Sticker Tears
I've never been one for making promises because I tend to try my best to stick to them and this causes a great deal of stress. Therefore, I'm too selfish to be selfish.

Anyway, I was reminded of another reason why I don't tend to lie/cheat/break a promise at work today. I teach English to primary school kids in Japan. They go absolutely mental over a sticker system I made to reward winning games or being creative with English. The only other group of people I've seen get that agitated and excited were junkies waiting for their methadone.

I forgot to bring my stickers with me last week for one of my lessons. I promised that I would bring them with me the following week and that I would give the winners two stickers as a reward. As I walked into the classroom today the cutest 6 year old kid you've ever seen came up to me with a massive, warm smile. She stuck out her hand in anticipation of her delayed prize... and then I realised I had forgotten them again.

She did not take this news well and I could see the spark in her eyes extinguish. She told me in Japanese that I had broken a promise and then she turned around close to tears and sat looking at the empty spaces on her sticker reward sheet. I've destroyed her trust in adults and foreigners forever.

Little bastard has made me feel guilty all day.
(bigbillybaws, Thu 2 Dec 2010, 14:57, 2 replies)

Ahh, yeah..
Kids are like that, you can almost see their little hearts breaking as another layer of cynicism grows over their soul when you let them down.

Hurts like a bastard to see...
(ceeej, Thu 2 Dec 2010, 20:59, closed)

Or you feel the bile and anger rising as another layer of cynicism grows over your soul
when you realise what bellicose malicious vindictive manipulative little cunts they can be.
( The Awful Puppy Bakery is still bored, Fri 3 Dec 2010, 17:13, closed)