Monday, May 6, 2013

The Debt

This week's Trifecta challenge revolves around the word, blood.




The Debt

One day,
in third grade,
my life changed forever.

My teacher, Mrs. Dillon (her real name),
placed photo cards
along the chalkboard ledge.

"When called,
you will come up and select one photo.
You will, then, write a story
based on that one photo.
When finished,
you will share your story
with the class."

I selected a photo of bank robbers stealing some diamonds.

I had always done well in school.
I always finished my work first,
far ahead of the others.
But, not this time.
This time,
I lingered.
I lingered long,
until the bell rang for recess
and Mrs. Dillon said
that I wasn't to write any longer.

I was sad to have stopped.
But, I was completely exhilarated to have begun.

I have written from that day onward.

I wrote stories
for my classmates
during study hall in high school.

I wrote love letters
for those being courted.

I wrote newsletters
for my school parents
and report cards for my students.

And today, Trifectans,
I write this for you.

Once something you love enters your blood,
there is no denying its' expression.

I would write for you
even if there was no prize this week.

I would write for you because,
one day,
long ago,
when I was just a child,
the fires of my creativity
were kindled by the words,
"My, what a good writer you are!"

In the "Superhero" challenge,
someone said that teachers were heroes.
With opportunity and encouragement
my life was changed by a teacher.

It is a debt that I repay,
every day,
in my own classroom.

38 comments:

  1. This is marvelous! It really shows just how powerful words, both spoken and written can be! And I completely agree that writing is the sort of thing that we have to do, rewards or not. It really is in our blood! Thanks for this!

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    1. Thanks, Valerie, for such a wonderful comment. It doesn't feel right, not to write, does it? Glad my words spoke to you. :)

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  2. A wonderful tribute! Nicely done!

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    1. An Irishman complimenting a Scot! Now that is really something! Thank you, ever so much, Joe. :)

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  3. This is great! I love how you turned your teacher's encouragement into the debt you repay every day in the classroom.

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    1. Paying it forward is what it is all about. Thanks for your wonderful comment, Janna. I appreciate your words very much.

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  4. Hear hear! This was a brilliant way to respond to the prompt. Great stuff! :)

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    1. Thank you very much. Glad my words spoke to you in such a positive way. :)

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  5. Such a warm, engaging story, and so happy that it's true. Teachers can definitely be heroes and change lives.

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    1. I am a teacher and, people say, warm and engaging, too, so, you comment fits perfectly! :) Thanks for your very kind words. They have made my evening.

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  6. *bounces up and down in seat and flails at the screen* This is fabulous! I love it to crumbs x3

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    1. Oh no! I've induced epileptic glee!!! Glad it tickled your fancy, Draug! What a happy comment to receive. Thanks. :)

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  7. Very nice.. So different from my own experience. I got the writing bug about a year ago... But it's in my blood now.

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    1. For someone who got "the writing bug" only a year ago, you write remarkably well. Everyone always loves reading your posts. I don't know what sparked your newfound interest but, we are all glad that you decided to follow your heart and your mind.
      Thanks for stopping by with your wonderful comment. I appreciate your words very much. :)

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  8. Beyond GOOD, it's excellent. It's heartfelt, it's wonderful!

    I am so glad you wrote (I did those things too, stories for friends, love letters for boys trying to get a girl...guess who they ending up falling for??? LOL) and I'm so glad I get to read it.

    THIS? This is making my face hurt from smiling.

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    1. Now that's what I call a comment!!! Sorry to hurt that face. :)

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  9. What a truly lovely ode to the word, writing, teachers and fellow writers. This made me smile. Especially the litany of what you would write to feel that love/fire.

    I wrote my first "novel" with my fourth grade class and then we bound them in cardboard and cloth covers. I own it still and keep it displayed as a reminder of where this journey all started.

    And now back to you! Really lovely.

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    1. I failed to mention that, early in my career, before standardized testing took over the curriculum, I used to write stories for the kids in my class. I would use them as the characters, we would brainstorm plot ideas, I would write one page for the next day, we would read it, they would each receive a copy of the page and would illustrate it. We talked about Art, story structure, character development, vocabulary and much, much more. I am in contact with many of those "kids" who are now in university and beyond.......they always tell me that they still have their copy of the story we did together. They can still tell me their character's name and what happened and everything. I love that. Too bad the data-driven world of standardized testing has squeezed out that creative teaching time. This is why discovering Trifecta and having the chance to share it with my kids this year has been so important to me. Those opportunities for creativity, for producing "good art", as Neil Gaimen calls it, are becoming increasingly rare and, as such, they are opportunities to treasure.
      Thanks for your wonderful comment. Needless to say, I treasure it, too. :)

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  10. This is so true, it resounds with me. LM x

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  11. Thanks, ever-so-much!!!! I am honoured that my words found a place in your heart. :)

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  12. Happy Teacher Appreciation Week, Tom. What a wonderful tribute - and know that, you, are most appreciated in what you do!

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    1. I help, as I have been helped, and hope that it makes a difference. I would like to think that this is the foundation of a good life.
      That doesn't mean that everything is all goody-goody in my classroom. Sometimes I enjoy a good laugh at their expense. For instance, because of peanut allergies being what they are nowadays, I'll announce that the classroom is a "nut-free" zone. Then, I'll pick a kid and ask them to leave. Ha! Ha! Ha! I do have fun sometimes. Lol!
      Thanks, as always, for your wonderful comments. Teacher Appreciation Week is something else, eh? :)

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  13. Aww, Tom, this is such a beautiful, heartfelt tribute. And the structure is awesome. Everything about it works. And the emotion it brings... wow. Reading your comment about a 'nut-free' zone made me laugh. That's a good one. You've got to be the kids' favorite teacher. Just as you are one of our favorite Trifectans!

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    1. You do go on, Steph! :). I am certainly not one of the most talented Trifectans but I will settle, for now, for being well-liked. Glad you liked the post and the joke. Thanks for leaving such a wonderful comment. I appreciate these types of comments more than you may realize.

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  14. What a perfect way to tie everything—what we all love doing, the prompt, trifecta, the last prompt even—together. This was brilliant!

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  15. Thank you, Brian, for your very kind words. As if there couldn't possibly be any more to add to your list........I wrote that story.....(1) at school and, (2) at my desk in the school library, surrounded by books! There's just something about a wooden library desk that inspires me.
    Glad it all worked for you, too. I appreciate your words very much. Thanks, again. :)

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  16. gratification to everything tied together so nicely ... Well played Tom :)

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    1. Thank you very much, Shreya, for taking the time to leave such a very nice comment. Your words mean a lot to me. Thank you. :)

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  17. What a sweet and happy outpouring, Tom. Cheers to you and your profession!

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    1. Thanks, Kymm. Glad you liked it. :) My profession and I appreciate your kind words.

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  18. This is so wonderful Tom! There is nothing quite like those amazing teachers that touch our lives forever. What a great tribute to them and to the gift of writing! Thanks for sharing -- and for being that teacher for other kids.

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  19. Thanks, Suzanne. I appreciate your wonderful comment very much. :)

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  20. I think so many of us feel exactly like this. This need to write is in our blood, and we are driven to put our words to paper.

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    1. Speaking to the choir, for sure. :). Thanks for stopping by, Tara. :)

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  21. There is such lovely sentiment behind your words, as always. We appreciate your love of writing and your dedication to repaying your debt to your former teacher. Maybe you'll be the inspiration for one of your own students.

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    1. Thanks for oing all that you have done to help my students, too. It is all gratefully appreciated. :)

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  22. What a beautiful piece!Loved it Tom & I salute you for igniting the same passion in your students:-)

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    1. Thank you, Atreyee. I am happy that you were able to read it.

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