christopher

I said goodbye to Christopher today.

His mom came to pick him up for something before school was over, so I took him out to the hallway and knelt down next to him so I could look him in the eye. "I'm going to miss you," I said, and then I started to cry.

He looked very startled at my tears. "Why are you crying?" he asked, with a confused smile on his face as he watched me.

"Because you've been with me for two years. I've watched you grow from a first grader to an almost-third grader. I care about you. You're very special."

"Oh," he said, and looked at the floor. Then he looked up at me and hugged me. "Don't cry that much. The third grade classrooms are just over there." And he pointed down the hall. "I'll probably come see you at recess or something."

I hope you do, Chris.