It was the students' first day back at school after their long break. I had just gone outside after having lunch to enjoy a few moments of not teaching. The morning had been hectic because many of the students didn't have books and the teachers were even less organised.
So this assistant director;from another department who likes to throw his weight around our department because he is a guy and our assistant director is a woman; had his phone up to his ear and saw my pen in my pocket. It was a Noodler's Neponset, so it stood out. He saw my pen, pointed to it and said "Pen, pen, pen."
Reluctantly, I took it out of my pocket and asked him if he had ever used a fountain pen. To this he just replied "Pen, pen, pen."
So I explained to him that it was expensive and cost ten thousand baht.
To this he just replied "Pen, pen, pen."
He obviously didn't understand anything I was saying so I just put it back in my pocket and said "Expensive." And walked away.
Now I am willing to let people use my pens, with obvious precautions. I take off the cap myself so they don't try to rip off a screw cap. I stand there and watch how they use my pen. But when a person shows a complete inability to follow instructions and does not have enough regard for themselves to even remember to carry their own pen I am not going to risk my property to such a Philestine.
After one of his minions eventually found him a pen he gave me the dirtiest look that seemed to say "How dare you not give me what I want."
Since then I have found a cheap ballpoint pen that I carry in my pants pocket inside a plastic zip lock bag. It's in a plastic bag because I know where it has been.
The next time someone insists on using my pen with complete disregard to caring for other people's property they can chew on my dirty ball point pen.
Bookmarks