This One Kid

In my class this year, there is this one kid that keeps catching my heart.

He is kind, and sweet, and smiley, and quiet in a room of vibrant kids that tend to overshadow, and over shout him. He's new to the school this year, and still has that look like he is always only half sure that he is in the right place. This one kid loves to draw, and is a talented little artist. Little is an appropriate adjective too, because he is the smallest little guy in the room. School tends to be a little bit hard for him. The staying focused, the not losing things, and the math. Poor kid. For the first few weeks of school, I thought he would cry whenever I said that the class should get out their Math books. But, this one kid never whined and complained. The students around him, who are all getting A's, they whined and complained and said it was too hard. This one kid just walked up quietly and said, "I need help." This one kid needs so much help with Math. So, so much. But he waits patiently, and does as much as he can without me. And while I help the A students, who really only need me to watch them work and reassure them that they are doing right, I worry about this one kid.

Yesterday, I got a note from this one kid. It was a note that made me smile, and want to cry, and also gave me full assurance that ,Math or no Math, this is going to be one successful kid. The note was a skillful piece of communication, surrounded by flowers and a puppy drawing. It started off with him relating to how I feel. How it must be so frustrating and disappointing for me when he loses or forgets his homework. How very sorry he is to make me feel that way. Then he went on to compliment me, indicating that I am the "most beautifulest" teacher that he has ever seen. And finally, just when the time was right, he finished with a request to please make up his missing work because he will do it all and would I please accept it?

I'm telling you, when it comes to late work, if it is past one day late I don't accept it. But for this one kid, on this one day, because of this persuasive essay that I don't even think he knows that he wrote, I will. That simple note brought me a peace and certainty for this one kid's future. He does work hard, and apparently he is a natural communicator and negotiator. This one kid will probably own his own business one day, where people like me work for him and balance his books, and call him ,Sir. And he will be sweet, and smiley, and quiet as he signs the paychecks. And as he does, he will dream up things that are bigger, and better than Math could ever be.