Writing is like being able to put life into a snow globe. It takes the things that are too big and scary and reduces them into a form that I can put away when I want and look at from a distance. It also takes all that’s good in life and captures it into something I can take out when I want and look at close up and keep forever. It makes the bad things into something I can hold…and the good things into something I can hold onto. Both help so much that I need that little souvenir of life.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Sub Notes: Fill in the Blanks

It was summer school, and it was in a rough part of town. I had them filling out pretend job applications.

A girl’s hand went up. “Under ‘Father’s Name,’ what do you put if you don’t know who your father is?”

Even for a tough school, some of the kids acted a little shocked. “You don’t know who your father is?” someone asked.

She lifted her chin several inches and looked him straight in the eyes. “No,” she said, a little too loudly.

I liked this girl. She was tough, yes, but she had a core of goodness in her. I felt a flash of protectiveness. If anyone was going to mess with her, they’d have to go through me first.

“Oh,” I said. “Yes, thank you. I forgot to mention that. If you don’t know who your father is, put N/A.”

N/A? It was a ridiculous thing to say, I know, but I was desperately improvising while trying to sound casual, and I’ve never been a quick thinker.

But at least nobody gave her a hard time after that. Maybe they sensed they would have had to go through me first.


Oh, and she inexplicably mails me a cactus every Valentine’s Day. And I’m like, “Thanks a heap, coyote ugly. This cactus-gram stinks even worse than your abandonment.” ~Juno MacGuff of her biological mother in the movie, Juno

8 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. I'll try again!

    I'll bet she had some experience knowing how others would react to her statement. Hope she realized you were reaching out to her.

    Pat
    Critter Alley

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  3. Poor kid. I hear stuff like that and it breaks my heart. Unfortunately, her situation isn't the only one of its kind.

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  4. "Oh yes, thank you," is a wonderful response, Tammy. Thinking on your feet!
    K

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  5. Tammy, you are a gem of a teacher. When I read your cactus quote, I envisioned your porch having a cactus like Lynn's.

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  6. It's such a shock when you hear something like that. You certainly thought on your feet - well done:-)

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  7. Nice reaction to a delicate situation, but your thoughtfulness didn't surprise me.

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  8. Great response. You think on your feet and with your heart.

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