OK, gotta share, because this just made me sad and schmaltzy.

This afternoon, I was tutoring a boy about twelve, who comes to us for writing skills. Black kid, wearing a gray hoodie with the hood up (the kids do not like to come out of them for any reason, and while I make them when I’m in the classroom, because school rules, I let them do whatever is best for their concentration at the tutoring sessions.)

During the ‘transition time’, which is when we all check in and play word games or hear announcements, the leader looks over my shoulder at him and says, “Bob (not his real name), if you didn’t bring enough for everyone, put those away!”

And I glance over to see him grin and put his Skittles back in his backpack.

Just about cried.