What If...I Punched You in the Face

Today during our daily reading group, I was absolutely blown away listening to T. and J. read fluently on a 2nd grade level. Hearing them sounding out words that they would have attempted to guess at before is the reason I show up for work everyday.

During a pause, T. reached over and gently touched my cheek.

I could only imagine his thoughts, which I assumed were something along the lines of "How can I ever thank this woman who has given me the greatest gift-that of literacy? Who causes me to believe in myself? Whose patience and kindness are as eternal as her beauty?


Nope. Instead, he sweetly asked: "Ms. G, what would happen if I punched you in your face?"

Pause.

I pondered this for a minute. What would happen if he punched me in the face? I thought of how kids who get into fights get suspended for 10 days, which basically means they get to hang out with their high school dropout friends and watch as much daytime television as they want. (Can we say: Dream vacay?)

With Spring Break so far away, it doesn't sound half bad. 

"Why do you ask?" I replied without taking my eyes off of the story we were supposed to be reading.

"Because sometimes you make us do so much WORK and stuff and it just makes me want to punchyouinyoFACE!"

I know should have been offended, but I reminded myself that since I have the urge to punch him in the face between 100-200 times a day, we might as well just call it even.

Oh and T.? File that under the "Things We Think But Don't Say Aloud", get a filter between your mouth and your brain, and get back to your reading. (Now.)