Did I ever tell you you're my favorite? That's what I tell all the kids at school.
Except there is usually one kid that I secretly think of as my favorite. That kid is Aaron (5th grade). (The name has been changed to protect my favorite kid)
A few weeks into school I had an incident with a new boy at school in the lunchroom. To tell you the truth I don't even remember what happened. All I know is after I had words with him he seemed kind of sad. His body language just didn't sit right with me so I found him on the playground - his back facing me - I wrapped my arms around him and talked to him quietly in his ear so no one could hear what I was saying. Afterwards he said "geesh, my mom doesn't even hug me for that long."
I've since found out that he's had a pretty crappy life. So because of this I pay lots of attention to him. If I see that he's not having a good day I question him about it. Usually he gives me a short answer like "I hate school, that's why" or "because kids are stupid."
One day I was in the art room taking pictures. I decided that I would take a picture of me and Aaron together but the picture didn't turn out. The art teacher, noticing this, grabbed the camera and took a couple shots. It's now one of my favorite school pictures.
A couple weeks ago I asked Aaron if it would be ok if I put that picture in the yearbook. His first question was "am I smiling?" I told him that we were both smiling. Right away he told me NO! I asked him why and he said he wants to be known as the kid who never smiles. Maybe it's because he's depressed, maybe it's because he has a chipped front tooth or maybe it's a little of both but since that comment I've made it my mission to get him to smile every time I see him.
The last few days I've been working on a project in the library. I've covered each table with brown paper and taped down a bunch pictures I've taken of the students. It's kinda like a tabletop scrapbook.
Aaron's class came into the library this afternoon and he came up to me and asked:
"Will you promise me something?"
"Promise you what?"
"Will You promise me something?"
"Aaron, I'm not promising you anything until you tell me what it is."
"It's not a big deal - just promise me."
"Ok, I promise."
"That picture of the two of us on your desk...you just promised you wouldn't put it in the yearbook."
"Why can't I put it in the yearbook? It's a nice picture."
"Because I'm smiling. Listen, I'll let you take a picture of me as long as I'm not smiling and you could use that one instead."
"I guess that means you don't want me to put it under the plexi-glass on the library tables either?"
"No!"
"Why?"
"Because it will give the kids a reason to make fun of me."
It was then that I decided I wouldn't pester him with using that picture.
As he was checking out his library book I slipped my copy of the photograph into his library book. When he asked why I gave him the picture I told him I was keeping my end of the bargain and he could do whatever he wanted with the picture. He said he was going to take it home and put it in a frame.
At the end of the day I was cleaning up the library and noticed a photo out of place under the plastic on one of the tables. I walked over to the table and smiled. He took the photo I gave him and sneaked it under the plastic. During that moment he didn't care if the kids laughed at him because he was smiling in the photo or because he had his picture taken with Mrs. Reams. He put that photo there because he knew I liked it and it would make me happy.
I walked down to his classroom and bent over his back and whispered in his ear "can I leave it there?" He just nodded his head.
I told the principal my story and he thought that Aaron and I made a connection. I think we made a connection a long time ago but he's just now showing it.
(I like how it's upside down against the other photos on the table)
I didn't tape it down just in case he changes his mind.
(now she's a cheeerleader)
It was a very long 2 months but in the end everything turned out great. I'm so glad it's over!
