“Oh, I see. Yes, of course. I expect you’ll show him the attention and patience he needs and deserves?”
“That’s why I’m here.”
She nods curtly. “I will expect a full report after each tutoring session before you leave so that I can pass along the information to his mother. You’ll come and get me if there’s a behavioral situation?”
“I can do that. Where’s Gabriel? I’d like to meet him.”
She inhales and exhales. She turns slowly and calls out, “Gabriel.”
A dark haired little head turns at the table nearest us. Helen motions him to her. He rises tentatively and stands next to the table as if waiting for permission.
She smiles brightly. “Gabriel, come here please. There’s someone here who would like to meet you.” She talks to him slowly and cautiously like he’s a frightened animal.
Gabriel approaches us and looks at the ground. Before Helen can say another word I lower down on my knees in front of Gabriel. He’s taller than I am now. I offer my hand. “I’m Kate, Gabriel. I’d like to be your friend. Will you be my friend?”
He doesn’t take my hand but when he lifts his chin to look at me he’s smiling. His smile is just beautiful.
“Hey Smiley. Let’s go to the library so you can show me what kind of books you have in that super cool backpack.” I point to the backpack sitting on the floor next to the table he was sitting at. The backpack is black and it’s covered with a pattern of colorful guitars.
His smile grows and he runs back to grab the backpack. “Walk, Gabriel,” Helen reprimands sternly.
He walks back, still smiling at me. I’m still on my knees and I whisper to him, “Let’s go, Smiley.”
He reaches down and takes my hand in his and whispers in my ear, “I’d like to be your friend.”
I swallow the golf ball sized lump in my throat, and stand. Then I smile, because for a few seconds I can’t speak. I see Grace in his eyes.
We walk down the hall and I swing our hands back and forth. We don’t speak until we reach the library where all of our tutoring sessions are scheduled to take place.
“Well Smiley, this is your school and I’m kinda new here, so I’m gonna need you to tell me where we should sit.”
He scans the room and after serious consideration he leads me to a small table with two chairs near a window.
“I’m so glad I let you pick, because this is perfect. I would have chosen that table over there,” I say, pointing to the corner. “And then we would have missed out on this view.” There’s a small flower bed outside the window that’s still in bloom.
He’s smiles widely. He’s proud of himself. I get the feeling he doesn’t get compliments very often.
I point to his backpack. “Can you show me what you worked on in math today, Smiley?”
As he unzips the bag he looks a little puzzled. “Why do you call me Smiley?”
“Because you have just about the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen.” He really does. It lights up the room.
He’s still puzzled, but he can’t hide his smile. “But my name is Gabriel. Everyone calls me Gabriel.”
I take his math book from him when he hands it to me and place it on the table. “It’s a nickname. It’s like a special name that only friends can call you.” He likes this idea. I see it in his eyes. “If you don’t like Smiley I can call you Gabriel. Gabriel is a great name.”
He thinks about it. “I like Smiley.”
“So do I.”
“Now you need a nickname.”
I nod encouragingly. “I definitely think I need a nickname. What do you want to call me?”
His head tilts back and forth as he thinks and every few seconds his eyes crinkle up. He’s focused on my face and looks over every square inch of it before he blurts out, “Spots!”
“Spots?”
He points to my nose. “Yeah, Spots.”
It takes a second, but then I realize he’s talking about my freckles. “Of course, I have spots on my nose, don’t I?”
He nods enthusiastically.
“Well, I think of all the nicknames I’ve ever had, Spots is my very favorite.” My heart is so happy right now.
Smiley is definitely something more.
Friday, September 9
(Kate)
Shelly’s been working on me all week. She’s on the phone now and it’s deteriorated into Shelly’s version of whining, which is still more like telling than asking. “Kate, you have to come. It’s the Back to Grant Bash. It’s a stupid tradition, but everyone goes.”
“Shelly, why do I need to come? I’m sure all of your friends will already be there.” The truth is I’m just too tired tonight.
I swear she’s pouting. “Because, dude, you’re more fun.” She knows I love the dude. She’s trying to butter me up—both sides, front and back, top to bottom. It’s working. “No shit, Kate, I really do have more fun going out with you. You make me step outside my comfort zone.”
“But you hate that.” She does.
“I know … but I also like it.”
That small admission makes me feel less tired. “Will there be dancing? Because, if I can get a guarantee out of you that you’ll dance with me tonight, then I’m in.”
Shelly exhales. It sounds pained. “I’ll dance,” she says, although it’s a whisper through clenched teeth.