When Joe decided to grow his hair, his classmates started making fun of him. One of his teachers, Mr. Cooper, was a man of conservative values, and he even encouraged the jokes against Joe. But one day, Joe’s father found out about the situation, and he did something shocking.
“What are you doing with that ponytail? Are you a little girl?” Mr. Cooper sneered when Joe walked into his classroom on the first day of school. The rest of his classmates laughed, and Joe looked down in shame. But he knew he had to keep growing it. He had his reasons. No one would dissuade him, not even the worst teacher in the school.
Joe had started growing his hair the previous school year. No one paid too much attention to it then because the summer holidays had begun. But now that he was back, everyone saw how overgrown his hair was because he kept it in a ponytail.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Unfortunately, the comments didn’t stop, and the other boys in class started teasing him every day. The poor eight-year-old returned home every day in tears, but he never told his parents what was happening. They tried to let it go, and Joe started hiding his tears in the bathroom at some point.
Joe’s father got out his phone. He loaded the video they shot the night before and showed it to Mr. Cooper.
Their art teacher, Mrs. Burns, was somewhat new at the school, and she found Joe crying one day after everyone left for recess. “Joe, what’s going on? Why are you growing your hair so long?” she asked kindly.
He finally felt compelled to tell someone about it, and when he finished, the gentle teacher gave him a huge hug. “You have a beautiful heart. Don’t ever let anyone else change that, okay?” she told him encouragingly.
“But even Mr. Cooper makes fun of me. It’s not fair,” Joe mumbled. His tears had finally stopped, thanks to her kindness.
“Some people will always be bullies even when they grow up. I’ll try to talk to him,” Mrs. Burns replied, patting his shoulder.
“Don’t tell him why. He doesn’t deserve to know anything. This is my thing,” Joe requested, looking at the teacher with his earnest eyes.
“Of course. This will be between you and me. But what you are doing is nothing to be ashamed of,” the teacher assured him.
“Still. I don’t want them to know,” the little boy insisted, and Mrs. Burns nodded with a slight grin.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
***
Over the next few days, Mrs. Burns talked to teachers about the situation, but the truth is that all of them didn’t approve of the hairstyle. They thought Joe’s parents were wrong for not getting it cut.
The math teacher, Mrs. Figgins, complained, “If he’s allowed to grow his hair out at eight years old, he’s going to become a hoodlum in high school. Kids, especially boys, need discipline at this age.”
Mrs. Burns had no idea what to do. She didn’t have seniority at this school and Mr. Cooper was the most respected teacher there. Furthermore, she couldn’t tell them the real reason because of Joe’s request. Maybe calling his parents would be a better option, she thought. If things didn’t get better soon, she might have no choice.
***
“Joe, come down here!” Joe’s dad, Patrick Perkins, called out one night.
“What dad?” Joe said when he reached the kitchen. He had been doing his homework.
“Your teacher, Mrs. Burns, just called. She told me everything. Are the kids making fun of you? Is that why you’ve been crying every day after school?” Patrick inquired, kneeling before his son and looking at him.
The boy pouted his lips, and his eyes watered too. “It’s not just my friends. Mr. Cooper is the worst,” Joe revealed, shocking his father.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“What?” Patrick said, shocked. He couldn’t believe it. He knew Mr. Cooper and had talked to him before. He was an older fellow, a veteran, and a well-respected man in their community. Of course, everyone knew he was conservative, but he didn’t think he would go as far as to make fun of a child for their hair.
Joe nodded, and his dad asked, “Why didn’t you tell them why you’re growing your hair?”
“It’s not their business,” the little boy said, and Patrick nodded this time. It was utterly true. No one else needed to know about it.
“You are completely right, kid. But you know something. I believe it’s time to cut that hair. You’ve finally reached the required length, and I have a plan,” Patrick stated, smiling at his son, who got excited about reaching his goal.
Patrick called his wife, Rosie, who placed Joe’s hair in a proper ponytail, and she cut it completely, saving the hair for their particular plan. Patrick had been recording it on his phone the entire time and even asked Joe to say something to commemorate the moment.
***
“Finally, Joe! You no longer look like a girl!” Mr. Cooper bellowed when Joe walked into class, but he didn’t expect to see Patrick there too.
“Mr. Cooper,” Patrick muttered, looking sternly at the teacher.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Oh! Mr. Perkins! So, you finally got your kid a haircut? Congrats!” the teacher said with a smile, extending his hand to shake Patrick’s.
Instead of shaking Mr. Cooper’s hand, Joe’s father got out his phone. He loaded the video they shot the night before and showed it to Mr. Cooper. The teacher’s eyebrows rose as he watched it, and Patrick started speaking so that all the kids could hear him.
“Mr. Cooper, I understand you have been encouraging the jokes against my son. I would’ve never imagined that from you, sir,” Patrick said sternly.
The older man swallowed thickly, and it seemed he got emotional. “I had no idea he would be donating his hair to cancer patients.”
The kids heard that and raised their eyebrows at Joe in surprise and admiration.
“Yeah, well. Joe didn’t want to tell anyone until he reached his goal. We visited a children’s hospital and did some volunteer work last April. He loved it and started growing his hair right away. But this school year, he started coming home in tears because everyone made fun of him, including his teacher. Do you think that’s fair, sir?” Joe’s father reprimanded the older man, who looked extremely ashamed of his actions.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
“I’m… so sorry, Joe. Mr. Perkins, I had no idea. My… granddaughter just went through several rounds of chemo, and she lost all her hair. My son and daughter-in-law had communicated with this foundation that makes wigs from donations,” Mr. Cooper sadly stated to Joe’s father and the kids in class. Then he approached Joe, who was already sitting at his desk.
“Thank you, kid. Not all heroes wear capes,” Mr. Cooper offered. “I was so wrong. Please, forgive me.”
Joe only nodded and smiled at the older man and Patrick finally reached out and shook Mr. Cooper’s hand. “I’m glad we’ve settled this. See you later, son,” he waved at Joe and left the classroom.
The rest of the day, all the kids asked Joe about his donation and what it was like. The boys started talking about growing their hair too, and the girls wanted to join in. They had learned a huge lesson that day.
What can we learn from this story?
- It’s best not to judge anyone on their appearance. Everyone has a right to express themselves, and no one has the right to mock them for it.
- Doing something charitable can inspire others to do the same. Joe’s act of kindness and generosity rubbed off on his classmates who also wanted to do the same.
Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.
If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a woman who adopted a little boy she found abandoned on the side of the road.
How the ‘WC’ Sign Reflects Cultural Differences Around the World
Have you ever seen the letters “WC” outside a public bathroom and wondered what they mean? You’re not alone! Many people around the world are curious about the “WC,” which refers to a room with a toilet and a sink.
While we can explain what “WC” stands for, it might not make much more sense than other terms like restroom, bathroom, or loo.
In 2020, a couple named Shelby and Dylan made a TikTok video showing a funny difference between how some Americans and Canadians refer to bathrooms. In the video, Dylan walks by a sign that says “washroom” and asks, “What in the world is a washroom?” He humorously wonders what people are washing in there, adding, “The only thing I wash in there is my hands.” Off-camera, Shelby chimes in, asking, “Do you rest in a restroom?”
It’s interesting to see how different cultures use different terms for the same place!
“That’s a good point. None of these terms make much sense,” Dylan says in the video.
Many people joined the conversation online, sharing their thoughts about what they call this important room.
One user commented, “It’s called a bathroom, restroom, washroom, and toilet.”
Another follower shared a funny story from Disneyland, saying they “asked for the washroom” and ended up being sent to the laundromat instead!
A third user joked, “Wait until he finds out about water closets.”
**Water Closet**
According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, a “water closet” is a term used to describe “a room with a toilet” or “a toilet bowl and its accessories.”
Long ago, when people talked about using the bathroom, it often meant taking a bath. The term “restroom” suggested a place to rest or get ready by using the sink and mirror.
Lastly, if you needed to go potty, you would use the toilet in the water closet. Depending on where you are in the world, this room is called many different names, including loo, restroom, bathroom, washroom, lavatory, or WC.
In modern times, you will often see signs that say “WC” in public places like airports, restaurants, or hotels. This is just another way to say “restroom” or “bathroom,” but it is usually seen as a more formal or international sign for places that welcome travelers from different countries.
**History of the WC**
Before the 19th century in America, having an indoor toilet was a luxury only for wealthy people. Most people used outhouses or outdoor toilets. While many homes had “bathrooms” for taking baths, these rooms usually didn’t have toilets. The installation of indoor plumbing started to become common in the late 1800s, leading to the creation of the water closet by 1890. These early water closets had toilets that were separate from bathing areas.
It wasn’t until the early 20th century that bathrooms began to combine both bathing areas and toilets into one room. This design helped save space and made plumbing simpler, but it also reduced privacy, especially when multiple people were using the bathroom.
Over time, the term “water closet” changed to refer to a small, private room within a larger bathroom that was used only for the toilet. These water closets often have a small sink for handwashing, making them convenient and self-contained.
To understand the term “water closet,” many people shared their thoughts on Reddit in a post titled, “Why is a public WC called bathroom if there is [no] bath?”
In response, one Reddit user pointed out, “Americans might ask: ‘Why is it called a WC (water closet) if it isn’t even a closet?” This user explained that in the U.S., “bathroom” or “restroom” is the common way to refer to a “room with a toilet.” Other countries use different terms, like “WC,” “lavatory,” or “loo.”
Another user mentioned that in Russian, the term translates to “a room without windows,” even if there is a window. A third user shared that in Esperanto, it’s called “necesejo,” meaning “necessary place.”
Other Reddit users talked about the differences between “washroom,” “bathroom,” and “restroom.” One commenter noted, “Canada famously uses ‘washroom,’” while another clarified that in the Midwest, “washroom” is also common, but “bathroom” and “restroom” are used more frequently.
One user humorously stated, “Best one, I think. You should be washing in there… not resting.”
What do you think about the term WC? What do you call the room that has a toilet? We would love to hear your opinions, so please share your thoughts!
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