I am feeling much better but still sound like an alien life form. I decided to venture out for a late breakfast this morning. The weather outside is gorgeous: a cloudless blue sky with a brightly light world of brisk winter starkness. So I bundled up tight and, naturally, went to my favorite little restaurant, Evans.
Margaret, my favorite breakfast time waitress, said she was wondering where I had been. I was seated across from a table of 4 ladies I had never seen before. While I was eating and working (I took my computer), they were talking with such excitement. There could be no question: they were all deeply involved in the PTSAs of their childrens' schools.
When they got up to leave, I told them who I was. O my! They all sat back down, and we talked for a good 20 minutes. I told them how I appreciated their enthusiastic support of what they described as “urban schools facing some significant challenges.”
One lady stayed back as the others left. She told me she thought that her sister might have children, who she described as “very at risk students,” at my school and asked if I knew them. In fact, I do know these children well. I think her initial surprise at this fact turned into almost horror as she then appeared to want to quickly distance herself from her sister, saying, “Well, you know we are just very different people. I spend all of my time working at the school. I don't think she has ever been in her kids schools.” I tried to reassure her, telling her how I and my sister were both good people but as different as night and day.
What she doesn't know, and I couldn't say, is that I almost always root for the underdog. I like these kids and want the best for them. What are the odds?
Leave a comment