Teaching Raymond to read
I had no idea how to propose this to his teachers. After witnessing my skirmish with Raymond, I felt sure they would refuse my help and I was reluctant to give them the impression I thought that I could succeed where they had failed.
A few days later I walked to the school and found Mrs. Berg alone in her classroom. As I cautiously broached the subject of Raymond's reading problems and offered to help by tutoring him, an incredulous look crept over her face. She was ecstatic, hugged me and promised to draw up a reading program for the two of us. Raymond and I would start the next Monday.
Even though I knew I was doing the right thing, I was apprehensive. I wasn't really qualified or equipped to deal with an emotionally unstable child. A child who was falling through the cracks in the school system and who, at the age of 10, could hardly read. And to complicate matters, Raymond and I really didn't like one another.
At precisely 10 o'clock on Monday morning, I arrived at Mrs. Berg's classroom to find Raymond sitting at a desk, waiting. Mrs. Berg explained the program she had drawn up, presented us with a selection of books and left. Raymond leafed nonchalantly through one of them and refused to look at me. "Well, Raymond," I said briskly, "let's get started. Which book would you like to read first?"
"This one," he mumbled, tossing a book at me. I handed it back to him.
"Then let's begin reading."
He hesitated, sized me up and turned to the first page. Although it was written for younger readers, Raymond had trouble with almost every word. I watched as he concentrated fiercely, his brow furrowed. And, catching me completely by surprise, compassion and forgiveness surged through me.
Slowly and painstakingly, we limped together through that first book. Raymond had a remarkable ability to sound out words and he persevered right through to the end. I praised him and patted his shoulder and he did his best not to look pleased. When the bell rang, he went off without a single word of thanks or even a backward glance.
