Jeremy

My class list has changed at least half a dozen times since June, when we first hammered them out. At some point Jeremy White was on my list. Then he wasn't. But there was a James White. When I inquired about the error, I was assured that Jeremy was out, and James was in. A new student. Okay. But when I asked for mailing labels to send out welcome letters last week, there he was again, Jeremy White, so I sent him a letter. The next day my principal hunted me down to assure me that Jeremy would NOT be in my class, would NOT be returning to school, it would NOT be allowed to happen. He had a laundry list of problems last year, from threatening to kill a third grader, to truancy. They did not live in the neighborhood and would NOT be granted special permission. Luckily the envelope had been returned to sender, no such address, so no problem.

Knowing how these things often go, and not wanting to jinx my way in to a troublesome student, I made him a name plate for his desk and added him to my class list anyway.

This afternoon Jeremy showed up at my door. I knew it must be him before he crossed the threshold (which took him a good five minutes). He would not make eye contact. He kicked the door stop until it skidded into the bathroom and banged on the piano keys in the hallway. It took me three attempts to get him to say hello and shake my hand. He is a gorgeous kid, handsome and fit, and when he did meet my eyes there was an unmistakeable innocence. His mother spent the better part of the hour describing how they had moved around all summer, the restraining orders on his father and grandparents, the lack of routine, the behavior problems at home, the anxiety, the learning difficulties. All the while Jeremy spun around the room looking for things to touch, move, alter, distract.

So here was Jeremy. My assurance that the year will indeed be interesting and filled with important life lessons. I am coming to believe that there is always, without fail, a Jeremy. Let's just hope I only have one. That would be a first.