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Then she flicked me off and walked away

That’s our valedictorian

Our finest

Trish MacArthur

"How do you knohat you would have done if you were forced by your governood parent?" Herr Silver to the social and political climate of their day?"

My classmates are mostly baffled

As I listen to their whiny answers and atteh ap between theet older

The lies are so vivid, they’re beginning to burn out my retinas

Today’s lecture pisses off the &uu-time, like the truth always does And yet it makes me feel cos, but because Herr Silver to expose what everyone else in the world hides at all costs

It’s a depressing reality, how norance, and I ive Herr Silverman his present and be closer to the Leonard Peacock finish line

NINETEEN

When the bell rings, I stay seated

Herr Silverood-bye to each student as he or she leaves

I can tell he cares about everyone--even the stupidest a

Most kids rush out without even ive everyone his or her own individual good-bye

It makes a difference, let me tell you, even if the übermorons in my class don’t appreciate it

There have been days when Herr Silverman was the only person to look

It’s a sis matter

"So," Herr Silverman says as he closes the door35 "You wanted to speak with me"

"About that question I asked in class today," I say

He sits down at the desk next to un"

"Yeah Do you think it’s possible to turn an object with a negative, horrible connotation into so that has a positive connotation?"

"Sure," he says

I expect him to say more but he doesn’t, which makes me feel flustered and unsure of what I should say next, so I reach into my backpack and pull out a small box, wrapped in pink "This is for you"

Herr Silveret a present?"

"I’ll tell you after you open it"

"Okay," he says, and then begins to peel off the pink paper very carefully He opens the little box, looks up, raises his eyebrows, and says, "Is this what I think it is?"

"Yeah, it’s the Bronze StarNazi back in World War Two"

"Why are you giving this to me?"

"Well, for a lot of reasons Most of which I can’t really explain properly That’s why people give presents, right? Because they don’t kno to express theifts to sy that the world would be a better place if they gave reat teachers rather than just soldiers who kill their enemies in wars And with all the talk of World War Two in here and trying to ht that I could turn the negative aspect surrounding thatit to you Maybe that doesn’t make any sense I don’t know But I want you to have it, okay? It’s important to me Maybe you can keep it in your desk drawer and whenever you get to feeling likeisn’t worth it anymore you can think of that crazy kid Leonard Peacock who loved your class and gave you his grandfather’s Bronze Star as a reward for being an excellent teacher Maybe it will help you keep going I don’t know"

"I’ ive this to ood enough day," I lie, but un from World War Two?" he asks, which freaks me out