#i
,?irty ,sets ( ,eyes

,on my f/ morn+ ( s*ool at ! ,phoenix ,c.try ,"d ,s*ool1 ,i /ood 9 my empty
classroom1 li/5+ 6! bu/le ( fif? grad]s 3gregat+ \ 9 ! hall & cr[d+ 9 6look
at _! homeroom place;ts4 ,i he>d h&s clap tgr &a /ud5t yell \ excit$ly1
8,al"r6 ,i got ! bl guy4 ,:o'd y get80 ,maybe1 ,i ?"\1 af ,i gave hm 8 f/
home"w assign;t1 ,i'd 2come j ano!r m1n t1*]4 ,i _h be5 "w+ 9 ! classroom
all week5d1 hang+ up po/]s1 /ack+ ! book%elves ) pap]backs & bo>d games1 &
organiz+ t1*+ supplies4 ,i _h >rang$ desks 96six gr\ps ( f\r1 sep>at$ 0ll
pa?ways crisscross+ 2t ! clu/]s1 s ,i cd qkly & easily get 6ea* /ud5t4 ,z !
bell rang & all ! kids pil$ in1 ,i call$ \ _! s1t assign;ts4

8,d we h 6sit 9 assign$ s1ts80

8,la/ ye> ,mrs4 ,johnson didn't make u sit 9 assign$ s1ts40

8,c ,i sit next 6,billy8 ,he's my be/ fr40

,ea* hi< prepubesc5t voice s.d$ exactly l ! next4 ,! /ud5ts meld$ 96an
9dist+ui%a# lump ( *irp+ *ipmunks4 ,z ,i scann$ ov] my ,brl s1t+ *>t1 try+
6mat* voices 6"ns1 ,i didn't ?9k ,i wd "e 2 a# 6tell !m a"p4 ,i cdn't ev5
tell ! boys f ! girls4 ,:at an 9sult x wd 2 if ,i sd1 8,ti6any1 c y pass \
^? pap]s80 8,i'm n ,ti6any4 ,c't y tell ,i'm a boy80 ,i w9c$ at ! ?"\4

,mix+ up g5d]s wasn't my only worry4 ,"?\t ! :ole spr+ & summ]1 ,i _h la9
awake at ni<t )a doz5 unansw]$ "qs tumbl+ re/.sly >.d 9 my h1d4 ,dur+ my
9t]views1 ,i _h talk$ a gd game1 2c ,i knew x wd h be5 suicide n to4 ,i _h
blu6$ solu;ns 6e di6icult "q1 b ! blu6s _h be5 l helium 9 a balloon1 & n[ z
,i /ood 9 front (a classroom full ( liv+1 br1?+1 *att]+ kids1 ! helium ru%$
\ &! balloon came cra%+ d[n4 ,my talk+ -put]s1 ,brl writ]s1 & cassette
tapes wd h&le ! r1d+1 writ+1 & rese>*+ "p1 b :at ab ! t1*+8 ,h[ wd ,i call
on /ud5ts )\t see+ !m raise _! h&s8 ,h[ wd ,i 2 a# 6tell :5 kids 7 fool+
>.d8 ,h[ wd ,i write on ! blackbo>d8 ,i _h /ru7l$ = answ]s4 ,kids _h doz5s
( "qs ab _! s*$ules1 classes1 & s*ool supplies1 &= s _m ye>s !y _h be5
tra9$ 0o!r t1*]s 6raise _! h&s4 ,!oretic,y1 !y knew ,i 0 bl1 b cdn't seem
6make ! 3nec;n 2t _! /ra9+ >m rais$ hi< 9 ! air &! r1son ,i _hn't call$ on
!m4 8,h[ _m ( y h yr h& rais$80 ,i ask$4 ,at l1/ half ! class sd yes1 & ,i
he>d ! :oo% ( air z a few rais$ _! h&s 9 ! a6irmative4 8,put yr h& d[n1
/upid4 ,he c't see x10 ,i he>d a voice :isp]4 8,i'll make a promise 6y10 ,i
sd4 8,if y raise yr h&s1 ,i won't call on y4 ,s1 ,i h an idea4 ,9/1d1 if y
want 6sp1k1 say yr "n & ,i'll call on y40 ,fif? grad]s >e adapta#1 s !y
*>g$ eag]ly ah1d ) ? new plan1 b ,i 0 batt]$ 0an un9t]rupt$ explo.n (
scr1m+ "ns4 8,billy6 ,billy6 ,billy6 ,billy6 ,billy60 ,z soon z "o /ud5t
f9i%$ sp1k+1 tw5ty o!r voices wd 2g9 fir+4 8,ti6any1 ,ti6any1 ,ti6any1
,ti6any40

8,brian1 ,brian1 ,brian1 ,brian40

8,b]ry1 ,b]ry1 ,b]ry1 ,b]ry40

,well 2f ! =ty-m9ute class 5d$1 ,i knew t ll exp]i;t _h be5 a :opp+
failure4

,a week 2f s*ool />t$1 ,i _h g"o 6a toy /ore & b"\ bag;ls ( two-9*-hi<
,fi%]-,price pla/ic lrs ) magnetic /rips s !y wd /ick 6a blackbo>d3
tw5ty-six sets ( lrs1 t5 sets ( numb]s1 a v>iety ( punctu,n symbols1 &
ma!matical symbols4 ,on two desks ne> ! bo>d1 ,i _h =ty-five pla/ic b9s1 "o
= ea* numb]1 lr1 & symbol4 ,if ,i want$ 6write a s5t;e or a ma!matical
equ,n on ! bo>d1 ,i wd select :at ,i ne$$ f ! "r b9s1 b 9 ma? ,i fum#d "? !
b9s1 try+ 6>range an equ,n on ! bo>d4 ,i cdn't seem 6f9d ! equal sign4
,maybe x 0 on ! o!r desk8 ,i tri$ n 6look frantic 9 front ( all ! eyes1 z
my f+]s se>*$ "? ! b9s4 ,"! x was4 ,x _h "sh[ fall5 96! plus symbol b94 ,&
n[1 ": 0 ! six8 ,xs b9 wasn't ": x 0 suppos$ 6be1 2t ! five & sev54 ,9/1d1
,i snat*$ up a n9e & turn$ x upside d[n4 ,i f.d ! subtrac;n sign qkly &
slapp$ x 96! equ,n1 b a /ud5t immly call$ \1 8,mr4 ,weih5may]1 t's n a m9us
sign4 ,t's a numb] "o40 ,z ,i f9,y got ! equ,n 9 place on ! bo>d1 ,i he>d a
/ud5t yawn 9 ! back (! room4 ,:5 class 5d$1 ,i flopp$ d[n 9 my desk *air1
worn \ f ! demon/r,n ( ?ree equ,ns4 ,) all ! "t sp5t f9d+ ! "r b91 h[ wd ,i
possibly h "t 6t1*8

,af class1 ,i sat 2h my desk1 l1n+ back 9 my *air & recov]+ f ! exhau/+
game ( musical b9s1 :5 a /ud5t op5$ ! door & /ood 9 front ( my desk4 ,8
voice 0 ,guru ,dh>am's1 a /ud5t ^: family 2l;g$ 6! ,sikh religi\s -mun;y1 a
practice t _h xs />t five hundr$ ye>s ago 9 nor!rn ,9dia4 8,i h a pro#m10
he /at$4 8,don't get me wr;g1 ,i'm pr\d ( my religion1 b ,i'm a ll
emb>rass$ 2c ,i'm ! only boy 9 ! fif? grade :o we>s a turban40

8,well1 let's help ! o!r kids "u/& :y10 ,i repli$4 ,! next "d1 ,guru held a
,sikh %[-&-tell4 ,all ! kids 7 fixat$ on ! antique spe>s1 swords1 &
>tifacts possess$ 0p[];l gurus ( ye>s pa/ & us$ 9 ! fi]ce holy w>s4 ,at !
5d (! demon/r,n1 ,guru /ood up 9 front ( 8 classmates1 rais$ bo? h&s 6his
h1d1 & :ipp$ (f 8 turban4 ,br[n wavy hair spill$ d[n1 d[n1 d[n1 & f9,y re/$
on ! backs ( 8 knees4 ,"o (! ,sikh practices is n"e cutt+ ! hair4 ,! kids
let \ a collective gasp1 foll[$ 0exclam,ns ( 8,cool10 & 8,awe"s40

,! next "d at recess gr\ps ( boys1 we>+ toilet pap] turbans1 5gag$ 9 pret5d
sword battles1 & "?\t ! fall1 x 2came ! tr5d 6gr[ hair a ll bit l;g]4 ,guru
_h pull$ (f an amaz+ f1t4 ,he _h fe>$ 8 di6];es wd 2 view$ z w1k;ses1 s he
_h =g$ !m 96/r5g?s4 ,bl;s _h alw seem$ 6me l a w1k;s = : ,i 0 alw -p5sat+1
b ,i wond]$ if ,guru's lesson cd 2 appli$ 6my /ru7le4

,! next morn+ 2f ,5gli% class1 ,i 2gan fumbl+ "? ! b9s 6=m "s s5t;es on !
bo>d4 ,9/1d ( hav+ only t5 numb]s &a few symbols 63t5d )1 n[1 ,i _h
tw5ty-six b9s ( lrs1 plus punctu,n4 ,z ! kids ru%$ 96! room1 a ll girl came
"r up 6me & sd1 8,c ,i write on ! bo>d td8 ,i h v n1t h&writ+4 ,plus1 2t y
& me1 ^? ll pla/ic numb]s1 !y >5't "w+ \40

8,,ok10 ,i repli$4 ,& z ,i 2gan dictat+ a few s5t;es 6h]1 ,i r1liz$ t !
solu;n 6! bo>d pro#m & _m o!rs 0 "r 9 front ( me1 b ,i _h be5 bl9d$ 0my [n
preconcep;ns4 ,:5 ,i want$ 6a3ompli% a task1 ,i f/ /udi$ ! way ! si<t$ _w
a3ompli%$ t same task & !n cr1t$ a sy/em1 : resem#d _!s z closely z possi#4
,if a si<t$ t1*] norm,y /ood 9 front (! bo>d 9dep5d5tly writ+ \ s5t;es &
equ,ns1 !n ,i wd /& 9 front 9dep5d5tly >rang+ ridicul\s pla/ic symbols2 if
si<t$ t1*]s requir$ /ud5ts 6raise _! h&s 2f 2+ call$ on1 !n ,i wd h !m sp1k
_! "ns 2f 2+ call$ on1 ev5 if _! %rill cries blew holes 9 my e>drums4 ,9
ord] 6trans=m bl;s f a -p5sat$ w1k;s 6an actual /r5g?1 ,i ne$$ 6take ! next
/ep & ?r[ \--l ,guru's turban--my precondi;n$ no;ns (! way classrooms >e
suppos$ 6be run & laun* myf 96a radic,y new 5viron;t1 built f ! gr.d up4

,:5"e ,i ask$ a "q or ne$$ "s?+ d"o1 kids immly respond$ )1 8,i'll get x60
8,i'll d x60 8,i see x60 ,9 front ( me 7 ?irty sets ( p]fectly "w+ eyes &
h&s1 bra9s 9clud$4 ,! kids cd write on ! bo>d1 hang po/]s1 pass \ pap]s1
correct ea* o!r's quizzes1 & if ,i grew re,y lazy1 !y cd fill ,wiz>d's wat]
di%4 ,n"o ( my /ud5ts "e saw ^! tasks z mundane b z special4 ,:5 "o ( !m
/ood 9 front ( _! classmates hold+ a piece ( *alk1 x imm]s$ !m 9 ! le>n+
process1 gave !m unprec$5t$ responsibil;y1 & help$ !m 62come l1d]s4 ,z f> z
rais+ h&s or call+ \ _! "ns1 ,i ?rew ^! \ too4 ,9 my class1 kids wd simply
sp1k1 )a few rules ( c\rse2 !y cdn't sp1k :5 o!rs spoke & _! id1s _h
6relate 6\r 4cus.n4

,af giv+ ! /ud5ts an ov]view (! ye>1 ,i ask$ if any"o _h "qs1 b _! curios;y
wasn't focus$ on ,5gli%4 ,f/1 !y want$ 6"k all ab ,wiz1 :o "?\t ! "d lay
pati5tly ag/ ! classroom wall4 ,i expla9$ t :5 ,wiz>d wore 8 l1!r h>;s1 he
0 3sid]$ on duty1 : m1nt ! kids cdn't pet or play ) hm4 8,x's l ! /ory (
..,dr4 ,jekyll & ,mr4 .,hyde4 ,:ile he's on duty1 he %[s 8 mature responsi#
side1 b :5 t h>;s goes (f10 ,i paus$ & put a s9i/] $ge on my voice1 8he
goes 96dog mode40

,m "qs foll[$ & "s ev5 cau<t me (f gu>d4 8,h[ d y f9d yr m\? ) yr =k80

8,h[ d y bru% yr tee?80

8,:5 y drive1 does ,wiz>d /e]80 ,t "o made "ey"o lau<4

,!n "o ask$1 8,h[ d y play basketball80 ,i _h answ]s = mo/1 b ? "o /ump$
me4 ,i _hn't play$ basketball s9ce ,i _h g"o bl4 ,9 front ( !m ,i want$
6s.d /r;g & 3fid5t1 z if "! 0 no?+ ,i cdn't a*ieve1 b ,i didn't want 6lie
ei4 ,s f9,y1 ,i sd1 8,i don't "k40 ,!n kids jump$ 9 eag]ly1 giv+ _! [n
solu;ns4 8,i h an idea6 ,put "s?+ 9 ! ball1 s x makes noise40

8,& "s?+ t makes noise on ! hoop40

8,we> a face mask1 s ! ball doesn't hit y 9 ! face40

8,& blfold all ! o!r play]s40

8,n bad10 ,i respond$4 8,maybe ? is ! 2g9n+ (a profes.nal bl basketball
l1gue40

,ov] ! f/ two weeks1 ,i /ra9$ bits ( 9=m,n f my /ud5ts' voices &1 sl[ly1
9dividuals 2gan 6em]ge f ! homog5e;y4 ,specific t"os1 9flec;ns1 & patt]ns 9
_! spee*1 -b9$ )! loc,n ( _! voices 9 ! room1 gave me ! clues ,i ne$$4 ,i 0
actu,y surpris$ h[ m* 9=m,n ,i cd ga!r f a voice1 f xs s.d & texture1 f xs
fluid;y & 9flec;n1 f ! ^ws us$ & f ! way a s5t;e is put tgr1 f ! subjects
*os5 6talk ab & f ! response 6:at o!rs say4 ,& z a t1*]1 ,i 2gan 6l x ?
way4

,at lun*1 ,i sat )a gr\p ( vet]an fif?-grade t1*]s1 *att+ ab /ud5ts4 ,i sd1
8,r&y seems l a nice kid4 ,he alw asks me h[ my "d is go+ & he helps ! o!r
kids ) _! "w4 ,:5"e he talks 9 class1 8 id1s >e pretty sophi/icat$ =a boy 8
age40

8,did y "k he's a ll *u2y80 ano!r t1*] respond$1 z if %e 7 fill+ me 9 on !
-plete picture1 ! miss+ pieces (! puzzle4 8,he has a bad habit ( pick+ 8
nose 9 class4 ,! o!r boys won't h any?+ 6d ) hm40

8,& :at's ) 8 ;,t-%irts8 ,!y're ab two sizes too small10 ano!r t1*] a4$4

8,! "m's no di6]5t4 ,h] clo!s look ab r1dy =! ,gdwill pile4 ,%e n"e tucks 9
h] bl\se & h] skirts >e alw wr9kl$40

8,well1 y "k ! apple doesn't fall f> f ! tree40

,_! -;ts made me wond] if bl;s impair$ my judg;ts ab /ud5ts1 b ,i refus$
6return 6! 3cept ( bl;s z a w1k;s4 ,if see+ my /ud5ts m1nt !y wd g f *>m+1
9noc5t1 "y p ) promise & 9tellig;e1 6*u2y1 unfa%iona# nose pick]s1 !n maybe
,i'd j rema9 bliss;lly ignorant4 ,maybe ,i wasn't gett+ ! -plete picture1 b
,i wd 2 happy 6settle = only half1 z l;g z x 0 ! gd half4

,af t lun*1 bl;s 0 n"e ag a w1k;s 9 my classroom4 ,9 a ma? unit1 ,i
9corporat$ ,brl1 us+ ! spatial patt]ns (! dots 6t1* logical r1son+4 ,6cr1te
bond+ am;g classmates1 ,i >rang$ ! desks & *airs 96an ob/acle c\rse & _h
ea* /ud5t1 blfold$ & us+ a l;g :ite cane1 navigate "?1 :ile o!rs %\t$ \
direc;ns4 ,a few mon?s 96! ye>1 we ev5 tri$ \r h& at basketball us+ ! id1s
t my /ud5ts _h propos$4 ,f a bl;s catalog1 ,i ord]$ a basketball )a j+l+
bell 9side &a small beep+ device 6be hung f ! basketball hoop4 ,! /ud5ts
lay /rips ( tape ov] ! pa9t$ l9es (! c\rt1 s !y cd feel = !mvs :5 !y 7 9 !
key4 ,we>+ f5c+ helmets & blfolds made ( l;g gym socks1 !y play$ game af
game ( "o on "o4 ,al? fi]cely -petitive1 ,i didn't ?9k ^! games wd "e rival
! ,,nba1 b z ,i /ood on ! sidel9e li/5+ 6! beep+ hoop1 j+l+ ball1 &! jo/l+1
collid+ fif?-grade bodies at play1 ,i knew pr\dly t !y _h 2come pro#m
solv]s1 f9d+ solu;ns 6a r1l pro#m 9 a r1l _w t does n (f] up solu;ns v
easily4