Encounters

It's not difficult to remember an old friend who you've known for years. It's easy to remember favorite teachers or relatives. But what about those individuals who come and go. Your interaction with them may only last a few weeks or even a few moments.......


As I descended the stairs of the John Taylor Building I had a big knot in my stomach. I wasn't sure what to expect when I signed up for one of my Elementary Education classes called The Education of Exceptional Children. I was arriving for my first day of my lab where I was going to be matched up with a child who was having difficulty keeping up in school. Our job was to work with them one on one and tutor them. My classmates and I gathered and one by one BYU students were paired with children whose parents had brought them for the session. I was the last one standing alone: Only me, my instructor and a middle aged man slumped on the armchair in the lobby.

My teacher guided me over to the man on the chair and introduced him as Larry. Even thought the purpose of the program was to help children, it was open to anyone who needed help. I was to be Larry's partner. My mind raced and I wondered why Larry, an early 40 something, needed me. We found our way into our room. It reminded me of a cold interrogation room with a brown table, two chairs and a one way mirror.

We briefly introduced ourselves. Larry was anxious to tell me why he was there. He had dropped out of school when he was 8 years old to work and provide money for his needy family. He said that dropping out was easy. He had dyslexia and was the object of much taunting and teasing by his classmates. Larry looked at me in the eye and told me that he could not read, but he could find his way around an engine like noone's business. He made a decent living as an auto mechanic, but it didn't make up for not being able to read.

Larry and I met once a week for a few months. I introduced him to parts of speech, similes, metaphores and we read, read, read. His progress was amazing. As our time together was drawing to a close he expressed appreciation and said how much he wanted me to meet his wife and children. I did have that opportunity. We looked at his old family pictures and he even took my roommate and I to temple square to see the Christmas lights.

About four weeks before the class ended, Larry brought a book that he wanted us to read together. This book was too difficult for Larry to read alone, but together we made it through to the final page. He handed the book to me and said,

"This is for you, thank you."

The most heartfelt thank you I have ever received.

I'll never see Larry again.
Our time together was brief, but I'll always remember he taught me courage and persistence.


Some encounters only last a moment.
My mom just told me that she was standing in line at KFC last week and the lady in front of her in line turned around and said, "I'm going to pay for your lunch." Simple, yet so meaningful. She didn't want glory or praise.

She did it to be KIND.