A couple of months back, I was in an elementary school office, waiting for the bell to ring so I meet with one of the teachers. A couple of kids were seated across from me, waiting for somebody to come get them. The most outgoing of the bunch, Jason, whom I cannot imagine was more than seven or eight, immediately struck up a conversation with me. He pretty obviously thought I was a guy but understood that I was a grown-up and kept asking me why my voice was so high. Whatever he ended up deciding about my voice didn't stop him from sharing with me his enthusiasm for ninjas of all varieties and Arizona Iced Tea. This is in the running for best conversation of my life. And I'm a union organizer - I have conversations for a living. Seriously. This kid made my day.
Jason: You have freckles
Me: Yes, I do.
Jason: Did you drink some freckle juice?
Me: I must have!
Jason: What’s wrong with your voice?
Me: That’s just how my voice is.
Jason: Were you born like that?
Me: I think so.
Jason: Where were you born?
Me: I was born in Arizona. Do you know where that is?
Jason: Yeah. Actually, I’m really glad you said that. Do you know I have some ice tea at home called Arizona? It's my favorite.
(He comes over and shows me a picture he drew of his
friends as ninjas)
Jason: These are ninjas. I drew these ninjas. (Points out who is who in the picture)
Me: Does that say “quarterback”?
Jason: Yes. My friend is a quarterback ninja.
Me: Like in football?
Jason: Yes. And this is me (shows me the ninja labeled “Jason”) and this is Jackson. He’s my friend. He’s in second grade but that’s OK - he’s still my friend.
(Shows me another series of ninja drawings)
A born negotiator. I should have offered him a job as an organizer. A few days later, I visited the same school again and coincidentally saw Jason standing in line with his class, which made my day for the second time. He remembered my actual name, though I might not have been able to keep a straight face had he decided to call me "Fred."
Jason: And I drew this. But these ones just have heads because I ran out of time to draw the bodies.
Jason: (Pauses) What’s your name?
Me: I’m Sumner. What’s your name?
Jason: Jason! I showed you it on the picture!
Me: Of course. That’s a really good picture. Did you draw it today?
Jason: Yes!
(I get up and wave goodbye because the teacher I’m waiting
to meet has arrived. I am standing
in the hallway just outside the office door waiting to see where we’re going
next. Jason comes to the door and
motions me to lean down).
Jason: Is it OK if we change your name to Freddy?
Me: I don’t know, I think I like my name that I have now.
(Jason thinks)
Jason: Well... how about Fred?
A born negotiator. I should have offered him a job as an organizer. A few days later, I visited the same school again and coincidentally saw Jason standing in line with his class, which made my day for the second time. He remembered my actual name, though I might not have been able to keep a straight face had he decided to call me "Fred."
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.