惠特尼·L.葛拉德/
, haulingbackpacksoveroneshoulder, , myclassroomdoor, andsmileatthefactthatIcancalleachonebyname.
Iknowtheirsecrets, , andIknowitisbecauseshespendsallhertimeathometryingnottogetnoticed, soshewon’tfeelthebruntofherstepfather’, andallthegirlsswoonwhenheandhisblondhairstrutby, butIknowhedoesn’, butIknowofhisdreamstobecomeanastronautandI’.
Iteachmystudentsaboutthepowerofwords, , , andIamalwaysamazedatthewordsthatcomefrommystudents’hearts.
Onesuchexampleofcouragetookplaceduringauthor’schair, asharingsessionattheendofourwriter’, , withhisdimpledcheeksandbabyface, helookedyoungerthanhisclassmates.
Infact, whenAlwasfirstintroducedtotheclasstwoweeksearlier, onestudentsaid,“You’’reababy.”
Tothat, Alquicklyresponded,“I’mAlBillslington, andIamintheseventhgrade.”Despitehisobviouscourage, ’, whenIsmiledandnoddedforhimtoread, , andAlbegantoread.
“IfIhadonewish, itwouldbetomeetmydad……”, , .
Myeyesscannedtheroomforsnickeringfacesofseventh-gradekidswhoIknewwerepronetojumpataweaknessandtrytocrackajoke, -gradestudentswerelistening, , .
Alcontinuedon, tellingofnightmaresatnight, ofneverknowingamansoimportanttohim, , ’sfaceandonthefacesofafewothersseatedquietly, intentlylistening.
Theyarelettinghimdothis, , andtheyaren’.
Alfinished, strugglingnowtoreadhislastsentence.“IfIhadonewish, itwouldbetomeetmydad, soIwouldn’t……”Histearswererollingnow, andsowereours,“……soIwouldn’thavetoclosemyeyesinbedeverynightjustwonderingwhathelookslike.”
Withoutanycuefromme, .
