Mao's Last Dancer - Li Cunxin [49]
When I’d finished he said, “Cunxin, I understand your anger and I think Teacher Gao was wrong. He shouldn’t have called you names. I will go to Director Xiao and tell her what you have told me. If Teacher Gao goes to her, she will at least have both sides of the story. However, before I go to Director Xiao, I want you to go to Teacher Gao and talk to him. I know how difficult this will be, but I want you to give it a try. He is not a tiger. Have you ever told Teacher Gao how you feel about him calling you names? Are you the only boy he has singled out?”
Teacher Xiao’s questions made me think. I wasn’t the only student Teacher Gao shouted at and called names.
“Sit down, Cunxin,” Teacher Xiao said again. “I want to tell you a story …”
One of the guards in an emperor’s palace went to his teacher. He wanted his teacher to make him the best archer in the land. The teacher told him to go away. The guard returned every day and begged his teacher to teach him. Day after day, week after week, month after month the guard came. He came in the rain and he came in the snow. After one whole year, the teacher was moved by the guard’s perseverance and determination and finally accepted him as his student. The teacher asked him to pick up a heavy bow and hold it up. After a few minutes the guard’s arms started shaking with tiredness. The teacher made him carry very heavy loads in each hand every day. After a while, when he picked up the heavy bow again it felt like a feather in his hands. One day he asked his teacher, when would he teach him how to shoot an arrow? The teacher told him that he wasn’t ready yet and instead asked him if he could see anything far into the sky. He looked up and looked as hard and as far as he could but couldn’t see anything. His teacher told him to look at a tiny little spider in a faraway tree that he could hardly see. He kept focusing on it with one eye at a time. Gradually he began to see the spider clearly and eventually when he used both his eyes the little spider seemed as large as his shield. His teacher said that he was now ready to teach him how to shoot an arrow. Soon the guard became the best archer in the land.
“Remember, Cunxin, nothing is impossible,” Teacher Xiao said.
I left Teacher Xiao’s office full of hope. I ran to Teacher Gao’s office as soon as our next class was finished. He was just going to the canteen for lunch.
“Teacher Gao, may I talk to you for one minute?”
He looked at me angrily. “Better be brief! Come in!”
Once I closed the door he said, “Why were you late for class today?”
“I was waiting to use the bathroom,” I replied.
“Why wasn’t anybody else late? Are you the only person needing to go to the bathroom?” he asked.
“There was a long line. I’m sorry.”
“If you showed as much enthusiasm for your dancing as for the bathroom, you wouldn’t be where you are with the standard of your dancing,” he fumed. “I accept your apology. Now, go to lunch!”
“Teacher Gao, could I tell you something?” I said.
“What?” he asked impatiently.
“I don’t like you calling me the boy with the brainless big head. What if I had called you the teacher with the brainless big head?”
His face turned from red to green and back to red. He sat down again.
“I know I haven’t been good at your classes and my dancing standard is poor,” I continued, “but I was very homesick at first. Now my attitude has changed. I hope you’ll give me a chance and judge me by my future work.”
He was speechless. After what seemed a very long time he said, “I’m sorry I called you something I shouldn’t have. I won’t in the future as long as you work hard. Any other issues?”
“No.” I stood up and just as I was walking out he asked, “Cunxin, are you going to be able to do your split jumps in the exam?”
“I will,” I replied.
I ran down the stairs three at a time. I felt light. I wanted to fly into the air and sing happily like a river bird. I ran to the teachers’ section of the canteen and saw Teacher Xiao. I gently tapped him on his shoulder.