Wonder: Parts Seven–Eight

Davenport took a deep breath, like he was trying to restrain himself. To be truthful, I thought he looked like he was going to explode.

It was that crazy backstage theater mayhem where sweaty actors stand euphoric while people come worship them for a few seconds.

It was that crazy backstage theater mayhem where sweaty actors stand euphoric while people come worship them for a few seconds.

There were concession stands there, too, like at a farmers’ market, selling roasted peanuts and cotton candy.

Broarwood would reimburse us the cost of the hearing aids, he said.

“Thugs,” I teased her. “That’s kind of an old-fashioned word.”
“Okay, jerks. Morons. Imbeciles,” she said, flipping over the sandwich in the pan.

When I went back to school the next day, the first thing I noticed was that there was a big shift in the way things were. A monumental shift. A seismic shift. Maybe even a cosmic shift.

If you remember, please send me a postcard this summer with YOUR personal precept. It can be something you made up for yourself or something you’ve read somewhere that means something to you. (If so, don’t forget the attribution, please!)

I mean, to me this was a major revelation, and he was acting like it was no big deal.

Because you’re at the cusp, kids. You’re at the edge between childhood and everything that comes after. You’re in transition.

Children, what I want to impart to you today is an understanding of the value of that simple thing called kindness.

I know I’m kind of infamous for my...um... verbosity.

“The final award this morning,” said Mr. Tushman, after the kids onstage had returned to their seats, “is the Henry Ward Beecher medal to honor students who have been notable or exemplary in certain areas throughout the school year. Typically, this medal has been our way of acknowledging volunteerism or service to the school.”

While reading up on his life in preparation for this award, I came upon a passage that he wrote that seemed particularly consistent with the themes I touched on earlier, themes I’ve been ruminating upon all year long.

While reading up on his life in preparation for this award, I came upon a passage that he wrote that seemed particularly consistent with the themes I touched on earlier, themes I’ve been ruminating upon all year long.