Wednesday, October 02, 2013

Where a Six Year Old Helps Erase a Month of Insanity

It's been a hell of a start to the school year what with shelves and books to be moved into place and both my libraries suffering a number of indignities. I haven't gotten through a full cycle of classes for library circulation even at the school where shelves and books have been in place all along but today I saw one of my first-grade classes for the second time.

This particular class has a teacher who is very careful to instill a sense of the library being a very special place.  I always appreciate those teachers.  I have been orienting the classes to the library and I pay extra attention to the first grade and kindergarten because they are so new to it.

My wee library patrons were behaving so well and demonstrated that they remembered what I spoke about last time with regard to good library behavior.  I was praising their good choices.  As they lined up to check out, one little boy stepped up.  It was picture day so he was wearing a special (clip-on) tie and looked utterly adorable even though his tie was a bit askew.  Here then is our conversation.


Me: (as I finish checking out his book) You look very handsome with your tie today.  Part of it is poking up.  May I help straighten it for you?

Him: (tilting his chin up) Yes, Miss Lime.

Me: (gently tucking the edge of his tie under the collar and smoothing it all out) There you go, all fixed.

Him: (looking up with shining eyes) Miss Lime, my daddy would give you a big hug if he got to meet you.

Me: (surprised and cautiously amused) Oh really?  What makes you say that?

Him: (with enthusiasm) Oh, I tell him about library a lot and how much I like it and how much I like you because every time you see me you smile at me.  He says that means you like your job.  (with a big smile of his own) You like your job, don't you, Miss Lime?

Me: (trying to regain the powers of speech because a six year old has melted my heart completely) Yes, sweetie.  I like my job very much.  Helping boys and girls like you find wonderful books is the part of my job I like the best.


Off he skipped with his book for the week--and I had a bit more spring in my step as well.

14 comments:

~Tim said...

Ahhh, that's so sweet.

Jackie said...

His Daddy is right.
And, I'm so glad this little jewel of a boy shared what was on his heart today.
Bless him!

Commander Zaius said...

Seriously awesome!

It's been a hell of a start to the school year...

Coming at this from a different angle and circumstances but all I can say is amen! My daughter is just now getting onto the swing of studying and my high school senior son...well all I can say about that one is that I am now looking forward to him going to college.

Tabor said...

Almost as good as a pay raise.?

joeh said...

The power of a smile.

Bijoux said...

There is NOTHING more sweet than a little boy. The tie is the icing on the cake.

Craig said...

Those heart-meltings are quite a nice perk, eh?

stephen Hayes said...

He'll probably grow up and write a post (if blogs are still around) about the crush he had on this wonderful book lady when he was six.

Logophile said...

Love it!

Secret Agent Woman said...

That literally gave me chills (in a good way).

Hilary said...

Awwww talk about having a job with wonderful perks. Kidlets are the best.

My own heart melted today also. My neighbour's little 3 year old (Lily.. I've posted photos of her before) was holding my hand while walking with me, looked up at me and said "I very love you." Sigh!

Suldog said...

There is very little that can make one see the worth of what one is doing aside from a child telling you how awesome it is. And you, of course, deserve it.

Kat said...

Aww. Isn't he just the sweetest little thing? You've gone and made me all teary. So sweet. :)

Jocelyn said...

There is no adorable moment not made better by the presence of a bow tie.