The calls for glue

Tyreke is a little butterball of a guy with more energy than any 6 year old should be allowed to have! And so affectionate! When we walk down the hall or around campus, he slows us down because he has to stop and give every female teacher a hug! And every teacher loves him and so eagerly accepts the sweet hug! Of course, I always remind him that we just give quiet waves to teachers to say hello, he says "Oh, yeah! I'm sorry Ms. Herrington." But does it again everytime anyway!

I work pretty consistently to keep him, along with several other untamed young stallions, harnessed so they can begin to learn some disciple in their actions and words. However, before and after school and especially on the bus, Tyreke is a loose cannon! Consequently, he has gotten into lots of trouble - even fighting for which he was suspended from the bus for 2 days, and didn't come to school because of no transportation. Sad times!!!

On March 3, he got into a fight with a first grader at breakfast and before we have even finished the calendar and weather morning routines, he was on his way home for the last time from GLEC. His mom took him out and put him in another school closer to their home. She had had enough!

We were all sad to see him leave, although the unleashed energy in the room has gone way down and that's not a bad thing, but there is a big hole in our class.

That Friday was his last day - Sat. he calls me on my cell phone!
Tyreke: Hey, Ms. Herrington! Whatch you doin'?
Me: Tyreke? How did you get my number?
T: You know that boot that we wore to the rodeo with the school's name on it? You told us the phone number on it was your number so's if we got lost they would call you and you would come find us! Well, I kept it!
Me: Oh...we missed you when you left yesterday.
T: My momma said she had had enough of that school cause I kept getting in trouble.
Ms.Herrington, I got my box of supplies but you didn't give me my glue! I need you to bring me my glue.
Me: Oh, ok!
T: Do you know where I live?
Me: yes, remember I brought your jacket at Christmas because you had left it at the school.
T: Be sure and fill up the bottle before you bring it.

The conversation continued with his questioning where my husband was, what was I doing that day, etc. Just chit-chat. Then I told me I needed to go and said good-bye.

About 2 weeks later, he called again - on Friday night!
T:Ms Herrington, you didn't bring me my glue and you said you would. Why didn't you bring it?

I told him that I didn't have his address, so he told me to get a pen and paper and for me to write it down. He asked to talk to my husband but I told him he was on the phone and we were getting ready to go to a movie (really it was a play but I wasn't sure he would know what that was).

Then this week, once again he calls only I let him leave a message this time.

T: Ms. Herrington, where's my glue? Are you playing with me? Cause I need that glue! (pause....as he talks with someone at his house). Oh, I'm sorry about that, Ms. Herrington, about playing with me....I LOVE YOOOOOU! But I still that glue!

He rambled on for about 3 or 4 minutes and then finally hung up.

So what's a teacher to do? I guess I am going to have to go to the store and get that boy a new bottle of glue and take it to him this weekend. (I meant to bring his home but forgot.)

I will miss that little stinker! During the 2nd call he told me his new teacher is mean and that his mom told her she could hit him. And she does - with a ruler on the hand. He said she had already hit him 2 times. I told him I was sorry and that I would never hit my students.

I think Tyreke will be one of those students that I won't be soon forgetting. Such enthusiasm for life and people. He will either be someone really great - or will end up in jail! I hope it is the first!