Right Is Not Everything But It's a Beginning

She came in crying. She came in mad. Mad almost always covers sad. Mad is my expertise. Expertise is not my middle name, except here. Expertise is my challenge, at work. Working with her, I can feel her despair. Working alongside, I can feel her pain. Pain is what I deal with in my office. Pain is what brings children here. Here we are, she and I, staring. Here we are, both a bit frightened. Frightened I won’t be at all helpful. Frightened my wits won’t know how to begin. Begin to listen, Begin to gather up empathy. Empathy will solve a lot of her problems. Empathy will reduce them to bits. Bits of information comes out; she was pranking a friend. Bits of tears run out of her eyes; she knows she was wrong. Wrongly accused; no. Wrong. Just plain wrong, and she might lose a friend. Friend called her the “B” word. Friend was justified; she started it. It doesn’t make things better, It puts it in perspective though, shakes her up. Up comes the head. Up comes the smile. Smiles express hope. Smiles instills confidence. Confidence in self. Confidence in me; confident she can make things right. Right is not everything, but it is a beginning. Right feels good; makes things more clear. Clearly understanding now, she was the instigator. Clearly seeing her newfound plan. Planning to apologize. Planning to keep mouth in check. Check with your teacher. Check with your friends. Friends forgive you. Friends love you. You have to take the first steps. You have to be the leader. Lead by good example. Lead with a challenge. Challenge yourself. Challenge Your mind. Mind. Yourself.