Covering detention today for Mrs. Puff, I found myself alone with Duke, an academically unmotivated and quite likeable freshman. "I don't have a thing to do," he grinned.
"You can get a jump start on the first draft of your persuasion paper," I grinned back. This week we had chosen topics, written thesis statements and collected notes on opposing arguments.
About twenty minutes later, Duke asked if he could change sides on his topic. "Sure," I said, thinking to myself how bright I am for putting flexibility ahead of structure. After all, changing one's mind based on evidence is so...sensible and educated. "What was your topic again?" I asked absent-mindedly.
"2012. I was going to argue that all these theories are bogus. But after I collected all this information, I'm convinced the world really is going to end in 2012." He went back to his work, absentmindedly bobbing his head to the tune on the imaginary ipod playing in his ears. At the end of detention, he packed up his papers and grinned, "Thanks, Mrs. Chatham."
This is what it means to be fifteen, I realize: in the frame of one hour to go from planning a long and rich life, to believing the world will end in two years and being okay with just planning the weekend.
No comments:
Post a Comment