Dear Sept,
We made good use of your day off. We worked on your school project. You had me read the instructions silently to practice my sintakoo-lacky-si. You seemed to follow along pretty well, so I must be getting better at transmitting.
I was happy with the effect the mental activity seemed to have on you. I know when I’m feeling shaky emotionally, having something to concentrate and focus on usually gives my emotions time to settle.
You were feeling pretty confident by the time we wrapped up the project and you headed in to bed.
I went back out after tucking you in and added a few finishing touches to it. This is one fine volcano!
Ms. Swits liked it so much she gave you extra credit, and when you got home you were proud and cocky. You’re an A student now.
“Aren’t you proud of me, Pops?” you asked.
Of course I am, but not for the reasons you think. A’s are fine and good. But I’m proud of you. I’m proud of the sensitive, intuitive, caring, quirky, funny person that you are. I’m proud that you’re so full of good you don’t even know what mean is. I’m proud that you’re in touch with your brothers and sisters and sending them comforting vibes every chance you get. I’m proud that you have no clue what a miracle you are.
“Oh, we’ve got someone coming over,” I told you when you pulled out your homework. The school had called. Because you’ve been doing so well, you qualify for a special program where they match gifted kids up with mentors, and your mentor was due to come over for his first visit that afternoon.
Your mentor is Gunther Munch, Lucas and Wolfgang’s older brother.
I asked him how his brothers were doing. “Wolf made any progress on his college apps?”
“Wolfgang. You two know Wolfy? ” he asked. “I’m sorry for you. Don’t hold it against me, all right?”
“Wolfgang’s my friend,” you said quietly. “He’s teaching me a lot.”
“Ah,” said Gunther. “What can my brother teach? How to skin a cat? Possibly. Where to pawn ill-gotten gains? Likely. Five ways to explain to Mother where you were all afternoon when you should have been at school? Most definitely. I think, perhaps you learn from Munch Boy, senior, yes, my young friend?”
“I’manequalopportunitylearner,” you said real quick. “I learn from everybody.”
You turned back to your book, and Gunther began telling you about Goethe and the The Sorrows of Young Werther.
“I think one day I will love to fall in love,” you said.
There’s no hurry, son.
–Your pops
Cathy Tea's SimLit Anthology 