After that little miracle, I toodled along to my manifold tasks. Ihad much to do in the Springs, including packing up a bunch of loose physical ends at the old apartment. In sorting through a pile of school-related papers, I found a post-it note from a student:
Lynette M.
National Anthem
July 23 11:00
National Anthem
July 23 11:00
I had forgotten. Sweet little Lynette, whom I had pushed into honors English against the advice of her other teachers, whom I pushed to join choir and mentored in her singing, who has been succeeding marvelously in both areas, and who looked up to me, I had forgotten that I promised to be there when she sang the National Anthem at a Sky Sox game. Today. I considered blowing it off, for as I mentioned I had a lot to do today, but goddammit I keep my word, especially to students. Besides which, I view little miracles like the discovery of that note on the right day as a nudge from something or someone larger than me. And speaking of little miracles, how about the fact that as I walked up to the ticket box, a lady right next to me said, "Anybody need a free ticket?"
"I do!" I said. "I'm only here to see my student sing the National Anthem," and mentally added, "Who gives a fuck about baseball?"
It is odd to me that Lynette was not there and that they played a recording of the National Anthem instead. Why was I guided to go there like that? I will likely never know, but it is important that I kept my word. Kids deserve to know that an adult will do that for them.
"I do!" I said. "I'm only here to see my student sing the National Anthem," and mentally added, "Who gives a fuck about baseball?"
It is odd to me that Lynette was not there and that they played a recording of the National Anthem instead. Why was I guided to go there like that? I will likely never know, but it is important that I kept my word. Kids deserve to know that an adult will do that for them.
1 comment:
I find it completely ironic that you found this on the day it was planned (but I'll address this later)...and I commend you for keeping true to your word. One of my players called me this morning to wish me happy birthday...that's why we do what we do. Speaking of notes, I had my kids write me a letter wishing me well on my future endeavors (if they wanted to, that is...yes, Brandon, I stole this from you). I was going through my old backpack, found 'em and figured I'd bust em out to boost my confidence. This is from a girl that hated the world, but loved me (seriously, she talked about curb stomping more than anyone I've ever met...which is not so hard to do in all reality). I would have taken her with me if I could, saved her from whatever it is that she hated...because I don't know why, or how, but I was the only one who could reach her. She wrote a paper about herself after reading "Night," and there was more hate in those 5 pages then I had ever seen (and then there was the fact that I couldn't get over her actually writing FIVE pages). I wonder what she's doing all the time. I want her to be okay; I don't want her to fall off the deep end...she deserves better, but she's never been told that. Anyway, the letter read:
Dear Ms. Kemp,
At your next school I hope you like it, and I hope that the kids love you as much as I do but I know that they will. You are the best teacher I have ever had. I want to be your best friend forever. And if you don't like someone at your school, I will go beat them in the face and since I don't go to the school there, I won't get in trouble, and even if I did I wouldn't care cuz I love you. When I'm 21 we're gonna get crunk and hang out all the time.
PS...grammatical errors were changed, and the last comment was rather commical, but can there be a greater love, a greater respect. Wow.
PPS...there is a greater power. It is TOO ironic that you found this measly little post-it today (plus, the whole free ticket thing really pushes it over the edge). Why wouldn't she have sang? There is a reason for all of it.
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