Icing on the Cake

Every substitute teaching day.

Another day.

Another day of new ways.

Some ways remain the same.



A chance to be.

Another opportunity to be with young people.

And make a difference.

Another opportunity to listen.



Substituting at different schools.

With different students.

In different grades.

Difficult and simple.

Special Ed and gifted.



A book fair at Pio Pico Elementary last week.

I met a latino father and his two children.

A boy and a girl.



The father didn't have $13 for my book.

He only had $6.

I shared it with them and impersonated the voice of Scooby Doo.


The children smiled, giggled, and wanted my book.

I signed it personally to them, and gave it to them for $6.

The father looked into my eyes and told me to "keep on making a difference."


The rest was just icing on the cake.