Front of the Class Page #2

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What he needs at home are some clear boundaries.

He needs to understand that this behavior is totally unacceptable.

And that, Mrs. Cohen, is your job.

The hardest part was knowing how tough I made things for Mom.

I tried as best as I could for her.

Make sure he keeps taking his medication, OK?

And for Dad?

Strike three!

I played sports.

On the ball field, I fit right in.

I mean, everybody makes

funny noises and has strange tics at a baseball game.

Go, Bobo!

Come on, Brad!

Thank you very much.

All right. What can l get you?

Hey, guys. I got something pretty exciting to tell you.

Honey, don't eat so fast. You're gonna get the hiccups.

He's always got the hiccups.

You're a hiccup!

Listen, hey! Would you just relax? .

Mom says you're not taking your meds.

How are you ever...how are you ever going to calm down

if you don't do what the doctor tells you to do?

Pills just make it worse.

Oh I see. So you're a doctor now, too?

He's Dr. Bobo.

Shut up!

All right, guys, let's eat, guys.

I have a very important announcement to make.

Guys? Guys! All right. That's it. We're going back to the car. Come on.

I'm still hungry

You know what would be nice? One day without you acting up.

One.

Wait up, Dad.

So, what's the announcement, Dad?

I've been seeing someone.

What do you mean seeing somebody?

Her name is Diane, and she...

Brad, please! Stop doing that!

I can't.

I mean, nothings' happened yet, but...

how would you guys feel about having a stepmom?

No way!

We've already got a Mom!

Well. Now you're gonna have two.

I talked to your mom about it and she's fine with it. She said...

I said STOP It! STOP It!

See, I really couldn't blame Dad for losing it.

My tics drove him nuts.

Because, like my teachers,

he had no name for my strange behavior.

Except ''insufferable''.

Now, somehow I don't know how, I made okay grades.

But, what would take a normal person an hour,

took me two.

Or three. I mean, I loved learning,

but I hated, hated reading.

Trying to concentrate brought out the worst in my Constant Companion.

Brad? Come up here, please.

I know you think you're the class clown, but I've had it with you.

I can't help help it.

That's what you always say. I don't want to hear any more excuses.

Your classmates are trying to study...

...and your clowning makes it impossible.

I'm sorry.

Don't apologize to me. Apologize to them.

Eyes up here, everyone. Sit up straight, please.

Brad has something to say to you.

I'm sorry l...

that you can't study because of me.

And?

You promise never to make any more silly noises ever again.

Promise I won't make any more silly noises ever again.

Take your seat. All of you, back to your books.

As difficult as this may be for you,

Mrs. Cohen, I assure you,

the teachers are at their wits end.

I understand that, of course...

Sharon, would you hold all my calls?

but all we...

Now, this has got to be the last chance. The very last chance.

Brad, look, I sent for your mother

because things have just gotten out of control here.

Now, she's going to take you home today.

You can come back...

Can't help it.

Sorry, what did you say?

He said he can't help it.

Right.

What if he's telling the truth?

You've got a bright boy, Mrs. Cohen,

but making excuses for him...

Making excuses is not going to help.

Now, he needs to use this time to ask himself ...

Brad! Com'on. Let's go.

...this question: "Why am I sabotaging myself? "

I don't care if they expel me. I hate that school.

Well, it's that school or another school.

I hate all schools. Why are we going here ?

To find some answers.

I can't go in the library

they'll throw me out. Please, Mom.

All right, com'ere. Sit over here.

Well, maybe we're just going down the wrong track.

Who?

All of us.

Get off me!

Wet Willie!

Oh no, wet Willie!

I know you're busy, Norman,

I won't take up much of your time

but I really think you should hear this

Boys, keep it down, I'm trying to talk to your Dad!

I wanna talk to him!

In a minute! Keep it down!

Listen. You know, those teachers and that doctor,

to them it's all about bad parenting which, of course,

comes down to me because I'm the only one who here

No. I'm not blaming you, Norman.

In fact, I'm going to stop blaming myself.

I was talking to a friend

and she think the doctors are missing something.

I got this stack of medical books from the library.

Mom, watch out! And, I've been doing a little...

research...

Stop saying he just needs more discipline, Norman!

Nothing I do helps

He is out of control and I'm at the end of my rope

Can I talk to Dad?

Can you just wait a minute, honey?

MOM!

All right. But give him back to me when you're done.

What is it, Jeffrey?

Hey, Dad.

Yeah, it was a great game

I got two base hits and a walk.

Sorry I cause you so much trouble, Mom.

I want you to read something in this book I found.

It's a medical book that

might explain why you make all those noises.

I hate reading, Mom

Read.

"Tourette Syndrome. "

That, that's Brad, isn't it?

The noises and the twitches...

I'll still need to do more tests but, umm, you could be right.

We may have been headed down the wrong road, here.

I've never actually seen a case of Tourette's before.

So at last my Constant Companion had a name...

This says there's no cure.

But that may have changed. This is an old book

That hasn't changed, Mrs. Cohen. I'm very sorry.

Yeah, but they're still looking for a cure, right?

I mean, they will find one, won't they?

They they...have to find...

It's OK, Mom. We'll get through this, all right.

Oh, come here.

SEE? There's a reason, Dad.

Joop, joop, I'm not being weird on purpose.

Listen, uh, Brad. l, um...

All right. Well, it's all I wanted to say. Bye.

Finally, my dad believed me. But he never believed in me.

That I would succeed. That I could teach.

Hello, this is Brad.

A dog? Ahh, yes. Yes, ma'am, that's my dog.

Ahh, OK. Yes. Yes, I can be there 11am.

My very first interview...

Great. That sounds great. OK. Thank you.

I tried not to over-react. I help in my tics.

YES! Waffle, yes!

After that first call, I got two more:

three interviews with three principals.

Needless to say,

my Constant Companion was more than a little enthusiastic.

Well, I see you only your bachelor's degree.

Are you planning to get your Master's?

Yes, sir. JOOP! As soon as I can.

Well, we don't require it for entry level...

-but if you're serious about...-I'm very serious.

I want to make teaching my life.

I, ahh, I make these noises because I have Tourette Syndrome.

I'd like to tell you about it.

It's a Neurological disorder where my brain

sends mixed signals to my body.

It's like a sneeze. It's irrepressible.

...a couple of weeks, and I'll give you a call.

OK! OK. Thank you very much.

Thanks. Take care.

Well. Strike one.

But, like Mom always said, don't ever give up.

When I was little, Mom never stopped researching because,

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