I Don't Eat Cupcakes

Yesterday's substitute plans included another *code 


SWUT...


which, if you ask me 


looked dangerously close to 


SLUT


Upon closer inspection I saw it had been broken out to


Students Will Understand That


sure.


In the computer lab a boy looked at me and said, 


I know a lot about cars.
I know when the ABS light pops up on the dashboard it means your anti-brake system is in trouble
Do you know the Ford Windstar?
There's a whole lot of problems with all of them
Windshield fluid
Doors
Oil light
Engine light


"What's your name?" I asked.
"Tommy."


I was so dazzled by Tommy I followed him to his computer, all the while jotting down furiously on a scrap of paper his version of Car Talk.


Yea, we just got our car fixed
It cost us over $700 and something's still not right
But my Dad got the Car MD
It's a scanner that you run over the engine and it lights up if there's a problem


Tommy was pudgy with shaggy hair and baggy shirt 

see middle aged man minus the hair 


I really wanted to hang with him but it was time for 


Math Houses lots of little windows to cut out

and a whole lot of glitter


Tommy and I crossed paths again at recess. He was walking around the parking lot all by himself so I said, "I'll race you!" and we ran to the end of the lot. Someone kicked a soccer ball our way so we had a little back and forth with that.


Close to the end of the day he came into my classroom with a tray of mini swirly-topped cupcakes from the market. 


I said, "Oh no thanks," like I don't eat cupcakes would rather have carrots thanks so much bullshit, but his face sagged just a little so I said,"I'll have a chocolate one, please," and he held the plastic tray out to me. 


Pick whatever you want, he said.


"How old?" I said.
Nine.
"My favorite year," I said "Happy Birthday, Tommy!"


Happy Birthday! my students shouted


as they watched me, mouths hanging open,


pop that mini chocolate cupcake 
into my mouth 
in one bite. 

*read TSWBAT / Nov. 9, 2011