I had not noticed Mark particularly until he began staying after class each day to help me clean the room. We did this quietly and comfortably, not speaking much, but enjoying the quietness of that hour of the day. When we did talk, Mark spoke mostly of his mother.
I explained how he had been my best helper. “ I was making you a surprise,” he whispered confidentially. “It’s for Christmas.” With that, he became shy and dashed from the room