group hugs and desk naps (subtitled: the beauty of freshmen)

the doctor told me today that i could return to work partially. he used the phrase “light work.” it adds up to teaching half days of only ap courses for a week. on wednesdays and fridays i have consecutive afternoon classes, ap u.s. history followed by ninth grade world history. totally drained, i gathered my papers as the ninth graders started trickling in. in october, when i started teaching ninth graders, i thought they were little giddy, anxious, barbarians. more recently, their bare emotions and excitement have been the fuel of my fire. three anecdotes follow.

imagine all of this happening simultaneously. groups of 3-5 kids swarming, putting their arms around you, enveloping you in hugs. “ms. humm! you’re back!” “how are you feeling?” “it’s so good to see you!” well, actually, guys, i’m going home right now. i still have typhoid, but i’ll for sure be back on monday. “no! how about this, we can push desks together and then you can sleep on them. we’ll be quiet. here, you can use my sweatshirt for a pillow. just stay here!” no, shubi. i am still going home. “alright, then ms. humm. let me carry that for you, then.” no, rachit, it’s okay. “okay, then. feel better soon so you can come back for good!”

when i departed my classroom after being diagnosed with typhoid a week and a half ago, package and backpack and in hand, i headed to the door. my students bombarded me. “where are you going?” “home.” their eyes grew large and incredulous. i looked down at all i carried and clarified, “home to mt. hermon, not home to the united states.” “ooohh, good.” “hey ms. humm, do you need a hug?” “sure, yeah.” “okay, group hug then,” hilary avowed as five of my girls embraced me in the hall. being sick seemed like a minor hiccup in an otherwise delightful day.

last week, one of my student’s called with some questions about his current events paper and presentation. “rachit, you won’t actually need to present tomorrow. i’m not coming back to school all week. you can present when you return from quarter break.” “well, ms. humm, then it won’t be current.” (incredibly cute comment #1). “oh, and ms. humm. is the article okay? some of the guys were saying my article isn’t good enough because it’s about bollywood. but it’s about poaching too and the guy getting arrested.” “well, that sounds okay then.” “yeah, ‘cause it’s more on the political front. (political front? incredibly cute comment #2) that’s what i was thinking, too. hey, ms. humm, what’s wrong that you can’t come back to school all week?” “i actually have typhoid.” “oh, god, ms. humm… hey, i will try to come and visit you over quarter break, if it’s okay.” “sure, rachit. just give me a call first.”

if you don’t think any of these children are cute, keep it to yourself. because that means you have no soul.