Because its Black History Month and I know that most schools are now teaching their children about African-American History, I am also taking time to play fun games like Brain Quest with my students. I realise that not only is it helping them learn about History but it is making them read and best of all its fun. But of all the things that made my day the following story made me question my want to learn.

A little boy who I never had as a student today came up to me and asked me if he could ask me a question. He seemed like he was on the look out for someone . He kept looking over my shoulder. When he saw the coast was clear. He first hesitated and was about to walk away then I encouraged him to talk.

Do you know anything about the Mayan Culture?

Yeah, you mean the M-A-Y-A-N culture?

Yeah.

Yeah. Not that much but I know about it. Why?

Because that is where I am from. That’s where my people are from.

Oh, you are doing a school report?

No, it’s where I am from. I just want to know.

Really?

So we went to look for some books. It turns out he just wanted to talk to someone about it. He had a book the library he used to go to gave him. He didn’t want a book. He was still acting like he was on a look out.

What grade are you in?

Me? I’m in the fourth grade. (He said this while holding up skinny fingers).

You are very smart.

What do you mean by smart.

Well, you are very mature.

Another student called me so I left him for a while. But didn’t get to continue talking to him. The person he was looking out for, came. His mother.

But I hope I see him again. He was hungry for knowledge about his History. And wanted to talk to someone about it.

And that’s a seed that needs water everyday.

There are times when you can feel good.

You know when good is going to happen or when someone is going to do something good or when someone said something good.

You know when something is going to taste good because God blessed you with a good sense of smell.

You just can feel good.

And on those days- it is usually, well sometimes cloudy outside.

I read before  the sun don’t come out in rainy weather but when you look them up they are still together.   If you look up the definition of the sun and the sky they would be in the same catergory. The sun and the rain both come from the same sky.

Usually, we look for summer days because the weather brings ease and comfort. But is every day in summer really that great? Or every raining day during fall really that gloomy? God can put a rainbow in the sky when you least expect it.

 In addition, it can snow when you are not even looking. It gives me joy to look at the snow falling but lately its been snowing quitely behind my back. I’ll go outside and see snow on the ground. I’ll say to myself- “Hey, I never saw the snow falling!” (Snow falling is so beautiful it makes me feel happy.)

Today was one of those days for me where God put a rainbow in the sky and it was snowing behind my back. It was such a sweet day. Yet, I can’t say what exactly happened.

I went to the library early this morning and met with a few early birds. I actually taught for two hours and had so much fun helping someone out. We had time to swap stories about growing up before his mother came to pick him up.

One story Jesus (my student) told me was about his trip to the bowling alley. He was 7 years old and his mother was telling him how to roll the ball towards the pins. He was goofing around and instead of the ball heading towards the pins it sliped off his fingers at the wrong moment and after hitting him in the head, went flying behind him where a man was standing tying his shoes. It hit the man on the ankle and came back fast hitting Jesus on the ankle.  Jesus’ mother was up set that her son – did not listen to her and now he hit a stranger who was hurt and upset; however, the only thing she could do in her anger was say sorry to the gentleman then take wounded Jesus to the emergency room.  And because there was very few in the library we laughed out loud about this story.

 I helped people and they appreciated it. And that’s my rainbow.

Today I met a little thrid grader named Elian Abinder. He spoke with a strong spanish accent. Actually I met him a while ago but today was our first day doing homework together. He was a character.

Besides him being  filled with a lot of sugar and still stocking up on candy and soda, I could not figure out if he was showing off or if he normally acted this loco. Not a bad loco, just funny. 

When I asked Elian what was his name, he wrote it down then made sure I pronounced it the spanish way. I had to say it with the accent to please him. He then proceeded to tell me what his name meant. I didn’t even ask. He just started telling me how a boy was swimming and a man named Elian saved the boy and that’s why his mom named him Elian.

What’s your name?

When I told him my name was Lilly he started to laugh.

What does Lilly mean?

It’s a kind of flower.

What? A flower? Why would your name be flower?

Okay, Elian. Why don’t we get back to your homework?

I wanna know your story!

What story? The meaning of my name?

Yeah.

Well, it is long. It takes time.

He then set up in front of me and said I have time!

How about after these math problems?

Okay.

So we finished the math sheet. I started to tell him about my name but he was so hyper I don’t think he heard a word I said. Plus  there were other students around who started talking about their names. He made it to a one person show when he started giving demonstrations on how he would act if his name was mine or the little girl across from me. He started throwing punches into the air and rolling on the floor. Then he took on leg and stomped it on the stool and said “I am Elian!” While pounding on his chest. What a scene. And all this time I am looking at him like if he lost his mind.

He promise to come tomorrow as a better person…

So, I started teaching at the library once again. Did I tell you already?

I started this week. Today, Thursday, was my third day this year.

I may go back downtown to see if I could get my job back. Hopefully, I will go tomorrow.

I met a handful of new students. Lately, I’ve helped them with their spelling words.

I always look for ways to have fun with them so they won’t get bored when I test them.  I include

other students around to take part in the spelling fun. We had a spelling bee and I also gave them a timed spelling test.

I hope those who I helped all get a 100%. I also met one parent.

I really like the library and enjoy working there; however, I am still looking…

What I like the most about the library is the children. It’s just so much fun.

However, I need something I love just as much or more that pays good money….

I enjoyed my time with the children today. It’s almost the holidays so they are extra lazy. I spent a greater part of my day with them playing connect 4 and doing math problems. Mel-Mel was extremely happy that he “beat” me in connect 4. However, I wanted to defeat Sophie. She had a special little trick which I think I know now…

I received my Ebony Magazine in the mail and I think it’s a great issue so far. The articles/ interviews on Maya Angelo and Rev. Al Sharpton are thoughtful and put together well. I didn’t know she was married to a Greek guy!? Thus her name is really Angelopulous. What a name. I am excited about that because my first name, Lystria, originated from the Greeks. Speaking of the Greeks, Sophia was telling me that Greek Mythology and the Civil War are two of her favorite subjects besides Math. I think the children at the library are so smart and willing to learn. (Even though they could be lazy at times). I like Angelo’s book list. I’ll let you buy the magazine for that one or go to ebonyjet.com. 

Lastly, one thing I like that Rev. Al Sharpton said is: You’ve got to have a strong self-definition and you can’t seek others’ approval or others’ acceptance. You’ve got to first accept yourself. Once you define who you are and what your contribution is going to be and you are at peace with that, then you can deal with all the other sources…

I’ll end on that note.

I had a fine day today. I met an entire new group at the Library. The kids who were there were funny, bad, and friendly at the same time. Like the  little 3-year-old who was making everyone laugh and when she saw that we all thought she was funny she started cursing! It was so surprising. I put her on “time out” and I don’t  know if she understood. All she wanted to do was play “house’ and be the baby.

Later on, I went to the Chinese store to eat and practice spanish with some of the spanish kids in the neighborhood.  I was glad that their parents let them come with me, after all everything was on the same block. I was just a little surprised at the freedom they got. At the Chinese Store we met two Chinese girls. We all had fun learning spanish together.  Maybe it has something to do with living in the city. I left them when it was dark and they wanted to stay longer!

What I enjoy the most is the culture of the children and of the neighborhood. It’s like a little world once you become very active in it. I’ve lived in this neighborhood so long and only now am I becoming active. I used to only know the man in the Bodega but now I know so many people because the children parents are the ones who are running the neighborhood. The African children I work with parents run the hair salon down the block and are also the same ones driving the taxis, the Spanish children parents run the bodaga’s and the Chinese children parents run the Chinese store.  The little girl who remind me of myself, grandfather is the super in the building I live in. I didn’t meet her until I started working at the library and we live in the same building. I also know the librarians and the security guard. I  know a teacher in the school that most of the students attend, we met at Fordham. This world is so small. And Bright.

My America is bright.

Bright with children playing day and night

Bright with parents who care about the neighborhood and its plight

Bright with young kids who see no limit

Bright with librarians who teach children discipline

Who ever said that a village doesn’t raise a child anymore?

In my Bright America, the Pizza guy tells the children how to say thank you.

The old gentleman sweeping the corner offers a kind “Good day to you”

The grocery store keeper offers to help you with your bags 

And the young Jehovah witness offers a strong “God Bless You!”

The family walking from church gains courage to ask you

 what will Jesus Do In this Bright America?

Today my students were really excited about the up coming  Thanksgiving break.  They can’t wait to leave school for only 4 days! It is a wonder I got  to finish The Night of the Living Dummy III (a Goosebumps series) with Joseph, taught Francesca a new word: Penguin, made Kizzy practice her multiplication tables and Lindsay did a little bit of her homework. I also did a little reading with Frankie and Estie. So it was nice. One thing that made my day was the students willingness to listen to me. I didn’t have any problems with them. Well, not including the prep talk I had to have with them to encouarge them to do their homework,  I also met a new parent!!  Who recognized me! She knew the church I went to and everything. It was not that surprising because after all, we do all live in the same neighborhood.

On Monday one of my dearest students gave me a picture she made out of glitter glue of a Pink Butterfly. She pointed to the middle of the picture and told me those were the butterfly’s bones. I felt so loved!

Another one of my angles on the same day picked out a book to read with me titled:  Butterfly Battles by Nancy White from the Magic School Bus series. So, now I am reading about butterflies. I guess this week is butterfly week!

“Caterpillars came from everywhere. Everywhere was caterpillars. One day they just piped up and left”  Deacon Glassgow

Did you know that Butterflies have 4 wings and not 2?

Did you know that orange and black are warning colors in nature?

Therefore, animals stay away from Monarch butterflies.