Getting it Right

Getting it Right

“You’re making a mistake.”

The voice, suddenly behind Anthony, made him jump a mile. “Don’t sneak up on me like that!” he said, turning to glare at Frank.

“I spoke three times before that. You were drowning in that assignment.”

“Well, it’s hard, ‘Write about someone making a difference in another’s life.’ Plus, it can only be a hundred words, at most. Who fits in that category?”

“Well, I can see you have been thinking about it, but that list of names is a bit large. Edison? Grant? Obama? You’re reaching too far.” Yes, they all made a difference, but I think the assignment is trying to get you to tell about someone who made a difference in your life, or someone you knows life.”

“Oh.”

“So, any thoughts? Your parents, Dr. Lander, Mr. Brooks from next door…”

“Mr. Brooks? He doesn’t even live there anymore. How does he fit into your scenario?”

“Don’t you remember being three?”

“Of course! Ah… why?”

“You wanted a swing because all your friends had swings. You only had two then, but they both had swings. We didn’t have a swing because we couldn’t afford a swing set.”

“How do you know this?”

“You were three, I was six… Mr. Brooks heard you crying about it and he made that swing we have, that ties to the oak tree. He made it for you.”

“I never knew that. I used to swing on it every day for years, I loved it. I never knew Mr. Brooks made it. When did he move away?”

“He didn’t, he passed away about six months after making that swing. He had cancer.”

“I never knew.”

“Well, you do now, how about writing about that person making a big difference in your life.”

Anthony got an A.