The Water Cycle

"Why do you think the third amendment is important?"  one of the teachers with which I virtually teach barked into the camera.
"Because no one wants soldiers tracking blood in the house on their dirty feet."  a student responded.  He was new.  A student that hadn't been taught to be submissive and passive.  One that was actually taught to speak in class and use his mind.   

I worked with fourth graders after school, because apparently school is for lectures and everything else is homework.  Even in elementary school.  The kids blow up my Google Classroom feed, screaming for help, even during the classes we sit in with their general ed. teachers. 

 
"Alright, water cycle.  What is it?"  I asked, while googling it on a different tab.  
"Water fall from sky...." Kaw answered, hesitantly.
"You are so right..." I responded, knowing it wasn't enough but typed it into his Google Slide for him, anyway.  He was trying.  And keyboarding skills are not a standard.  And, I will do anything for Kaw.  My mind drifted back a week ago and months ago.  He texted me on my fake Google Voice number during the first week of school, in August.  

"I am new boy." his text read.  Bway Pa and Paw Ku help him, I found out from the beginning.  

We have a freer schedule on Wednesdays and Kaw could easily take a day off from school.  But he doesn't.  He blows up my feed, asking for help.  We worked alone last Wednesday, on math of all things.  Some of my other students tried to come onto the call, but I insisted that I needed to work with Kaw, alone.  It was murderous, torturous work.  I hate math.  After an hour and a half of work, with Kaw speaking but his camera off, he asked me some questions.

"Will you keep helping me?" Kaw asked.

"Of course.  What worries you?  Why won't you speak in class?  Is it too many people?"

"I can't do anything.  Every time I talk people tell me to say it again.  They don't understand me.  And, I can't read and I can't write.  I can't do anything.  I like school here better than in Thailand, because they don't hit me.  But I can't do anything."

"Kaw?  I've noticed that whenever you see someone do something on a computer, you don't need the directions repeated.  You look at it once and you can do it, automatically.  I wish I could do that."  I answered.  

"Yeah, I can do that....."

"What do you think about me and you meeting every Wednesday, we can work on some things...."  I suggested.  

"Yes!"  he responded.

"What do you think about ten o'clock, is that a good time for you?"  I answered.

"I get up up early, how about eight thirty, is that a good time for you?" he asked replicating my speech.

"That's a perfect time for me, Kaw."  I responded.

"I will put up the link."

I have a lot more to say about Kaw, and the student I taught years ago that was killed this week, though he was still just a child.  But I don't think I can do all that right now.  I feel really tired.