Every Group Has One

When put into groups I know that I never have to worry or step up because there is always an A1. Arrogant One reaches for the group paper And the one blue marker, because She or he knows that no one can do anything as well as she or he can. It is supposed to be a collaborative effort, But Arrogant One does not understand this. I count on this, sit back and wait. I do not have to contribute at all. But I can try. There are three of us at the table today. Arrogant One has made the grab. Shy One and I sit back and smile at each other; I feel relief. Arrogant One is yelling out our collaborative answers as she writes them down, Not looking up, Not waiting for Any response from Shy One or me. We both make a suggestion. The writing does not slow down or stop. Arrogant One does not hear us; she is in her own Arrogant World. I say Shy One’s Answer, and Shy One says my answer. She looks up, pauses, changes our answers slightly, so they will be better. I am amused that she has misspelled three, no wait, seven words. It is thrilling to me that Arrogant One cannot spell. Shy One looks at me and we give each other a silent High five. When it comes time to share “our” collaborative answers, Arrogant One gets up, loudly and proudly, taking her poster to the front of the room to share with the rest of the educators. Her heels are clicking, and she is all that, and glad of it. There are titters of laughter. Shy One and I give each other a loud, smacking victorious High Five as Arrogant One glares at the masses, wondering what is wrong with them.