3 Days with Noah

     In my short lived tenure as a high school math teacher (so far three months), I can say that what ever comes next in life just won't surprise me.  Cat fights, streakers, and just an outright lack of respect for each other makes me wonder what has happened in such little time.  Now we were by no means angels, but it was almost as if we knew better and did it anyways.  I just don't think these kids know any better.  

     And there seems to be one irritant that makes it all worse.  Just add water. 

     Coming off of a three day downpour, i have felt so very Noah-esque, two of every type of animal running around the class room:  two quiet brainiacs, two 'can't shut their mouths' brainiacs, two raised on the hard streets thugs, two raised on the hard street bible beaters, two raised on the hard street and thinks the lifestyle is garbage, two rednecks, two pot heads,  two artsy la la land lovers, two preppy yet brain cell- free jocks, two perky yet brain cell-free future sorority girls of America, and finally two average kids with average hair and average clothes and average grades.  And by far, the average kids are the least predictable.  All these other little rascals can be defined to a T.  The two quiet brainiacs will work until their finger are chapped, the two loud brainiacs will argue me on why why why, the hard thugs will act big and bad, the bible beaters will tell the hard thugs to change, the kids that want to leave the hard street will work hard to escape and won't really talk much with anyone (identity is hard to find), the rednecks will do work on Tuesdays and Thursdays after someone gets on their case (no rednecks in first hour of January/February due to impending hunting seasons), the pot heads nap and ask me about my short tenure as a band member, the kids in artsy la la land doodle and doodle and doodle, the jocks don't work, the future sorostitutes talk to the jocks, but those damn average kids- they change all the time.  They are some wild breed of untamed, average beast.  

     So the rains set in, and mild high schooler depression runs rampant through the halls (I guess its the lack of Vitamin D.)  The heads hang low, like the entire school had a pet cat, and i just backed over him.  But what do my average kids do,? They love it!  They stare out those fog laden windows and soak up all the grey weather like it was a breathe full of fresh sunshine!  These abnormal yet incredibly average joe kiddos seemed to have a bit of color in their faces, and an incredibly optimistic attitude.  I will admit, I was insanely jealous.  I was in a rainy day bummed mood. Something about the sunshine gets me going...

Ahh- and listen to Otis Spann: Best of the Vanguard Years. 

© blake jackson