I was their age and I want to see where they’re at. Emotionally, mentally, and of course physically.”
“We have a lot of great kids. That’s for sure. But I think once they hear your story they’ll want to become even greater.”
“I hope so and yes, I’m excited about the possibilities for the youth
“Wow. Really?”
“Yeah.”
“And you kissed him.”
“Somehow, yes. It took a long time and a lot of courage, but you are right. Eventually I realized I had to keep calm. The calmer I was the easier it was to get closer to the cobra.”
“And you weren’t scared?”
“I was terrified. At least at first.”
“Wow. I’m going to tell everyone at school that.”
“You might not have to, honey.”
“Why dad?”
“Cole.”
“Jasmine, I’m going to come to your school today and give a presentation. About discipline, fitness, and making the right choices for you as an individual.”
“You’re coming to school! Today?”
“Yep.”
“Cool! I can’t wait.”
“Do you have Ms. Compton for math last period?”
“No. I have math in the morning. And Ms. Compton isn’t my teacher for any subjects. I just met her for the first time in the parking lot during Parent’s Day.”
“Ok. Well then, we won’t see each other. At least in the classroom. Maybe in the halls though or after school.”
Jasmine laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
“So today dad will come to school to pick us both up.”
I guess you’re right.
“You’re like Billy Madison. Back to school.”
“Very funny. Not like that, but yes, I’m going back to school today.”
“Cool. I can’t wait.”
“OK, team. Are we ready to head out?” Jax asked.
“You bet.” I replied.
“OK, we’re off.”
We dropped Jasmine off at school and headed to the gym just in time to take the shipment. We laid out the mats and then headed back out for light bulbs and some simple sparring gloves we could find at the sporting good store in case anyone signed up that was a little more advanced.
We stopped for a long lunch and caught up on old times from Thailand. Cobras, jungle militants, and beautiful beaches. All amazingly close to inebriated backpackers enjoying gap year travel and summer holidays. Hard to believe how close chaos was to paradise. After lunch we returned to the gym and put in all the lights.
“That does it. We’re ready to go.”
“We are. And now if you don’t mind can I get a ride to school?”
“A ride? Brother, I’m going to sit in on this presentation. If it’s OK with you at least.”
“That would be the best.”
“Then let’s do this.”
An urban handshake and a slaps on the shoulder and we were off.
We arrived at the reception and I immediately noticed a familiar face. She stood and offered her hand.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Callahan. Nice to see you again.”
“My pleasure. Last time I didn’t get your––”
“Rebecca. Rebecca Rader.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Miss Rader.”
“All mine, Mr. Callahan. And sorry if I was a little rough around the edges last time.”
“I didn’t even notice. Believe me, where I come from that qualifies as a warm welcome.”
Rebecca laughed. “Miss Compton told me about your background. Very impressive.”
“Thanks. Definitely some interesting times. Any time I didn’t have to kick down a door I felt like I was a VIP visitor.”
Rebecca laughed again. “Well you’re definitely our VIP here at the school today. Everyone has been talking about your visit.”
“Great. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone. Especially the students. It’s been awhile since I was their age and I want to see where they’re at. Emotionally, mentally, and of course physically.”
“We have a lot of great kids. That’s for sure. But I think once they hear your story they’ll want to become even greater.”
“I hope so and yes, I’m excited about the possibilities for the youth
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