“Teacher, where I’m from we don’t have rules that force us to be someone we are not,” Yu-ning countered politely. “We draw, we play music, we write, we read, we create freely. You don’t need to teach the rules, you allow your heart to guide you.”
“I don’t care where you are from,” the teacher snapped. “There is a right way to do things and that is the way we do it here, little girl. Now get back to your class! Are you in Fujimura Sensei’s class?”
Yu-ning felt quite small standing next to the teacher, yet she didn’t flinch. “There are so many other, different ways to do things,” she continued. “You can’t live your life by rules alone. We are each different and unique, and what we discover within our heart is the best path for each of us.”
Percy was completely dumbfounded, watching Yu-ning stand up to the teacher. The other children had stopped writing and were also watching with keen interest, which made the teacher irate. Her eyes on her class, she addressed them as a whole. “Now listen to me, class. We all know that if you don’t follow the rules, you will get bad grades. If you get bad grades, you won’t be able to beat your peers and you won’t be successful in the future. The rules allow you to earn a title, get a superior job, and make money. That is success.”
Then she turned back to Yu-ning and said, “I am Genju Sensei. You will address me as Sensei. If you are not in Fujimura Sensei’s class, you must be a new student. Therefore, I will allow you this one mistake of challenging our rules, but it must not happen again. Did your parents bring you to the school? Why haven’t you checked in first with the headmistress? Never mind, take a seat and we will sort it out at lunch.” Sensei pulled out a chair from a desk next to Percy.
Yu-ning nodded as she sat down in the chair. “Yes, Sensei, but where I come from we have no titles. We create freely; we don’t compete and we aren’t judged or graded. There is no older or younger, bigger or smaller; everyone is the same and has something special to offer, so there is only healthy interaction, which builds us all,” Yu-ning explained wholeheartedly.
The teacher was taken aback by Yu-ning’s precociousness and intelligence. This vexed her, and she rapped her bamboo reed on Yu-ning’s desk with full force. “That’s unacceptable. You will follow the rules and the system like your classmates, and you will follow my instructions. Now, no more talking!” she said in a loud voice as she thwacked the reed again on the desk.
Percy and the other children were stupefied by Yu-ning’s audacity and courage to confront the teacher. They murmured among themselves, creating a commotion that was heard in the other classrooms. Percy looked up at the teacher and said softly, “Sensei, Yu-ning is right. You don’t need to follow the rules, either.”
The teacher threw Percy a wilting look, and through her teeth she said, “All of you, keep writing.” Then, in a lower voice for only Yu-ning to hear, she said, “How dare you question me! Everyone must follow the rules. Anyone who breaks the rules will be punished.”
Yu-ning was sitting peacefully at her desk, unfazed by the teacher’s anger. “But, Teacher, why can’t everyone just do what they love?” she questioned forthrightly. “A book holds only the view of its author. We should be free to express different views, especially those that flow from love and light.”
Percy looked at Yu-ning with deep respect and appreciation. “Yes, Sensei, can we write our own thoughts and inspirations?”
The teacher glared at Yu-ning and Percy. She looked up to see the whole class watching, as well as many children from other classes gathering in the hallways and looking through the windows in stunned silence. They were whispering to one another and nodding. One twelve-year-old girl said, “Wow, that little girl is so brave, and that boy, too.” Her friends nodded.
The teacher, feeling self-conscious, began to lose her resolve. She smoothed out her bun and said calmly and firmly, “Listen, everyone. The rules of this school have been in place for two centuries. They create the rules and laws we follow as a people. As your teacher, I have been trained in these studies and I have mastered them. I have more knowledge and more experience than you. I know what is right. You do what I tell you to do, and then you will not make mistakes. You will do well in life.”
The teacher took a deep breath. Yu-ning realized that she wanted the best for the children, and that the teacher believed order and regimentation would guide them on a path of righteousness and success. “If you don’t listen to me,” repeated the teacher for the whole class to hear, “I will have no choice but to send you to the headmistress’s office.” She said this while looking straight at Yu-ning. She turned to Percy and said, “And you know what that means for you, Percival. Didn’t I overhear you promising your mother better behavior in our last conference, when she was crying?”
“My mother just wants me to be happy, Sensei,” said Percy. “She has only ever wanted my happiness. But in this classroom I am not happy. There is no inspiration here. You don’t allow us to think for ourselves. How can I be successful if I am not happy?”
“Follow the rules!” the teacher exclaimed bitterly. “You climb professional ladders. You become elite members of society. You gain financial security. You succeed in life. That is what makes you happy. And if you don’t follow the rules, you will have to leave this classroom at once!”
The teacher pulled down her shirt and smoothed back her bun. “I have to attend a faculty meeting, and I want you all to open your books to page thirty and do lessons one through fifteen five times until I return. All the teachers are meeting with the headmistress now, and you are on the honor system.” She looked at her watch and added, “And I am already late! If you return to your studies immediately, I will not report you. The headmistress is the most powerful person here, and she will make your lives miserable if you do not listen to me this instant!”
She thrust a textbook at Yu-ning and said, “And that goes for you too, young lady. We will sort this out at lunch, upon my return.”
Twenty
Suparna
YU-NING REMAINED IN HER CHAIR as the teacher returned to the front of the classroom, the eyes of the class following her. From the back of the classroom where Yu-ning was sitting, she had a view of the only window whose shade was not drawn. The only other student with a view of the open window was Percy, who was looking at Yu-ning.
A sudden flash of color drew Yu-ning’s attention to the trees outside. As she peered through the window, she saw a familiar sight: Suparna, standing at the edge of a grove of pines! He had arrived in time to get the message from Cristobel, and had obviously made excellent time to arrive at the school just when Yu-ning needed him the most. Suparna was peering at the school, looking for any signs of her. Yu-ning raised her hands and began waving her arms back and forth to get Suparna’s attention.
Suparna, however, did not see her. She continued to wave her arms, trying to get him to look in the direction of the window. She saw that Suparna was gazing right at her, but he wasn’t able to see her because the sun was reflecting off the window from the outside. She quietly stood up, tiptoed to the window, and with all her effort, tried to pull it open. The window didn’t want to budge—it was apparent that it had been closed for quite a time.
Yu-ning felt the window move slightly, which allowed her to slip her fingers under the frame. She pulled with all her might, and to her surprise, the window flew open, making a loud bang! as it did. Yu-ning looked toward the tree line and saw that Suparna had heard the noise and was looking in her direction.
“You! What are you doing?” came the angry voice of the teacher from the head of the classroom. Yu-ning continued to wave her arms at Suparna, motioning for him to come to the classroom. Just as she thought Suparna had seen her, she felt a firm hand on her shoulder and was spun around by the teacher.
“I said what are you doing at the window? Students are not allowed to touch the windows,” the teacher said, pointing her finger in Yu-ning’s face. Then, glancing outside, she added, “And why were you doing exercises?” Yu-ning
was hopeful as the teacher peered toward the nearby grove of trees. But no one was there; Suparna had disappeared.
“I . . . I wasn’t doing exercises, Sensei. I was trying to get the attention of my friend Suparna,” Yu-ning said.
The teacher slammed the window shut, threw down the shade, and told Yu-ning not to move from her seat again until the break. “I don’t know who you are, young lady, but you are in big trouble. The headmistress will be very interested in talking to you, I can tell you that!” Yu-ning was crestfallen. Had Suparna seen her signaling for him to come to the classroom? She just knew if Sensei could meet Suparna, her attitude would change. She decided to appeal to the spark of life she sensed in the teacher, in spite of her stern warnings.
“Teacher, my friend Suparna is one of the most beautiful creatures you will ever see. He comes from light and love, and uses his gifts to help others—not to control them.”
“Suparna?” Percy asked quizzically.
Yu-ning nodded emphatically. “Yes, he’s here with us today—in the trees at the edge of the grass. He is magnificent, with colorful wings that fill up the sky. He is very powerful, with a vast heart and a noble mind. When Suparna expands his wings, a rainbow of colors shines brilliantly to inspire all people to do their best, because their best comes from the qualities that characterize him! His bright, colorful wings have touched my heart, and they are here today to touch your heart. I’m telling you this because I am hoping he will come today, and this is your chance to let go and surrender.” The children were quiet and riveted. Even the teacher was speechless, and just stood there breathing deeply.
“Oh wow, I want to see Suparna!” Percy exclaimed.
“I hope you can see him, too,” said Yu-ning. “Each of you needs to believe and you need your teachers to guide you from this path of habitual learning to illumination.”
“Nonsense,” muttered the teacher. “Stop wasting time imagining impossible things!” But her voice had dropped, and she sounded hesitant.
Yu-ning noticed this instantly and appealed to her. “Sensei, you have been misguided as well. Deep down you know this. You want the best for your students; that is why you have followed the rules. But what if this isn’t the best path for them? What if anything is possible, and all you had to do is say, ‘Maybe, I don’t know for sure’? Can any of us, really without a doubt, know all the mysteries of this beautiful universe?”
The teacher was silent.
At that moment, there was a loud banging noise on the roof of the classroom. For the first time, Yu-ning noticed that the roof had two wide rows of windows that met in the middle—like an old solarium. Though the windows were painted black, there were handles at the ends of the rows, which Yu-ning assumed were for opening them. The windows made a loud popping noise, and dust floated down from above onto the heads of the children. “What is going on here? What kind of trick is this?” the teacher asked, now feeling utterly confused.
Then, with a loud whooshing sound, the windows opened outward, and sunlight poured into the room. As the teacher and all the students gazed up in shock, there, hovering in the sky, was Suparna, who dove down and swooped into the large classroom. It was a spectacular vision. The shining, colorful bird had a smile on his face, and his bright colors illuminated his lustrous wings. The classroom immediately brightened as he appeared, and the light began to disperse, spreading across the entire school grounds.
“Suparna! Oh, you did see me!” Yu-ning was so excited to see him again. She waved and bowed reverently. He smiled broadly at everyone and stood in the middle of the classroom, the children having scrambled out of the way to give him space.
Suparna didn’t say a word but simply nodded at Yu-ning and then at the stunned teacher. “Hello, miss. I assume you are the teacher here. Don’t be afraid—I am not here to harm you, nor is Yu-ning. Listen to her wisdom, and know that her heart is true.” Then, turning to Yu-ning, he said, “I will be waiting for you outside, Yu-ning. You know what to do!” In a matter of seconds, he darted back into the sky and disappeared over the roof of the school. Slowly the colors faded.
“Oh my,” Percy said, astounded. “That is him, that is Suparna! It’s true! Everything Yu-ning said is true!” He followed Yu-ning’s example and bowed. Soon, with their teachers attending the board meeting, all the students had left their classrooms and congregated in the hallways outside Yu-ning’s classroom. They were also bowing together.
Sensei gasped and brought her hands to her mouth. Her face was pale as her eyes remained fixed on the exact place where Suparna had vanished. She collected herself and walked slowly to the front of the room to sit at her desk. She sat there for a long time, staring at the class and Yu-ning and Percy. She smiled and nodded gently at them. Percy understood instantly that she was telling the children to do as they pleased.
Percy was beaming. “Yu-ning, I don’t know how you did it, but you transformed Sensei! It’s a miracle!” Percy shouted joyfully.
“You did it too, Percy, you did it. You told her what’s in your heart; you said what you feel in your heart!” Yu-ning replied.
Sensei invited all the children into her classroom. Thirteen classes of twenty students from kindergarten through twelfth grade were assembled. In all, 262 children wedged into the classroom with Yu-ning and Sensei. Yu-ning walked over to a shelf and removed several stacks of white paper and several cases of colorful pencils. She brought them over to her desk and started handing several pages out to each student.
Percy was looking at the pristine white paper with wide eyes. After she distributed the paper, Yu-ning gave a simple instruction: “Whatever inspires you.” She sat down next to Percy at his desk. There was a frenzy of commotion in the classroom, but the spirit was joyful and reflective. Some children were working together in groups, others in pairs. The creative energy was powerful and flowing throughout the room.
“Percy, here,” Yu-ning said enthusiastically. “Do you want to draw with me?”
Percy nodded cheerfully. “Sure! I love to draw!”
“We’ll each draw,” Yu-ning said, picking up a pencil. “I can show you my picture and you can show me yours!” Yu-ning was excited as she quickly drew a small circle and leaned over the table to pick out another colored pencil.
“All right!” Percy agreed. They were both giddy with excitement, delighted to be drawing freely. As they drew they talked, laughed, and shared their work together.
Sensei rose from her desk, turned off the ceiling lights, and walked over to the windows, opening each shade. Bright sun streamed in. She stood there astonished by the colorful transformation of her once dismal and cheerless classroom. She was standing in the front next to the eraser board, looking amazed and staggered by the events of the day. She smiled and waved tentatively to Yu-ning and Percy across the room. They waved vigorously.
“Sensei, thank you for allowing us to create from our hearts,” Percy said.
“Yes, Sensei, I’m drawing a picture for you,” Yu-ning added. “I’m drawing Rainbow Island for you. It is beautiful and colorful.” Yu-ning smiled joyfully.
“Rainbow Island. I want to go to Rainbow Island,” Percy said to Yu-ning.
Yu-ning smiled and nodded. “Suparna and I will take you there. We’re taking everyone there who wants to go—even Sensei.”
In the midst of the joy, a stern-looking woman dressed in a white blouse, black pants, and black jacket stormed into the classroom. “What is going on here?” she said in a loud voice, her face growing red. “What are all of you doing out of your regular classrooms? And Sensei, I’ve come to get you for our faculty meeting, and this is what I find?”
Percy clutched Yu-ning’s arm and whispered, “That is the headmistress, Mugoi Sensei.”
Sensei stood up and looked the headmistress square in the eyes. “Hello, Headmistress. I understand your concern; however, you need to know that I am in control of my class and have directed this session in free drawing.”
“This is unacceptable, Genju Sensei. Y
ou will get back to the daily curriculum as scheduled, and you will do it now. Then, I need you in the conference room immediately.” The headmistress turned to leave, signaling to Genju Sensei that the issue was settled.
“I am sorry, but no—I will not be teaching from the curriculum today—” Sensei stopped, lowered her head, and placed her hands on her hips, as if gathering her thoughts. Then she raised her head slowly and looked at the headmistress with fresh resolve. “You know that I have always abided by the rules of this academy and instructed the lessons rigorously. However, these children taught me today that I was wrong. The academy is wrong,” she said firmly.
“What are you saying? This is not acceptable, Genju Sensei! I don’t want to have this conversation in front of your class, but I feel as if you have given me no choice: I hired you, and I can fire you. You dare insinuate yourself into the teaching of your colleagues by accepting their students into your classroom? You must tell them to disperse at once and return to their proper classrooms. Do your job, or you won’t have one.” This time the headmistress did leave, without giving Sensei the chance to respond.
A stunned silence fell over the classroom as the headmistress left. Yu-ning placed her hand on Sensei’s arm and asked, “Why is she so angry?”
Sensei touched Yu-ning’s cheek affectionately and said, “Because we aren’t following the school rules. When we don’t follow the rules, she feels helpless, and that makes her try to prove her strength through anger. She was my headmistress too, when I was a student here. I have followed her rules my whole life. But now, I’m done.” She turned to Yu-ning and Percy and said, “I’m so very proud of you both. You showed her what it means to speak your heart and mind, and you showed me how to do this too. Bravo. Thank you.”
Sensei turned to all the students. “Children, you learned a lifetime of education here in this classroom today. Learn from Yu-ning. Find your inner power and light and shine from there.” Children from five to eighteen were beaming and nodding with wide eyes. Sensei fiddled with her buttons nervously. “Now,” she said pensively, “the question is, what to do? How do we proceed?” The academy was a boarding school and all the children and some of the teachers lived on campus. Sensei was trying to figure out the logistics to liberate all of them. She could think of no solution.
Journey to Rainbow Island Page 18
