Monday, July 13, 2009

Entry #102

Chilled Glass of Heaven
by C J


It was total chaos, kids yelling, laughing, and chasing each other around the classroom. One exception was a quiet boy sitting all alone in the back row. He sat slouching at his desk tapping his pencil while watching his classmates laughing and joking with each other. Brian always kept to himself never really fitting in; he always seemed to be observing instead of participating.

In came a tall woman juggling a stack of books.

UUHHEMM!

Class, quiet please!

Find your seats!

My name is Ms. Dickenson. Mr. Vance is out for the rest of the week so you are stuck with me. While glancing at notes she said, “I see you all have a paragraph due today who would like to read first?” After a brief silence, “Okay, I will choose for you.” Pointing to the boy in the back, “What is your name?” Hesitantly replying he said, “Brian”. Brian slid a wrinkled paper from his notebook and timidly began walking to the front of the class.

Brian softly spoke, “The Moon, Prominent in the night sky so diligently overseeing the world. Everyone since the beginning of time has dreamt, cried, and loved under the same moon. What secrets this silent companion must hold, if only it could speak. The moon has seen it all and still lights the world at night. No tears or Judgment. The end”

Ms. Dickenson sighed, “That was beautiful Brian and I will be sipping a chilled glass of heaven under that brilliant moon tonight!”

12 comments:

JR's Thumbprints said...

A substitute teacher with absolute control over her charges. I wonder what the writing assignment was that the kids had to do.

laughingwolf said...

like jr, i'm curious...

Catherine Vibert said...

I like the way the boy is different, shy, from the very beginning. Interesting that she picked him first because she seems pretty darned in control. But I liked the development of the boy. He was introverted, and she chose him, and he proved himself to have thoughts way beyond his years, and then she really gave him quite a wonderful encouragement with her statement. Many of those shy folks get ignored by teachers. Or ridiculed by them. Interesting take.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like maybe the paper had to be about something the kids could relate to or an object of choice. Maybe like the glass of wine you all wrote about. It seems like he described the moon to be much like himself, different, quiet, observing, which is maybe why the teacher was drawn to call on him first? hmmmmm maybe the classroom was kind of like the world, all chaotic and he was like the moon...either way...seemed simple at first but provoked some thought after....I like it...

Aniket Thakkar said...

The opening scene brought back memories of us all wishing the teacher in chorus singing 'Gud Morniiiiiiiiing Maaaaam' when we were in kindergarten :D :D

And I am best friends with a girl who fits the description of Brian perfectly. So I could very well relate to the piece.

Well done.

BernardL said...

A paragraph like that would have impressed me.

PJD said...

Anonymous nailed it.

Unfortunately for Brian, he's gonna get the crap pounded out of him at recess.

To be honest, though, I was a bit taken aback by the sub talking about how she's going to drink alcohol that evening. I know many teachers among my friends and family, and I can't imagine a one of them talking to the students about having a glass of wine in the evening. To other faculty and staff and maybe even parents, but never in the classroom.

Chris Eldin said...

I LOVE Brian's paragraph. It also makes me want to learn more about Brian and what made him such a reflective child...

Anonymous said...

maaaybe Brian has been the same age for centuries due to an innocent bite on the neck or slightly different blood strain mixing with his at a young age, which would explain his reflective paper and lack of interest in child play-and maaaybe the teacher either sensed he was different so chose him-or-she has the same blood strain as his and wanted him to know she was aware of his uniqueness, maybe in her tone of voice or a glance she gave him?? She did not mention 'wine' in the classroom as one comment suggested-a chilled glass of heaven could be anything from grape juice or blood to iced coffee-hmmmmmm-or he could just be a normal kid that has suffered from a traumatic childhood? either way-I totally appreciate the comments, this was the first time I have ever written anything and had fun, didn't spend a lot of time on it-so I know it was not put together very well.
Thank you for giving me the bug!
CJ (I don't have a google account, rarele use a computer so used anonymous hope it works!)

JaneyV said...

I admire the teacher and her control of this crazy class. Brian's paragraph was beautiful. I think Pete's right about his having the crapola kicked out of him though!

Anonymous said...

The quiet one shines in the end! I think many of us here want to be that boy.

Welcome to The Forties Club!

Jaye Wells said...

Brain is a budding writer! As are you. Good job.