Cody Carries On

Cody Carries On

Chapter 4: Sensei and Sensitivity

Yolei and Cody reached school. He bowed to her, and she watched as the boy went off toward his lower grade home room. She reached her own home room, and placed her overweight book back in the cubby square bearing her name. Yolei discreetly checked the two nestled Digimon, who were sleeping off breakfast. Good. She sat down at her desk, took out pen and paper, and crafted a short note to the mythology teacher -- who as only luck could have it, also taught Yolei history for first period.

Yolei concentrated on who she was writing to. She really liked her a lot even though some kids didn't. Sure, this teacher liked things done by the book. However, she also did a lot of neat things for her students: leading field trips, attending lock-ins, even directing a school play. She did know about Digimon and the Digidestined. Most importantly to Yolei, this teacher seemed to have an extra soft spot when it came to Cody. The girl had seen the teacher let Cody "rescue" her from being left without a partner at many youth events, though Yolei knew full well that it was for the boy's benefit. Yes, this was someone she could trust. Yolei wrote:

Sensei:

We need your help for our friend Cody Hida. This has something to do with the Digimon and being Digidestined. We must see you in private about it, please.

In your trust,

Yolei and Upamon.

She folded the note carefully and pocketed it. Morning announcements seemed to take forever. Finally, the bell for first period rang. Yolei blended in with the other students getting their backpacks and herding out the door, heading more purposely than usual for her history class.

The teacher she needed had just come in and was getting settled at her desk. Yolei hurried to act while the rest of the classroom was still a bustling crowd scene. She walked right up to the teacher and handed her the note saying, "Sensei, here's an ... an extra credit project I think you can help me with." The teacher took the note. Sensei, as the children called her here, was puzzled, and Yolei looked puzzled too. The girl almost instantly took to her seat. The teacher had an urge to halt Yolei's retreat and ask questions, but thought better of it. If Yolei had wanted to speak openly now she wouldn't have handed over a folded note. Sensei understood the finer points of classroom communications, so she read the note.

Yolei braced herself, and was ready when the teacher looked up from reading the note. For just a moment Sensei's face was a mix of surprise, skepticism, and concern. She covered that look over quickly with composure. She was a cool customer -- no wonder Cody liked her. Yolei nodded just once to Sensei, knowing once would be enough.

Without missing a beat Sensei called the class to attention, and while outlining the day's lesson, she jotted something down quickly, knowing that only one of her students actually saw her doing it at all. Sensei began routinely. "I'll circulate today's attendance sheet now. Yolei, could you come get this started for your side of the room please?"

"Yes, Sensei, right away." Yolei retrieved the sheet, signed it and passed it back to the next desk in her row. What she did not pass back was the plain white post-a-note Sensei had adhered on the back of the sheet.. The girl kept her hand over this, sending a clear sign to the teacher -- message received. At her first discreet opportunity Yolei read the reply, keeping it shaded with one hand:

"Yolei:

My office just after your lunch. Bring the little yellow fluffball with you.

Sensei saw Yolei practically melt with relief. The girl beamed a smile at her with another slight nod. The lesson began. "OK, people, let's get to it." She noticed that the white post-a-note was no longer on Yolei's desk. Sensei had to smile. No need to rent that spy movie at the video store tonight, that was for sure.

Lunch came quickly enough that day. Sensei admitted Yolei to her office saying, "As you might imagine Yolei, you have my undivided attention, but lunch will be over soon, so just what is going on? I checked and Cody is in class today, he seems fine."

"That's what I thought too ..." began Yolei "... until Upamon showed up at my door this morning." The girl produced Upamon from her backpack, and Poromon for good measure. The pink one wanted to formally reintroduce itself to Sensei, but the yellow thing, the one that belonged to -- no partnered with-- Cody, wasted no time. His name was, he reminded her, was Upamon, and he quickly revealed everything he knew about little Cody's nightmare, the increasing frequency and intensity of this dream, Cody's refusal to bother his family or friends with it for help, and a vivid account of the boy's awful night just past. "With Cody doing so much great stuff for the Digital World every day," Yolei supplemented, "it's bound to be making him think more about how proud his dad would be if he were here to know about it."

"Hmm ..." mused Sensei. "I would guess that because all of this is a collective secret from your parents, that telling Mrs. Hida, Cody's grandfather, or just about anyone else is not much of an option?"

"Yes, exactly." Yolei confirmed.

"What do you think I can do about this Yolei?" Sensei asked.

The girl did not hesitate for a second. "Well, I noticed that in one of our textbooks it talks about regression therapy and you've told us in class that you took some psychology courses, so I thought that you could ....

"You thought I could what? Hypnotize Cody?" Sensei exclaimed. She felt a headache coming on. "Oh Yolei, I did take some psych courses, and I know some elementary relaxation exercises, but hypnotism as therapy is no parlor trick for amateurs. If something were to go wrong, I could be in real legal trouble. I'm sorry but I just can't --"

"Please!" Yolei begged, standing up. This girl was angry now, and did little to hide it. "You've just got to do it Sensei. If you don't help him, Cody's going to go home today and no matter how many people are around him, he's going to be lonely, because he's all locked up inside. Tonight he'll probably have that dream again, and cry until he drops again. He'll get up tomorrow and be lonelier than he is today. This might go on until he's so lonely that he doesn't want to even be with himself. Don't you care about Cody!" She was about to cry, her Poromon was about to cry, and Upamon was bawling.

"That's enough, all of you!" Sensei said firmly. "Yolei sit down and get a hold of yourself, Upamon be quiet before somebody hears you."

"I'm so sorry Sensei." Yolei apologized. "It's just --"

"It's just you care about Cody that much don't you?" offered Sensei. The girl nodded. "Well so do I Yolei. Look, I'll make you a deal, You and I will put Cody through a little test. to see if he's as bad off as you think he is. The teacher checked her student's apprehension immediately. "Don't worry, he won't suspect a thing if we get it right. If, and only if I think Cody's emotional state is truly in immediate danger I'll try to do what you ask. But, if not then it's no dice. That's the deal Yolei, take it or leave it."

"We'll take it." accepted Upamon, instantly.

"Yes, we will." Yolei agreed.

"Alright." Sensei returned, "The test I have in mind might seem a little rough on Cody if he's hurting like Upamon says he is. You have to play it to the hilt though Yolei, are you ready for that?"

"Yes Sensei, for his sake yes I am."

"OK then," Sensei resolved. "Hide the Digimon, and just follow my lead."

A few minutes later Yolei happened to wander up to Cody, who sat by himself on the playground as the Lunch period waned. She engaged him in idle, one-sided conversation. A few moment's later Cody's favorite Sensei happened along as well.

"Why hello Cody, Yolei." Sensei smiled. "I hope your looking forward to mythology class this afternoon."

"Yes, Sensei. " the children chorused, and Cody bowed. She noticed he looked pale and drawn, giving even more credit to Yolei's concern.

"That's great. Say, can I get your opinions on a Greek myth?"

"Yes, Sensei." The pair chorused again.

"Thank you, Now, I was thinking about the fate of that little Greek boy Icarus. Do you know what happened to him Cody?"

"Yes, Sensei. He flew too close to the sun and he -- the boy paused with empathy -- he fell into the sea ... and drowned." Sensei saw the boy shudder." She knew she had touched on Cody's fear of deep water, she'd seen manifested during a field trip to a public aquarium. She hated doing it, and she'd hate what she did next even more.

"Yes Cody that's right." Sensei pressed on, "Who was more to blame for Icarus' death? Himself or Dadylus, his father?"

"That's easy, Sensei," Yolei blurted, "Icarus was to blame. I mean, his father told him what to do once and that should have been enough, right? Icarus just wasn't being responsible enough." Her delivery was flawless, and judging by the stunned look Cody gave her, very effective. It felt awful.

"I'd have to agree, Yolei." Sensei continued immediately, "Icarus failed his father's instructions. What a disappointment he was as a son --"

"But." Cody offered.

"-- what an unthinking --"

"But, Sensei." the boy implored.

"--what an unreliable --"

"No Sensei." he insisted.

"-- unworthy little child that Icarus was."

"NO! Cody growled, actually growled, at Sensei. "The father was to blame. He should have stayed nearer to his son. Icarus was only a boy, and the father left him behind to fend for himself. The father was to blame, can't either of you see that?"

Sensei and Yolei were both alarmed by Cody's reaction. Quiet, sullen Cody was now the picture of rage. His face glowed red with anger. His body was shaking from his shoulders to his shoes. Small fists were clinched in outrage. He looked ready to bolt. Then the bell ending Lunch period rang sharply. Cody remembered where he was and who he was talking to.

"Oh. Sensei," the boy moaned, "I am very sorry I yelled at you, please forgive me, I beg you."

Time for a little damage control now. "It's OK Cody, you obviously didn't agree with us, and I wasn't doing a good job of listening to you. Maybe Yolei and I shouldn't have been so hard on Icarus."

"You were probably right though." the boy relented.

"It's OK, really." Sensei said, "Now go on, and get to your next class, and I'll see you for mythology."

"You still want me there?" the boy wondered.

"Of course I do." she replied.

"Thank you, Sensei." he bowed again to Sensei and Yolei, then turned and fled.

"Oh poor Cody." Yolei said in a gasp.

Sensei turned to the girl, "OK, Yolei you win. Just make sure he gets to mythology class, and be ready when I need you. I have to get a few things together, but I'll do it."

"Yes, Sensei" Yolei turned to go herself "Sensei," she called back, "You can help Cody can't you?"

"I really hope so Yolei. " The woman wished, " I hope so."