56: Ms. Pataki Student Teacher
Do you care if you're the favorite child? How about if you even get along with your siblings?
I never know what new accomplishment Olga has to brag about when she comes home for a visit. All I know is, her presence is one of the few times Bob and Miriam have a reason to get along.
Things were a little different this time. The moment she was in the car with us, she wasn't bragging about her latest accomplishments.
She was filling us in on some dumb child psychology class that she wanted to use to bring her closer to ME!
I didn't see it working. I figured she'd be gone in a few days and things would be back to normal. Unfortunately, she had been doing some work behind my back…
" I have a surprise for you baby sister. I can't tell you what it is until tomorrow!"
In class the next morning, telling Pheebs about Olga's crazy plan to bring us closer, it was interrupted by The Golden Child herself!
"Surprise baby sister! I'm not really here for a visit. I'm here to practice my teaching skills. I was going to teach students in Alaska. Then I thought this would be the perfect way to grow closer to you!"
Ever since that first day of preschool, when I was mocked for showing affection for Arnold, I made sure no one knew I had a sensitive side.
I wasn't about to let Olga ruin that. Later that night, I felt I should let her know that (not that she ever listens to me).
She insisted she would never do anything to embarrass me, but the two of us just don't connect. There are families who can deal with one another's differences (because they know what bothers the other when).
Then there are families with members who just can't catch a clue!
After telling embarrassing stories about me in class, then having the absolute nerve to give me detention for defending myself for it, I decided the only way to deal with her… was by not seeing her.
"If Olga has a flat tire, she can't get to work. He-he."
Sitting alone on the bus, full of relief, my moment was interrupted when Olga said how great it would be that we could ride the bus together.
So plan A failed.
Plan B: Mess with her lesson plans!
"That's so strange, I seem to have misplaced my lesson plan?"
"Well that's okay, but what are we going to do without a lesson plan?"
"I don't want to overstep my boundaries, but maybe we could take the children to the park and organize a nature search?"
Of course Mr. Sensitive loved the idea! I just couldn't take it anymore. When she was away from home, I was neglected, when she was at home, it was just another chance to make me look like a loser!
Arnold saw me losing it when he insisted the only way through my problem was to make Olga listen to me.
That meant being blunt!
"The truth is Olga, I can't stand you!"
After telling her her first idea to go to Alaska would have made us closer, she took my word for it. Watching her fly away on that plan filled me with relief.
Deep down I may love her, but you don't always have to be near someone to feel that way about them. Trust me!
