Chapter 3

Chapter 3

At the commencement ceremony, Zachary gave his speech after Mary Beth. As he approached the podium he looked at me and smiled. I was smiling, my favorite student was up there giving a speech.

I felt so proud. To be truthful, I really don't remember what he talked about. I was far to engrossed in just watching him. His facial expressions, his gestures, his eyes and how they would quickly look away when they met mine.

The speech must have been good because he did receive resounding applause, especially from the Swimming Team. As he walked off of the stage, they started that chant, "Zachary Zachary Zachary... Zachary Zachary Zachary..."

After the ceremony ended, I went out to the school lobby, looking for him and his family. I saw him run to the stairway and knew where he was going. Up to the third floor to finish emptying his locker.

I took the elevator, as a teacher I could do that. As I walked down the hall, I heard a locker door slam open. He was so intent in getting everything out that he didn't hear me walk up behind him.

I said, "I thought that I would find you here."

He turned around and I continued, "I wanted to tell you just how proud of you I am. And I have a little something, for you. Just so you won't forget me too soon." I handed him a small box.

He took the box and as he started to open it, he mumbled, "I don't need anything to remember you, sister."

He opened the box. There was a small silver charm, in the shape of eyeglasses the old type that hooked to the nose; a pinz nez.

He looked up at me and I said, "Maybe these will help you to see things the way they are."

He answered in a very soft voice, "Sister, I don't need glasses to see things that way."

I went on, "Well then, maybe they will keep you from tripping over desks at Stanford."

"Since you won't be there I won't have to worry about being attacked by any desks at Stanford," he said with a big grin.

"Zachary, you are incorrigible," I laughed. I could feel my cheeks getting warm as I blushed. I leaned over and gave him a light kiss on the cheek. "I wish you the best of luck, but the way you work, you won't need any. You'll make your own."

He stood there looking at me with those big blue eyes, his mouth was moving but no sounds came out. Then we heard his fathers voice from the stairs, "Zack, lets get going, we have reservations for seven."

He walked into the hall and said, "Oh, Sister, I was hoping that I would see you. I really want to thank you for all you did for Zack. That letter was absolutely wonderful...but just who were you writing about?"

I could see where Zack got his teasing from. I laughed and said, "I was writing about one of my favorite students."

Mr. Miller was smiling, "Well since you are a nun, I won't comment on your choice of favorites."

I shook their hands and said good-bye and as I walked away, I heard Mr. Miller. "Hey Zack, come back to the world of the living. Wow, you really have a thing for her, don't you?"

I turned the corner but stopped to listen. Yes I was eavesdropping. I couldn't help myself.

"Zack, she is a nun. You shouldn't think about her like that. But, I can see what you see in her. She's a lovely woman." He said in a soft understanding voice.

"Au, Dad, it ain't like that. I like her, but I know that she is a nun. But, I can dream can't I?"

Mr. Miller laughed, "Zack, you're too much like your old man than is healthy. But don't worry, your secret is safe with me."

Zack said, "I know, thanks Dad."

I heard them walk down the hall. I slowly walked to the faculty parking lot. I had tears in my eyes. I would miss that boy, I would miss him a lot. Did the teacher have a crush on her student? I guess I did. I wiped my eyes, steeled myself and drove to my cell in the Mother House.

Life went on, the next time I saw Zack was the next June. He and a friend Marty, who had also been in my homeroom and was on the swim team, came back for a visit.

Zack looked wonderful, he was still in shape, still had the infectious, impish smile and the light easy laugh. But, there was a difference and it took a second before I realized just how much the last year had matured him.

I don't know how long he had been standing outside my classroom before I noticed him. When I looked up he had the same look that he had on the first day of homeroom. "He still thinks that I am beautiful," I thought to my self and a warm feeling seemed to flow through my body.

I smiled and he came into the room. I sort of giggled and said, "Watch for the desks, Zachary."

He walked in a very exaggerated cautious way, as if working his way through a minefield. When he reached me he stopped and took both of my hands in his and said, "Sister Carol, my you're a sight for sore eyes."

I pushed him and said, "Zachary, you haven't changed a bit."

He smiled and said, "God, neither have you. You are lovel..." he stopped, then he gave a little laugh shook his head and said, "Sister, you look as lovely as ever."

He was no longer the student. He had grown.

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