// a 9/11 we’ll never forget//

at 11:04 this morning i received a call from the principal of rhyan’s school.

he had brought something in his backpack he shouldn’t have,

something he’d been playing with outside yesterday at his dad’s.

something he just happened to forget was there & forgot to take out.

what was it?

oh — just an old [not live] 1940’s era hand grenade.

while sitting in class rhyan realized it was in the the side pocket

and panicked, asking his friend what he should do with it.

his friend was so afraid he asked to go to the bathroom,

and went straight to the front office to tell the principal.

the entire school was evacuated, the police were called.

rhyan had to meet with school officials & police officers,

to give a statement and recount the facts.

when i arrived i walked by a room where he was sitting alone,

and my heart just broke.

i met with the principal who assured me [after he’d talked to rhyan]

he realized the act wasn’t premeditated or malicious.

rhyan had to get all his things out of his locker and leave with me,

since we don’t yet know what disciplinary actions will be taken.

they’re meeting tonight & will let us know in the morning,

he could be expelled or just suspended for a few weeks.

rhyan’s beside himself, crying & obviously upset …

his dad and i sat down with him and talked it out,

and we were [surprisingly] calm while letting him give the details.

we stressed how disappointed we were in him,

how this is a learning experience & we still love him the same.

i felt it was key for us to keep our composure,

because i know his heart & know he’s a good kid …

i just can’t help but think — why today?