Coffee Table Declarations
Friday, June 27, 2003
When I worked in the administrative office of a school for kids with emotional and behavioral problems, our little community celebrated National Reading Week (please don't ask me when it is because I couldn't tell you) by having "guest readers" in the classrooms. The guest readers were staff members who usually didn't get to interact with the kids.
Some of these kids had real issues, but some had just had really hard lives. I was the guest reader in the 9 and 10 year old classroom. I don't remember what I read but I will never forget one particular little girl. After I had finished reading, I got up to leave. Suddenly this adorable girl looked at me and mournfully said, "Don't go, I was just starting to know you!" Her little plea was heartbreaking and I was very moved by her unselfconscious honesty and expression of vulnerability. I wanted to take her home with me and read her a thousand books.
But the truth was I couldn't do anything for her and that fact haunted me for a long time. I feel a little sad when I think of her still. I smiled and told her maybe we'd see each other again another time. I knew that it was unlikely, though I tried. I got involved with the staff's big brother and sister program and requested to be matched with this girl. However I was told there were needier children. I ended up with another wonderful little girl who I spent time with every week for three years.
But every now and then I think of the little girl from Reading Week, especially when someone is leaving my life and I know that it's most likely for good. That's what is happening today. Today is the last day for a coworker who I haven't had much opportunity to interact with but have only started to grow closer to over the last couple of weeks. I will miss her stories and her sarcastic wit. She is moving away and I know we will not be in touch. Our friendship is still in that middle stage where it is unlikely to survive without common ground.
I don't want her to leave. I know that my life would be more enriched through knowing her. I know that she could make work more fun. But at the end of the day today I will say goodbye and wish her luck and maybe even tell her to keep in touch. And deep down I know that it's unlikely our paths will ever cross again. There's a part of me that really wants to say, "Don't go, I was just starting to know you."
Some of these kids had real issues, but some had just had really hard lives. I was the guest reader in the 9 and 10 year old classroom. I don't remember what I read but I will never forget one particular little girl. After I had finished reading, I got up to leave. Suddenly this adorable girl looked at me and mournfully said, "Don't go, I was just starting to know you!" Her little plea was heartbreaking and I was very moved by her unselfconscious honesty and expression of vulnerability. I wanted to take her home with me and read her a thousand books.
But the truth was I couldn't do anything for her and that fact haunted me for a long time. I feel a little sad when I think of her still. I smiled and told her maybe we'd see each other again another time. I knew that it was unlikely, though I tried. I got involved with the staff's big brother and sister program and requested to be matched with this girl. However I was told there were needier children. I ended up with another wonderful little girl who I spent time with every week for three years.
But every now and then I think of the little girl from Reading Week, especially when someone is leaving my life and I know that it's most likely for good. That's what is happening today. Today is the last day for a coworker who I haven't had much opportunity to interact with but have only started to grow closer to over the last couple of weeks. I will miss her stories and her sarcastic wit. She is moving away and I know we will not be in touch. Our friendship is still in that middle stage where it is unlikely to survive without common ground.
I don't want her to leave. I know that my life would be more enriched through knowing her. I know that she could make work more fun. But at the end of the day today I will say goodbye and wish her luck and maybe even tell her to keep in touch. And deep down I know that it's unlikely our paths will ever cross again. There's a part of me that really wants to say, "Don't go, I was just starting to know you."
