Floored by 6 uncooperative Papermate "Kilometrico" ballpoint pens

I always keep a cloth pouch containing some Papermate "Kilometrico" ballpoint pens and also a box file containing a stack of membership application forms in my exercise bag wherever I go to conduct classes. In the pouch there is an assortment of 6 sticks of used and new ball point pens.

In my wishful thinking I imagine that one fine day when a platoon of new students sign up for Aikido lessons on the spot and at the same time I would have enough pens and papers to go round for filling up their applications.

Of course such a happy scenario has not happened before and I doubt I will ever get to see it in my life time. Unlike say in the glamorous show business the humble Aikido teacher is a far cry from the celebrity superstar who can command hordes of adoring fans standing in line patiently for hours waiting for his appearance. Fairy tales aside still I reckon there is no harm in having a few pens available for the convenience of the first time applicant to fill up his membership applications; afterall not everybody carries a pen in his shirt pocket all the time. Besides if the ink in one pen dries out the other 5 pens will serve as useful backups, the practical side in me thinks.

Then last night in Semenyih Dojo the most unbelievable thing happened. A father and son team walked into the class the dad asking for his Form 2 boy to be accepted as an Aikido trainee. No problem, just filled up the application form and pay up the monthly fee, I was too happy to tell the father and his boy.

Then noticing that the boy was wearing a black pocket-less T-shirt and did not have a pen I offered one Kilometrico which I took out from the pouch for him to fill up the application form. He could not write any sentences on the form because there was no ink flowing out of the pen. The ink in the pen must have dried out, I thought and offered him the second Kilometrico. The second pen was as dry as the first. Still quite confident I took out the third pen, but again no ink. The out came the fourth pen. Again no ink. Getting a bit frustrated I offered him the fifth pen. Again no ink. Already quite distressed I offered him the sixth and the last pen which was a new and unused pen. Again to my horror the last Kilometrico was as dry as the Sahara Desert!!!

This time realising that the 6 uncooperative and rebellious Kilometricos had timed and chosen to commit an act of betrayer on me, their owner and master, at the crucial moment I felt utterly devastated and foolishly embarrassed. All this while as the high drama was being played out the boy's father was watching silently from the side at the ridiculous happening. I couldn't tell whether the boy's father was amused or laughing at me as I studiously avoid looking in his direction.

Fortunately in my darkest moments of truth as had happened a few times in the past there was always a guardian angel mysteriously appearing by my side to save my ass. Noticing my predicament the mom of one of my students who happened to be around and who witnessed the whole ridiculous episode then handed her own ballpoint pen to the boy to fill up the membership application form.