selected passages.docx

selected passages.docx

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selectedpassages

1.

AlltheGoodThings

SisterHelenMrosla

HewasinthefirstthirdgradeclassItaughtatSaintMary’sSchoolinMorris,Minn.All34ofmystudentsweredeartome,butMarkEklundwasoneinamillion.  Veryneatinappearance,buthadthathappy-to-be-aliveattitude thatmadeevenhisoccasionalmischievousnessdelightful.   

Marktalkedincessantly.Ihadtoremindhimagainandagainthat talkingwithoutpermissionwasnotacceptable.Whatimpressedmeso much,though,washissincereresponseeverytimeIhadtocorrecthim formisbehaving-“Thankyouforcorrectingme,Sister!

”Ididn’tknow what tomakeofitatfirst,butbeforelongIbecameaccustomedtohearingit manytimesaday.   

OnemorningmypatiencewasgrowingthinwhenMarktalkedoncetoo often,andthenImadeanoviceteacher’smistake.IlookedatMarkand said,Ifyousayonemoreword,Iamgoingtotapeyourmouthshut!

”  Itwasn’ttensecondslaterwhenChuckblurtedout,“Markistalkingagain.” Ihadn’taskedanyofthestudentstohelpmewatchMark,butsinceIhad statedthepunishmentinfrontoftheclass,Ihadtoactonit. Irememberthesceneasifithadoccurredthismorning.Iwalked tomydesk,verydeliberatelyopenedmydrawerandtookoutarollof maskingtape.Withoutsayingaword,IproceededtoMark’sdesk,toreoff twopiecesoftapeandmadeabigXwiththemoverhismouth.I thenreturnedtothefrontoftheroom.  AsIglancedatMarktoseehowhewasdoing,hewinkedatme. Thatdidit!

Istartedlaughing.TheclasscheeredasIwalkedbacktoMark’sdesk,removedthetape,andshruggedmyshoulders.Hisfirst wordswere,“Thankyouforcorrectingme,Sister.”   

Attheendoftheyear,Iwasaskedtoteachjunior-highmath.The yearsflewby,andbeforeIknewitMarkwasinmyclassroomagain.He wasmorehandsomethaneverandjustaspolite.Sincehehadtolisten carefullytomyinstructioninthe“newmath,”hedidnottalkasmuchin ninthgradeashehadinthird.  OneFriday,thingsjustdidn’tfeelright.Wehadworkedhardona newconceptallweek,andIsensedthatthestudentswerefrowning, frustratedwiththemselvesandedgywithoneanother.Ihadtostopthis crankinessbeforeitgotoutofhand.SoIaskedthemtolistthe namesoftheotherstudentsintheroomontwosheetsofpaper,leaving a spacebetweeneachname.ThenItoldthemtothinkofthenicestthing they couldsayabouteachoftheirclassmatesandwriteitdown.Ittookthe remainderoftheclassperiodtofinishtheirassignment,andasthe studentslefttheroom,eachonehandedmethepapers.Charliesmiled. Mark said,“Thankyouforteachingme,Sister.Haveagoodweekend.”  ThatSaturday,Iwrotedownthenameofeachstudentonaseparate sheetofpaper,andIlistedwhateveryoneelsehadsaidaboutthat individual.   

OnMondayIgaveeachstudenthisorherlist.Beforelong,entire classwassmiling.  Really?

”Iheardwhispered.“Ineverknewthatmeantanythingtoanyone!

” Ididn’tknowotherslikedmesomuch.”  Nooneevermentionedthosepapersinclassagain.Ineverknewif theydiscussedthemafterclassorwiththeirparents,butitdidn’t matter.Theexercisehadaccomplisheditspurpose.Thestudentswere happy withthemselvesandoneanotheragain.   

Thatgroupofstudentsmovedon.  Severalyearslater,afterIreturnedfromvacation,myparents metmeattheairport.Asweweredrivinghome,Motheraskedmetheusual questionsaboutthetrip,theweather,myexperiencesingeneral.  Therewasalullintheconversation.MothergaveDadasidewaysglance andsimplysays,“Dad?

”Myfatherclearedhisthroatasheusuallydid beforesomethingimportant.“TheEklundscalledlastnight,” hebegan“Really?

”Isaid.“Ihaven’theardfromtheminyears.I wonderhowMarkis.”  Dadrespondedquietly.“MarkwaskilledinVietnam,”hesaid.“The funeralistomorrow,andhisparentswouldlikeitifyoucouldattend.” Tothis day IcanstillpointtotheexactspotonI-494whereDadtoldmeabout Mark. 

I hadneverseenaservicemaninamilitarycoffinbefore. Marklookedsohandsome,somature.AllIcouldthinkatthatmoment was,“Mark,Iwouldgiveallthemaskingtapeintheworldifonlyyou wouldtalktome.”  ThechurchwaspackedwithMark’sfriendsChuck’ssistersang“The BattleHymnoftheRepublic.”Whydidithavetorainonthedayofthe funeral?

Itwasdifficultenoughatthegraveside.Thepastorsaidthe usualprayers,andthebuglerplayedtaps.  OnebyonethosewholovedMarktookalastwalkbythecoffinand sprinkleditwithholywater.Iwasthelastonetoblessthecoffin.As I stoodthere,oneofthesoldierswhoactedaspallbearercameup tome.WereyouMark’smathteacher?

”heasked.InoddedasI continuedtostareatthecoffin.“Marktalkedaboutyoualot