Act of Kindness Story Contest - Eliana A. - 12/26/18

Contest: Winners

Act of Kindness Story Contest

Submitted by: Eliana A., age 12, Santa Clara, CA

Simple Gratitude

The sound of the bell enters bored students’ minds. They shove binders into open and waiting backpacks and stampede to the door. With all the rush, I almost couldn’t see her. Mrs. Araule. It’s her first year of teaching, and she seems very stressed. She always has something to do. I pity her. My class is a tricky bunch. Way too many kids caring nothing for their education, squandering it and their teacher’s patience by talking. All the time. She must love to teach to be teaching my chatty class. She’s done a fair job! Interesting lessons, explanations of important—but little—things. Most teachers skip the confusing little bits, but not Mrs. Araule.

I carefully put my binder in my backpack and slowly zip it up. I sling it around my shoulder and walk down the aisles. I’m the last kid to pack up. There’s a slowdown at the door, too many kids pushing to get away.  

Mrs. Araule looks exhausted and has already started to grade our homework, caring nothing about the aggressive kids at the door. My classmates’ desks are scratched with swear words and pencil marks. I reach hers. It has a cup holding an assortment of pens and a stack of papers on one side. There are lines under Mrs. Araule’s eyes and white hairs mixed under her black ones. Behind her is the whiteboard scattered with pronunciation tips and accent mark rules from today’s lesson.

“Mrs. Araule?” I ask.

From hunched over, Mrs. Araule sits up and looks me in the eye with a small smile. Despite her weariness, her eyes are sharp and smart, like her personality. Maybe she thinks I have a question. I don’t.

“Thank you,” I say, and give her a small smile of my own. Hers broadens. Mrs. Araule’s eyes are appreciative. She sighs a small sigh of relaxation.

“It’s my pleasure,” she replies. Everyone else has left for the afternoon, so I am alone as I exit the classroom.

Mrs. Araule is a good teacher. She really is.


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