I started teaching A Wrinkle in Time to one of my students. I thought it would be appropriate for his level since I’d never read it.
Around half way through the first chapter, he stops me.
“High school?” he asks.
I nod. I point at him. “Elementary school,” I say. “Then, Middle school,” I continue, laying my hand flat and rising it a little.
“And University?” he asks.
“After high school.”
He nods. I smile. I ladder my hands as I repeat.
“Elementary, Middle school, high school, then, university.”
“Ah,” he says, he mimics my motions.
“Elementary school, Middle School, High School, then, work?”
I nod.
“Then,” he screws up his face, “death?”
He drags his finger across his throat and his tongue falls out of his mouth. His head falls to his chest. He tries not to smile.
“I suppose so,” I say. He laughs, I laugh.
He makes the dead motion again, killing the joke.
“Well, you know, there is retirement,” I say, awkwardly.
He frowns, “like, before death?”
I nod.
“Like my grandma?”
I shrug, “Probably.”
He looks thoughtful for a moment.
“She’s dying,” he decides, looking sad.
“Oh,” I try to look empathetic, “sorry.”
He nods his head.
“But, so, yeah, that’s what high school is,” I say. “Should we continue?”
He nods, picking up the book, and continuing to read.
I loved this book growing up. What an amazing post. You transcended mere interaction 🙂
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I’m glad. I actually am teaching the book right now and so I haven’t finished it. I am getting really into it. More than my student I think.
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It’s incredible – but even more so are its sequels 🙂 Really alerted my young mind to the phenomenal complexities of science, and how small we are in the grand scheme of things. It was through this book that I began to study about space and light and black holes further!
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Awesome! I didn’t know there were sequels. Honestly I will probably skip ahead and read the book before I finish it with my student just because I won’t be able to wait. I’m so glad to hear there are sequels.
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I think you might really enjoy them 🙂
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Pingback: Wrinkles in Time – Flash 365
Nice
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Eli, mid, hi, uni. Thanks Flash I’ve think I’ve got that now. Beautifully written as ever 🙂
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Yeah, I actually was looking it up on my phone as I told him. I hadn’t a clue.
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That was a wonderful snippet from a wonderful piece 🙂
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Well penned and understood fully, you explained it beautifully.
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The two biggest things I aim for. Thank you.
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“He makes the dead motion again, killing the joke.” Brilliant – I love this piece, I saw it all play out in my head. Great stuff! X
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haha, glad you liked it.
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These are the process of life we all go through at times in our lives, we get older, learn more things we may or may not use later on in life, and, we just all, lay down, and wait for the inevitable, DEATH…
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