Why Is Sticker Lady Crying?

Awards Day

I buried my face in the paper towels I packed into my lunch cooler. It is very important that no one see Sticker Lady cry.

Obviously, I was suddenly overtaken by a runny nose. It’s going around - right?

The names flashed up on the screen in the giant, old fashioned but recently renovated auditorium. The kids cheered.

Seventh and eight graders whom I had known all year. Awards for highest grade, most improved, DRIVE! They give awards for drive because we know that drive is what makes the difference.

I started to cry.

How could I not? I had given up.

The words, “I had given up,” kept repeating in my mind as I saw the pictures of the award winning kids - just normal kids but fighters to the core - show up on the screen. The soundtrack was great swear-word free R and B and the kids were dancing. They were all up in their seats dancing and cheering for their classmates.

I un-gave up.

“Hi Ms. Smith! We missed you so much!” I hadn’t gotten a shift in three days in spite of being available for one… the kids missed me. I got so many little hugs this morning.

“Will you be a real teacher here?”

“I would love to be.”

“I hope so. I really hope so.”

“You’re so sweet.”

He ran off, to his class.

“Is there anyone I should ask if I can marry you,” Captain Von Trapp asked Maria.

“Ask the children…” they laughed.

If you ask the children, the answer is yes. They know so much that they can’t possibly know. But they do.

To my liberal friends who turn their noses up at charter schools: I will fight for the chance at life we give these kids with my last breath. But more importantly, I will fight for it with forty or more years of breaths before my last. I have seen the promised land. It is not beautiful. It is hard, but it is a chance. These children are learning what it takes to be responsible, productive citizens of a democracy.

They won’t throw away their lives. They will get good jobs, raise families, and participate in the civic life of their communities. That’s why I’m here. We all are guiding them in the right direction.

My favorite English teacher was giving out pizza slices to kids who won awards. There was tons of pizza so she gave some to her fellow teachers.

“Ms. Smith,” she said and handed me one.

“I got straight A’s in my masters,” I told her.

“I’m proud of you,” she replied. Spoken like a real middle school teacher. I think we are going to become friends. We are about the same age, and she has a great fashion sense.

It’s not perfect, but it’s real. It’s where I can make a difference.

More soon on adventures in low carb…. because I can’t help the next generation if I’m dead.

We are all more than we appear to be.