Cowboy Boots for Haiti

I woke up on my birthday with Lola cuddled next to me.  I could see through the window that it was gray and windy.  I held her closer and went back to sleep.

I saw Oliver in the hallway and greeted him.  His hand was slightly outstretched and I shook it. He smiled.
"How are you?"  I asked.
"GOOD." he responded.
"Do you know who that is?"  I heard his paraprofessional question as I walked away. 
"Spanish teacher.  Wagner." he answered in his oddly flat yet emphatic way.  I was thrilled.  He said my name. 

I felt pretty frumpy.  I was wearing ugly clothes, my hair looked bad, it was just not my day.  One of my students came up and hugged me.
"You smell good." he informed me.
"Really?  I was feeling really raggedy today, thank you."

The day crept ahead as Lola and I laid in bed.  'Get up' I told myself, 'you took the day off for a reason, it's your birthday'.  But I just couldn't.

I ran into Oliver again in the hallway.  He grabbed my hand and shook it, emphatically asking me "How are you?  How are you?"  over and over again, a huge smile on his face.

I walked by a kid I didn't know in my ugly clothes. 
"I like your sweater and that shirt you are wearing." she called to me.
"Ohhh, thank you!"
"I like that red streak in your hair too."
They have no idea how much these little comments mean. 

I was leaving class as I passed Oliver and his paraprofessional in the hallway.
"Have you gotten your giggle out?"  she asked.
He squared his shoulders and put a serious face on.  But his mouth started to twitch and he broke into giggles.
We laughed too, it was impossible not to.
"Okay, is your giggle out?"
Again Oliver burst into the cutest and most genuine laughter ever.  He shook his head and his eyes watered and I couldn't stop laughing either.  It just felt so good.
A large group of school visitors walked by us.
We turned Oliver toward us and all laughed, as if someone had told an amazing joke.

"So...." Jonas began, "I have a Valentine...." he whispered, motioning that it was from him to me.
"Wow really?"
"But the question is.....," his voice lowered further "do you have one for me?"  he pressed his forehead to mine and stared at me.

I walked through the hallway and passed Oliver again.
"How are you?"  he asked emphatically.
"Good!"  I answered.
He raised his arms in a hugging gesture and I hugged him.

I couldn't believe it.