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Special Teacher by James Avery

My first year of teaching was incredibly challenging. I was hired two weeks into the school year because the enrollment was much higher than anticipated, and I'd made a good impression on the director of personnel. As a result of my late start, I was assigned one class from one teacher (who was exceptionally awesome, and the kids had already bonded with her - a.k.a. the class from hell), one class from another teacher (who was a first-year teacher just like me and was so grateful to have her load lightened), and one class was created taking students from various classes throughout the school to lower the numbers in those classes. For some reason, that last class and I had an instant rapport, and became quite close. I always looked forward to seeing them.

That spring, about a week before my 24th birthday, one of the kids asked me if I'd step in the hall for a minute because they (the class) had something they needed to talk about. I was puzzled, but I did as they asked. I think the only reason this worked is that I was inexperienced, I trusted them, and their request was totally unexpected. What I found out a week later is that they had decided to go in together on a gift for me for my birthday, and they were making arrangements.

I was so touched when I was presented with this beautiful charm by James Avery on a silver chain. I immediately put it on, beaming with a huge silly grin, and wore it every day for the rest of the school year.

That summer, I moved out of my parents' house into my first apartment in San Antonio. I'd had to live with them that year because...

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