The Orchid Journal

"Make sure to read to page 761 by Monday and write a commentary about the author's method of oraganizing the table of contents page..." My teacher's voice droned on and I stopped listening. Read to page 761? The syllabus says we're only supposed to be on page 435 this week, but now he says read to page 761 and knowing that I am only on page 371,my mind goes numb as I contemplate the endless barage of words that I have to cram into my head by Monday. On average, it takes me about an hour to read 35 pages. With that in mind and barring any distractions, like my mom knocking on my door to remind me to do the dishes or my eyes drooping or the chance that I remember a more pressing paper that needs to be written, I should finish the book in about twelve hours. If there's an average of 350 words per page and I have 390 pages to read before I am caught up, that is a total of approximately 136,500 words. Words, words, words. The Non-fiction teacher says excitedl...

There you were, your sweet self passing by, first slowly, happily. Mom and I watched you walk on the park's yellowed grass; a small boy, out on your own, headed who knows where. We wondered to whom you belonged, and looked around for fam'ly We hoped someone took note of your determined stroll. At a run you started towards the passing cars. Realizing that you were alone and headed straight for danger, we ran too calling sweetly, then running, faster, to catch up and grab you gently just before your little foot stepped onto the road and an SUV passed by our noses. Still no one came to claim you as their own. A sweet, sweet, brown boy with deep brown eyes and barely taller than my knee. Unafraid, you followed these white stranger ladies speaking soft asking where your mommy was; you answering back gibberish. Too young. Content to walk with us under shaded gre...