Unfortunate Incident.

So I had a class today that consisted of a collection of Language Students who were really, really good. Except for the last class.

I caught a couple of 9th Grade boys passing a note, and when I reached out a hand and indicated a demand, one of them crumpled it and threw it in the trash can, apparently thinking I wouldn't fish it out. I did. I sense a challenge when I see one, and I thought nothing of it. However, this particular note was a back-and-forth exchange of explicitly sexual, degrading, and pornographic descriptions of what these two boys would do to their usual (female) teacher.

So I kept it and tucked it in my open shirt breast pocket. They immediately got very quiet.

My plan was to clip it to the substitute report at the end of the day and secure it. I thought, during the 1-1/2 hour block, that having the piece of paper was a lure to a fish, but dismissed this idea, as who would be so dumb as to try for my clothing and person in a public school classroom?

WELL.

The final bell rang, the last recipient of the note was walking out, and made a grab for the note in my shirt. I swear, I swear, I did not plan this. He was waiting for his chance. I did not tempt him or anything, I really didn't think he'd go for it. His hand flashed out to my shirt and grabbed the note and my hand came up just as fast to grab his sleeve. This dummy thought he could be quick, not knowing my background and reflexes.

We ended up in a tugging match in the classroom, in front of the entire class, who exited as fast as they could. This kid has me by the shirt, and is trying to yank me around. I instructed him, in my best 'STREET SURVIVAL' voice, "Let go". He tells me, "You let go!" I tell him, "Not happening". He pulled his left hand back (we were both right handed) as if to throw a punch, and I opened my palm to go for his face, in anticipation of lifting him off his feet and slamming the back of his skull into the floor and knocking him out.

He started getting scared, I could see it, because unlike all the civilians he usually deals with, I'm something different. He said, "Let go of my arm!" I looked down and discovered I was holding his shirt sleeve along with half the note. I opened the two bottom fingers and let his sleeve go, and he wrenched free and grabbed the note again. In that split second I considered grabbing his wrist, but did not do it. If I'd grabbed him, I don't think that would have ended without an injury. This time I let him do it: he had already cooked his own goose by committing battery on a teacher in front of witnesses.

He got his note and tried to stuff it in his pocket. I walked around him and blocked the door, and told him, "You're arrested. You're going down, son".

He took the note, stuffed it in his mouth, chewed it up and swallowed it. He said, "Now you got no way to prove I did it!"

I stepped back from the door and let him go.

This is a generally good class, and when asked, they will describe exactly what happened. I know that. Also, I talked to security, the rep, and a couple other people about this fool, and he will not be attending school in the future. And he has set himself on his own path.