Whatever Works?

I have a student in my class who has a hard time controlling his emotions.
Today, he walked over to me and said,
"Teacher, I brought something that will help
when I am getting angry. It helps me calm down."

Out from his pocket: A tampon applicator.

I'm speechless.
So, I said, "Where did you get that?"

"Oh, just from some junk."

As he walked away from me,
he needed both hands to pick something up.
So he just popped the applicator
right in his mouth.

YIKES.

(Don't worry, without describing why, it successfully
(after much prodding)
ended up in the garbage.)