“Here, Baby, let me hold your hand,” the teacher said as she gently cradled the little hand and wrist of the first grader. All the students gather round, eager to do something to help. “I saw what happened,” says one. “I did to,” says another amid the calls of others. Although sympathetic, each wanted to get in on the action.
With tears in his eyes but making no crying sounds, the hurt child tried to tell his story. “I didn’t do anything wrong,” he says defensively, more concerned with a lecture or other discipline that might be coming, than he was with his wrist.
How sweet and tender the teacher. Sometimes they might not seem that way, but the heart of a mother is quickly revealed when her child, her student, was hurt. How precious the children who wanted to do something to help, even if the extent of their help might be to tell what happened. How noble the child as he held back the pain. But why would he need to be defensive? Why didn’t he cry?
https://athling2001.wordpress.com/2017/05/15/jsw-prompt-5-15-2017/
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About oneta hayes
ABOUT ME
Hello. To various folks I am Neat’nee, Mom, Grandma Neta, Gramma, Aunt Neta, Aunt Noni, Aunt Neno, and Aunt Neto (lots of varieties from little nieces and nephews). To some I’m more like “Didn’t you used to be my teacher?” or “Don’t I know you from someplace?” To you, perhaps, I am a Fellow Blogger. Not “fellow” like a male or a guy, but “fellow” like a companion or an adventurer. I would choose to be Grandma Blogger, and have you pull up a chair, my website before you, while I tell you of some days of yore. I have experienced life much differently than most of you. It was and is a good life. I hope to share nuggets of appreciation for those who have gone before me and those who come after me. By necessity you are among those who come after me and I will tell you of those who came before. Once upon a time in a little house on a prairie - oops, change that lest I commit plagiarism - and change that “house on the prairie” to “dugout on the prairie.” So my story begins...
Good description of the personable-ness of the teacher and her children! wow!!
Thanks, dear. I tried to recall a situation on recess duty. But since my instructions were not to tell what the accident (tragedy) was I had to be more descriptive of characters. The setting was from a true event. Actually the little boy went down the slide arms first and broke both wrists. I carefully took him to the office as described holding one hand and having no idea both were broken! I don’t remember that he cried, but I made up the bit about the defensiveness. It does fit the life of so many though.
Its a wonderful story of tenderness and defensiveness. Its truth could have quite a different story. Thank you.
Thank you, Faye. I absolutely love first graders. Most work and highest rewards in teaching in my opinion. Love them. –
Such a beautiful and heartfelt story! 😍
Thank you, luckyjc. I do love those first graders!
Reblogged this on A Writer's Life and commented:
Touching story for JSW. Thanks for responding.
Thank you. I’ll watch for another one. Thanks for the opportunity
I love Sarah’s prompts… she has some great ones. Great response!
My first shot at this. I’ll watch for another. Thanks _M.
Glad you’re doing them! It’s how I got into writing in the first place… did all her prompts.