your teacher wondered
what i thought
about pairing you
with a 5th grader
to practice reading.
the caveat being
you would have to
miss
recess
once or twice a week.
a fair trade
i
thought
since you have recess
fifteen times every week
what's
one?
but you scrunched up your face
your whole body said no way.
what would my friends do
if i wasn't there to help
chase
the
boys?
i rallied several times
trying various explanations
how fun!
good opportunity!
no one else!
but you were adamant.
i backed off.
but then you asked
are you
disappointed?
and i told you
i'm
not
i'm glad you told me how
you
feel.
i'm not sure exactly how you learned to read in the first place
words? you sight read them.
and emotions? you sound them out
from my voice
even when i thought i hid them
inside
my heart.
