"Young man, what's wrong?" Principal Kenny asked Tom who was still crying. They were out in the hallway, but he made the right move by bringing him to his office so that no one could see what was going on.
"Don't be afraid to let me know what's going on. This is a no judgment free place." The principal told him, handing him tissues to wipe away his tears.
"I asked Jenny to be my girlfriend at Lunchtime and she rejected me." He revealed.
"Jenny? So you asked out Jenny Henderson?" The principal asked, confirming if it's the same student he knows.
"Yes, it was Jenny Henderson." He confirmed it, but not in a happy tone.
"Why did you ask her out? What did she say to you?" The Principal asked, giving him his full attention and listening carefully to what he's saying.
"Jenny was beautiful to me and I had a crush on her for the longest. I thought today was the right time to ask her out because I didn't want to miss my opportunity to ask her out." He paused to blow his nose, "When I asked her out, she told me that she will never go out with me. She said that I was fat, awkward, ugly, and not her type. She insulted me by saying that I should continue stuffing my stomach like a fatso." He cried again.
"I'm sorry that she treated you like that. No student or anyone should say awful things like that to anyone." The principal felt sympathetic for Tom. He hates seeing a student bullying and causing harm to another student. Before he could take any further action, he needed more information and time from Tom.
"Who else were there when you asked her out?" The principal asked more questions.
"The entire first grade witnessed. I asked Jenny out in front of her friends. Her friends laughed at me when she rejected me. I felt so embarrassed, I wanted to escape from school today." He explained.
"Tom... I'm going to say the realest things that I have ever said to one of my students. All I need you do is take a deep breath, wipe your tears and nose, and listen carefully. This is the greatest advice any man in your position would cherish for the rest of their lives." He told him.
"Yes, sir?" Tom did as he was told, wondering what the principal was going to say.
"I've been married to my wife for thirty years. The way I was able to fall in love with me was to focus on my own life and career." He said.
"What do you mean by that?" Tom was curious on what his principal was trying to explain to him.
"There were several moments in my life where I made the same mistake as you. You see an attractive woman that you desperately want to make your girlfriend or future wife. But you're too scared to talk to her because you believe she does not feel the same way. Then, you get that boost of confidence and you finally ask her out. In your mind, you want her to say 'yes' and you two will be happily ever after. In reality, she rejects you and you feel like the ultimate loser." He summerizes what Tom just went through. Tom was still waiting where he was going to take this.
"What I'm basically trying to say is that you are trying way to hard to make a woman fall in love with you." The principal got straight to the point.
"How am I trying too hard? What's wrong with a boy asking out a beautiful girl?" Tom questions him.
"There's nothing wrong with asking a woman out. It's human nature finding a person you are attracted to and wanting to ask them out on a date. But that's an outdated way to get a woman." He replied.
"How is it outdated?" Tom was persistent with the questions. The principal was surprised but amused with his interest on this topic.
"Back in the day, it was normal for men to approach women and ask them out. That was the most successful way to get a woman since there was no social media or the internet. Now that technology is stronger than ever, the dating world has changed drastically. I need to tell you something important." He said.
"What is it?" Tom asked.
"A lot of women nowadays do not like when men they never met before approach them and ask them out. There are some women that still like the old way of approaching and dating, but they are a rarity. Most women do not like being disturbed and they find that as harassment." He explained.
"But it was never crossed my mind to hurt Jenny. Am I in trouble for doing what I did?" Tom felt the water works coming again, feeling guilty about what he did.
"No, you're not in trouble. I know for a fact that you would never hurt a woman or anyone, you're a good man. Everything that happened to you today is what most men go through. I was once in your shoes." He eased Tom before he had a panic attack.
"What happened to you?" Tom really wanted to know what his principal went through.
"This happened before I met my wife. I was starting college and I saw the most prettiest woman I have seen. She wanted to become a principal just like me , which added to her attractiveness. One day, I had the courage to let her know how I was truly feeling since I was a petrified to ask her out let alone talk to her. I went up to her, asked her out and she rejected me by slapping me in the face." He explained.
"Why did she slap you?" Tom asked.
"I asked her out when she was already taken and her boyfriend came to pick her up." He revealed more.
"Oh", that's all Tom said.
"Yeah. The worst part was that she decided to transfer college because of me since she thought I was stalking her and never attempted to get to know her as a person." He said, could not believe he was telling this much information about his past to a first grader.
"Wow!" Tom was shocked.
"That moment taught me a lot of important lessons that any guy can learn. Lesson one, do not be afraid to talk to women and get to know them. Lesson two, just because you have a crush on her does not mean she feels the same way as you or she may be taken already. Lesson three, treat women like human beings. The last and most important lesson is to always focus on yourself." He told him.
"What do you mean by that last one?" Tom questioned.
"Women, no matter what age they are loves and appreciates a man that always puts himself first. They have a lot of respect for men that are their true selves, working hard to better their lives, and doing things that they are passionate about." He explained.
"Is that how you got your wife?" Tom asked. The principal's eyes did widen when Tom asked a question about his wife. But he did mention his wife first to the child, so he must answer.
"Yes. We have been friends since college. She always appreciated my love for teaching and care for children. She was so impressed with me that she gave me signals that she was into me." He replied.
"Can you tell me the signals she gave to you?" Tom was eager to know the secret.
"No, I can not disclose that!" The principal rejected his question.
"No?! I thought you were helping me to make a woman fall in love?" Tom questioned, feeling disappointed.
"You're the missing the point. I'm not teaching you how to make a woman fall for you. I'm telling you how to live your every day life. That is to focus on your life and live it without having to worry about a woman falling in love with you. Life is too short and I don't want you growing up doing the same thing you are doing now." He explained.
"Why?" Tom asked.
"You don't want to be in your 20s, 30s, 40s, and beyond hoping and wishing for a woman to fall in love with you. That is a sad life to live. You don't want to be remembered by that. Do you want that to happen to you?" He questioned Tom, inciting fear by staring angrily in his eyes.
"No, sir!" Tom did not hesitate to answer. Principal Kenny was happy with his response.
"Good. I have to let you go back to class because school is nowhere near done today." He told him.
"Alright" Tom said.
"Always keep your head up. Focus on being a kid and living your childhood to the fullest. If anyone else messes with you, I'm always here to help." He said.
"Thank you. What's going to happen to Jenny?" Tom curiously asked.
"Don't worry about that. Just focus on passing your class. Take care of yourself, young man." The principal told him. He appreciated Tom's willingness to learn and adapt, which was unique. Most kids who are six years old do not care about what adults have to tell them and only care about themselves. But Tom was understanding, patient, and willing to learn. He respected him and sees a bright future ahead of him.