We Cant Save Everybody Mrs Kay

The child was telling the wildest story imaginable. I was in a special education class, and he was in second grade. The story included bombs and fires and explosions. He was totally animated as he told it. The rest of the class was enthralled, transfixed. He said “Everybody died!” I said “What about Tommy?” Tommy is his best friend. “Except Tommy.” “What about Susie?” “Except Susie.” “What about me, did I die?” “No, we saved you,” he told me. His teacher had come back into the classroom. “What about Mrs. Schmidt?” He looked at me sternly and said “We can’t save EVERYBODY, Mrs. Kay!" Mrs. Schmidt knew that he loved her. I knew that he loved her. Our eyes met and we started laughing. We reminded each other of that moment often. Every single time, we had a little laugh.