Chuck

Chuck shuddered as he made his way to his homeroom in Fifth-grade, hearing Mike’s taunting “Oink, Oink” in the school hallway.

“Get away from me!” Chuck whispered, tears streaming down his cheeks as he hurried to his desk. Listening to Ms. Williams, his teacher, this coming period was a welcome break from the humiliation. Chuck admired her ability to remain calm regardless of any disruptions. Ms. Williams managed to move forward and teach her students memorable lessons. He noticed that she closed her eyes for a short while at stressful moments. After that, Ms. Williams was even more centered and present. Chuck wondered if he could be more like her.

Mike continued to sneer and keep pace with Chuck while the other students joined in on the joke, except for Vivi. She witnessed Chuck’s humiliation and wished she could help him. She sat beside Chuck and gave him a tissue to wipe away his tears. He thanked her, but her sympathy didn’t make the day easier for him. Nobody interfered in his painful dynamic with Mike. He suffered in silence and gulped another candy bar.

A moment later, Jamie screamed and jumped on her chair, pointing to a cockroach under her desk. Other girls joined in the hysteria and climbed up. Chuck crawled quietly beside Jamie’s chair with a piece of paper torn from his notebook.

“Calm down, and get off your chairs!” Ms. Williams thrust her arms as if conducting a symphony. She tried to hush the girls, but nobody paid any attention. She closed her eyes for a few moments.

“What are you doing, Chuck?” Jamie screamed, terrified.

“I don’t want to touch it.” Chuck replied, focusing on the roach, “I may accidentally kill it.”

“Oh, my God, this is so gross. I’m going to throw up,” uttered Jamie.

“Crush it, Chuck, just crush that roach,” yelled a few excited kids.

Chuck carried the roach cautiously to the open window. Suddenly, Mike pushed him aside and stepped on the beetle, causing Chuck to cringe.

Chuck forgot he was smaller and weaker than Mike – rage grabbed him like a puppet, and he was about to punch Mike in the nose when Vivi ran and stood between them. “The roach is dead, Chucky. Starting a fight will only get you in trouble,” she pleaded with him.

Mike ignored Vivi and glared at the class for support. When he saw he wasn’t getting any, he shrugged and returned to his seat. Vivi grabbed the dead beetle with a tissue and tossed it into the garbage bin. She shook her head, “The roach looked so harmless. How did it gain such a terrible reputation?”

“It’s over, kids,” Ms. Williams said tenderly after opening her eyes. “Thanks, Vivi, for stepping up. Let’s forget about math and talk about what happened. Chuck, Mike, and Jamie faced the roach differently. Chuck, why did you try to save the cockroach?”

Chuck ignored the teacher and stared at Vivi, “I don’t know if I should thank you for saving me from facing the principal. I was itching to hit Mike all year long.” Vivi didn’t know how to respond. Instead, she focused on the teacher’s question. “People overreact when they see a roach. I don’t know why. It minds its own business, just like us. I wouldn’t kill it.”

The teacher asked, “Why did you step on it, Mike?”

Mike said flatly, “It was the right thing to do. Roaches carry diseases. It’s him or us.” He shrugged again and mumbled. “I saved you all from infestation, you morons.”

Still under the euphoria of the kids’ support, Chuck jumped up and said, “That’s ridiculous. A mild stomach ache is the worst you get if they touch your food. Your fear of them is the result of brainwashing.”

Mike snarled, “I’m not scared of those little monsters. They are scared of me. Who ended up in the garbage bin? Eh?”

Vivi snapped, “That’s because you’re a hundred thousand times bigger than they are. Still, if we continue tormenting each other like you ridicule Chuck, roaches will rule.” The words poured out her mouth, and she turned red.

“Easy for you to say,” exclaimed Jamie, agitated. “I don’t know why, but I feel threatened when I see a roach. It’s not logical, but it feels real. I’m scared of them. It sounds stupid, and I never thought of it before. I have this reflex, and I don’t think it’s only me.”
A few students nodded in agreement.

Chuck said, “I saw a poor little guy surrounded by many human monsters going after him. I felt for him, running from one corner to another. He was not my enemy. He was a living creature like me, with a different appearance, feeling scared for his life. I wanted to help him stay alive. He doesn’t carry diseases. He doesn’t threaten anybody. We can easily live side by side.”

The bell rang, and the students left the class sullenly. Some looked at the trash bin on their way out. Vivi wondered if they changed their view about cockroaches. Now, she wanted Chuck’s help on a project she had created in her head as the event was happening.

“Hey Chuck, do you have a minute?” Chuck’s eyes searched for Mike’s whereabouts, a habit he had acquired since the beginning of the year. He smiled at Vivi, “Sure, what’s up?”

“I was thinking of giving a presentation in class based on what just happened, and I wanted to know if you could help me with it?”

“Wow, you’re a fast thinker!” Chuck exclaimed.

“Thanks,” she blushed, “I wanted to bring it to Ms. Williams and see if she approved. But first, I wanted to talk about it with you.” Vivi exclaimed, looking at her feet.

“It already sounds interesting, and I didn’t even hear it!” Chuck encouraged her. “Can we talk about it during lunch?”

“Yeah, let’s do that! Usually, I sit with Betty and Johnny. Why don’t you join us?”

Chuck’s day was getting better and better. He used to sit by himself during lunch, self-conscious about needing to eat. Chuck thought he shouldn’t eat if he were overweight. Unfortunately, when he felt guilty for overeating, he ate more to calm his nerves. “I’d love to join you. Where do you guys eat?” He knew where they ate. He had watched that happy trio from his shady yard corner and wished to join them since the year started.

“Follow me!” Vivi radiated one of her famous smiles and waved her hand toward the yard. Betty and Johnny were already there.

“Hi, Chuck,” Johnny smiled, “I loved your act this morning. I wish I had done it.” They all laughed, and Chuck felt at ease with this little group. They all took their lunch out, put it on Vivi’s small orange tablecloth, and picked up some. Vivi brought a colorful salad, Johnny had three veggie burgers, and Betty provided oranges for dessert. Chuck self-consciously removed some candy from his pocket and added it to the pile.

“Perfect!” said Betty smiling at Chuck with encouragement. “I love sweet stuff!”

“Don’t we all,” sighed Vivi, “salad is healthy, but you can’t compare it to candy. Let’s eat!”
They each grabbed a candy bar and laughed. “Who would eat the salad first when offered a candy bar?” articulated Johnny.

“What’s your presentation about?” Chuck asked Vivi, biting on a burger. Those burgers were tasty, he thought, much lighter than the meaty ones.

“As we were leaving the classroom,” Vivi said, “I heard kids having different ideas about relating to roaches, and I thought to examine them. Either save those insects or justify the need to kill them, but do it consciously, with awareness. Do we harm those creatures carelessly? Are we bullies? That would be the base of my presentation.

“Yeah,” Chuck nodded excitedly, “Sounds great. Why don’t you ask Ms. Williams to discuss this while the topic is fresh? She’s nice, even though a bit nervous around roaches.” Betty and Johnny nodded in agreement, and they all laughed.

“Oh, there she is,” Vivi sighed anxiously, “wish me luck. Betty, could you clean up when you all finish eating? I can’t have another bite – too nervous.”

“Don’t worry about it. Go!” Betty said.

Vivi took a deep breath and approached Ms. Williams, who was returning to the building from supervising the kids during the lunch break.

“Ms. Williams, do you have a moment?” Vivi said, a bit short of breath.

“Yes, Vivi, what’s on your mind?” The teacher turned and looked at her graciously.

“I’ve just thought of something. Could I tell you about it?” Vivi felt at ease around Ms. Williams, who was respectful toward all her students.

“Sure,” Ms. Williams brushed a brown curl from her forehead and looked at her smartwatch. “Walk me to the teachers’ room; I’d like some lemon tea before the next period. My throat is a bit sore.” She smiled apologetically.

“Sure,” Vivi echoed after her teacher and felt warmth in her chest, adjusting her step to Ms. Williams. “I wanted to tell my classmates a story to start a conversation about cockroaches. I’ll tell them about an imaginary cockroach that sat on my night dresser, weeping his eyes out. In the story, he told me that humans hunted him. The roach asked me to help bring some wisdom to humans to stop poisoning his people.”

“That sounds interesting, Vivi. Would you like to present it tomorrow?” Ms. Williams asked, reaching the teachers’ room.

“I don’t know,” Vivi lowered her eyes and looked lost. “I don’t know most of the kids. Maybe I need a little more time?”

“But that’s a great way to get to know your classmates and, more importantly, for them to know you and what you’re passionate about. How much time do you need to present it? It’s not complicated. Come to the front of the class, say what you think, and ask their opinion. Would you like to do that during the first period, so you won’t have time to be nervous?” Ms. Williams touched Vivi’s shoulder affectionately.

“Tomorrow?” Vivi gasped, “I guess you’re right. The sooner I do it, the less I worry about it.” She giggled nervously.

“Ok, it’s settled. I’ll let you go now.” Ms. Williams disappeared behind the glass door, leaving a faint scent of Jasmine. Vivi inhaled it to gather courage and almost clashed with Chuck.

“Vivi, what did she say?” Chuck asked, huffing and puffing. He hated how his weight limited him. What wouldn’t he do to look slimmer like Johnny? But when his hunger hit him, the candy reached his mouth like magic. What a bummer.

Vivi perspired nervously and said, “We’ll do it during the first period tomorrow. You think it’s too soon?” She asked.

Chuck smiled, “Not if we’re prepared. Let’s stay in the library after school and research roaches. It has a good selection of biology. I know because I did some research on pigs. Since Mike keeps calling me that, I wanted to know my relations.” He chuckled and looked at Vivi to see her reaction.

She was impressed by his humor and his motivation to work with her. “Sure, I’ll text my mom.” She read her mother’s approval and added, “Let’s ask Betty and Johnny if they’d like to join us,” as she saw them getting closer. “Chuck and I were planning to go to the library after school and do some research since my presentation is tomorrow. Are you coming with us?”

They both shook their head. “Sorry,” said Johnny, “I have to do some shopping for dinner.”

“And I told him I’d join him,” said Betty, and blushed.

“No problem,” Vivi said, a bit disappointed.

Chuck was happy to have some time with Vivi. “The bell just rang,” he reminded them. They all knew the awkward feeling of entering the class after the lesson started. They high-fived, and Chuck felt part of Vivi’s group.
***
After class, Chuck saw Vivi standing by her locker, looking furious and pale. She showed him a sticker with a picture of a pig that resembled Chuck’s head with the words, “Do you like bacon?”
Vivi ripped it off the locker door and stuffed it in her backpack. “Mike did it!” she whispered.

Chuck felt embarrassed, realizing his new friend would suffer because of him. He considered leaving her alone. She could tell what he was thinking and quickly said, “Don’t even think about it! Let’s go to the library and learn about roaches and pigs. They’re more interesting than that bully.” As they were passing Betty and Johnny’s lockers, she noticed the same sticker on their lockers. They had already gone. She removed the stickers shaking her head in frustration. “Let’s go, Chucky. We’ve got better things to do than worry about the cruelty of some people.” Chuck felt embarrassed and nodded in agreement. He couldn’t help but admire his new friend, who had become his hero.

Vivi noticed that Chuck didn’t call anyone to tell them of his change of plans but decided to say nothing about it. Better to concentrate on the project at hand and not meddle with situations she had no idea about by asking questions that could embarrass him.

Mary, the librarian, knew these two youngsters and smiled at them, “Well, well, What brings you here after school?” They explained their interest in roaches, and she took them to the Biology section, telling them she’d love to help if they needed copies or handouts. They didn’t think they would need any, but her approach made them feel at ease.

They read in one of the books, “Cockroaches are equal-opportunity invaders. They establish themselves wherever they can find reliable food, water, and shelter sources. Unfortunately, people’s homes are one of the major suppliers of all three of these cockroach necessities.
In fact, according to the National Pest Management Association, most homes in urban areas hosted cockroaches, even though homeowners may have never detected their presence. Cockroaches were nocturnal creatures and experts at hiding.

Chuck said, “These facts are alarming, but are cockroaches more than pests? Let’s keep reading and bring these questions to the kids tomorrow.”

Vivi agreed and found the same sources when she Googled ‘roaches’ on her iPad.
She asked Mary to print a few copies for her friends and Ms. Williams. “Your interest in cockroaches is fascinating,” said Mary, “Most people just step on them.” Chuck and Vivi felt like they had grown taller by an inch or two and went out of the library laughing in delight.

***

The next day, Ms. Williams waited at the front of All Stars School for Vivi and Chuck. Chuck was relieved to see her. He knew Mike wouldn’t try anything funny around her.

“Are you guys ready?” she asked pleasantly.

“Yes,” said Vivi reassuringly, even though she felt anxiety pangs in her belly. Chuck was busily surveying the hallway out of habit for signs of his bully.

“Let’s go,” Ms. Williams said eagerly, leading her students to their home class.

She presented the topic to the students, “Yesterday, we killed a roach. Today we’ll hear what you all think about it. Vivi, the floor is yours.”

“First, we’ll ask you a few questions and vote on them just to feel where you are about it.” Vivi looked at Chuck, who held chalk to write the votes, and Ms. Williams nodded in encouragement.

“First question, are roaches dangerous to your household? Chuck wrote the question on the board. There are two pieces of paper on your desks: Green for yes, and Red for no. Please pick up the color representing your opinion.”
The students picked the colors, and Chuck wrote under that question: twenty-three Reds and eight Greens.

Vivi asked the following question, “Can roaches hurt you?”

Chuck wrote – fourteen Red and twelve Green.

“Next one,” Vivi said calmly, “Do roaches carry diseases?”

Chuck added six Green and eighteen Red.

“And the last one,” said Vivi, “Are we dangerous to the roaches?”

Chuck wrote under that question – thirty-five Green notes.

Vivi moved next to Ms. Williams, and Chuck said, “From your votes, it seems you think we are a danger to roaches more than they are to us. What do you think we should do about it?”

Mike said, “Who are you to say anything, Piglet? Look at you. You probably ate twenty-eight of them for breakfast. I did the research. Pigs eat Everything.”
Chuck changed colors and left the class without a word.

The students seemed shocked by Chuck’s reaction to Mike’s comment, causing a heavy silence to fall on the classroom. Ms. Williams ignored Mike’s rude comment and said, “Open your notebooks and draw a picture for a while. It can be anything. Then hand them to me. Don’t worry. I won’t grade them. Vivi, please check on Chuck and bring him back to class. Mike, please come see me when school is over.”

The students were relieved to have a task to focus on, and Vivi found Chuck looking disheveled, coming out of the boys’ restroom.

Chuck asked, “Am I in trouble?”

Vivi said to him reassuringly, “Not at all. Ms. Williams is waiting for us. It’s going to be all right.” They returned to class after Vivi lent him a comb to fix his hair.
As they entered, Ms. Williams greeted him with a smile, “Hi, Chuck,” Her eyes ensured he was ok. “Please sit down and join your friends with a drawing of your choice. We were concerned about you.”

The students kept their eyes glued to the paper. It was soothing to keep drawing, as Ms. Williams suggested. Mike stared at Chuck with undisguised disgust, but Chuck didn’t notice. He went silently to his desk and started drawing.

When Ms. Williams said it was time to quit, Chuck quietly handed her his picture featuring an icy storm pouring on livid lava heaving down the slopes of an active volcano. Ms. Williams said quietly to him, “After talking to Mike, I’d like to show you something to address your suffering. Can you stay a bit longer after school?” Chuck nodded, wondering how she could relieve his pain. He was hungry and ran out of candy. Maybe she had some in her room.

Outside the classroom, Vivi, Betty, and Johnny greeted him. Chuck told them he needed to see Ms. Williams, and they offered to accompany him, but he declined as he felt she had something special to share. “We get you, Chucky,” Johnny winked at him, “see you tomorrow.” They gave him a fierce high-five and went their way. Chuck found himself thinking how bright Everything looked once he had made friends. He sighed contently and waited for Mike to leave Ms. Williams’ room.

Mike hardly noticed Chuck when he exited the teacher’s room. He was pensive as if he was mulling over what she had told him. Chuck wondered what she had said as she came out, smiled, and gestured for him to enter. Plants were everywhere – a greenhouse within the school building. Chuck didn’t know plants could grow in dark rooms. Each pot had a little sign. Ms. Williams observed him silently as he shifted his gaze from plant to plant. The ivy looked striking with its white flowers; the snake plant was erect with sharp leaves. There were a few lucky bamboo plants on the shelves behind the small desk, and pictures of students decorated every space – all smiling at the camera as if they had won a ticket to the moon and back. “Wow, Ms. Williams. You have a green thumb and pictures of many happy students.” he said, “I’m hungry. Do you have any candy or Cheetos?”

Ms. Williams chuckled. “I don’t,” and put a little bowl of nuts before Chuck. “It’s not candy, but I think you’ll like them almost as much.” Chuck preferred the chocolate-covered nuts infused with caramel, but plain nuts were good enough. Once the bowl was empty, he would concentrate on what Ms. Williams wanted to share.

He asked, “Why did you ask me to come? I know it’s not to introduce me to your plants and feed me nuts. I’m nutty enough.” They both laughed, and Chuck felt a bit more relaxed. Ms. Williams leaned back in her seat and searched for a way to convey how to deal with bullies like Mike without resorting to bullying himself. She said, “Ten years ago, I learned Anapana, which means observing the breath as the air goes in and out. It’s an easy-to-learn, objective, and scientific technique that helps develop the concentration of the mind. Once I learned that, facing whatever obstacles I came across became easier. It sounds simple, and it is, but it’s also extremely effective. Would you like to learn that?”

Chuck was intrigued by her suggestion, as he had no idea how to deal with the suffering he felt when Mike attacked him. “Sure, I’d love to learn. Tell me what to do.”

Ms. Williams leaned forward and said, “First, there are five promises you must keep to get the full benefit of this elegant technique.”

Chuck became suspicious. “Promises?” He asked anxiously.

She smiled at him reassuringly and handed him a paper titled The Five Promises.
“They are pretty sensible.” she said, “I’ll read them to you:
• I promise to try to treat all beings kindly and not kill them or harm them in any way.
• I promise to take only what is given to me and not take anything which belongs to others without permission.
• I promise to treat other boys and girls like brothers or sisters or best friends.
• I promise to speak truthfully, kindly, and gently and not to tell lies or to say hurtful things to anybody or about anybody.
• I promise not to take alcohol, drugs, or intoxicants but to keep my mind clear.
Can you try your best to keep these promises, Chuck?”

Chuck studied the statements seriously and said, “Ms. Williams, these promises make sense but are not easy to follow.”

“What do you mean, Chuck?” Ms. Williams was intrigued by his intention to follow through with so much self-scrutiny.

“It says,” he read from the paper, ‘I promise to try to treat all beings kindly and not kill them or harm them in any way.’ I was involved in killing a roach today. I’m not a vegetarian. I may smack a mosquito on my arm without thinking. How can I promise to stop doing all that?”

Ms. Williams nodded and explained gently, “It says ‘to try’ because it’s a gradual process. You need to be more conscious of your actions and your thinking. If you truly believe in the promises, they will become easier to keep as time goes by. They will alleviate your stress instead of adding to it. These promises are an introduction to a breathing technique called Anapana. Would you be interested in learning it?”

Chuck sighed, “Sounds good. I’ll do anything to take Mike off my back.”

Ms. Williams shook her head, “I understand your feelings, Chuck, but doing something out of fear is a reaction to a situation and not a long-term solution. Could you think of a positive reason you’d like to follow the Five Promises?”

Chuck sat in silence, then said, “When I was a little boy, Grandma used to put me to sleep singing songs by the Beatles. “Imagine” was her favorite, and it became my favorite too. I fell asleep dreaming of a world where people lived peacefully and didn’t kill others. With your help, this is a way to live with that intention. I’m glad you’ll teach me, Anapana, Ms. Williams. It could change my life for the better. His eyes teared a bit. “When I go home today, I’ll tell Grandma about Anapana. Maybe, she’d like to join me. Imagine that!” They both laughed.

Ms. Williams sat beside Chuck, facing him, and said softly, “Sit comfortably, keeping your back and neck straight. Remove your glasses and keep your eyes and your mouth gently closed. Focus your full attention on the entrance of the nostrils. Remain aware of the natural breath as it comes in and goes out. Don’t try to control, count or regulate the breath. When the mind wanders away, please bring it back to the awareness of the breath. Try to remain aware of every breath that comes in and goes out. Keep doing it for a few minutes. I’ll join you.”

They sat and breathed together for a few minutes. Then Ms. Williams said. “Ok, open your eyes. Can you practice this for ten minutes twice daily, when you wake up and before bed?”

“Sure,” Chuck nodded excitedly, “I already feel more peaceful. Thank you, Ms. Williams.”

“That’s fine,” she smiled, “Let’s meet again in a few days and see how the practice goes, ok? Remember, the key is to keep doing it consistently, and you’ll see positive changes in your life.”
Before leaving her room, Ms. Williams reminded him, “Try to live by the Five Promises and practice Anapana for ten minutes twice daily. See you in class tomorrow.” She opened the door, inviting him to take the positive energy they shared in her office outside into the world.

Chuck stepped out, feeling taller and more confident. He wondered what brought that change. He breathed ok before he went into that room. Nothing magical happened, but it felt as if something extraordinary did happen. He smiled and promised himself to practice Anapana twice daily. He was also thinking about the Five Promises. How would it feel to apply them in his life? Some things sounded simple, like ‘not stealing or using intoxicants.’ Others needed more awareness, like ‘treating all his classmates as best friends.’ Does that include Mike? How could that be? He was willing to try. After all, that was all he promised – trying his best.

As if life wanted to put him to the test, on his way out, he saw Mike waiting for his ride home. In the past, Chuck would ignore him and treat him like air. Instead, he smiled at Mike and said, “See you tomorrow, Mike. I hope your ride comes soon,” radiating confidence and goodwill. Mike nodded as if nothing wrong had ever happened between them. The Mike Chuck knew would never pass up an opportunity to humiliate him.
He rushed home to share with Grandma his new technique for a life they always imagined. He started running, forgetting his weight, forgetting his craving for sweets. All that was on his mind was that Grandma would be happy to hear of Anapana.

Two blocks later, he had to slow down. He started practicing Anapana to restore his energy – focusing on breathing through his nose, mouth gently close, and feeling the air touching his nostrils. As a result, Chuck naturally slowed his pace and started paying attention to the chirping birds and swaying leaves. He remembered being too preoccupied with thoughts about the past or future to notice those sounds. He was thrilled to start a journey toward a present-focused life. A new world just opened up.

“Grandma, I have great news!” Chuck announced. After setting down his backpack, he scanned the kitchen table for his plate. His Grandma had prepared a delicious meal of roasted chicken, steamed broccoli, and roasted potatoes. Chuck stared at the piece of chicken and imagined the hen that became his food. He couldn’t bring himself to eat it. It didn’t feel right that an animal had to die to satisfy his craving for meat.

Grandma expected half the food to be gone when she entered the kitchen. Instead, she saw Chuck weeping in front of a full plate. “What happened, Chucky? Did Mike harass you again?” She asked, embracing him in her big bust that smelled of cinnamon.

He shook his head while inhaling her comforting scent. “I am the bully, Grandma; I’ve been eating animals all my life. I can’t do it anymore! It’s part of the Five Promises.”

She comforted Chuck by gently stroking his head while attempting to understand the changes he was facing. “What Five Promises, Chucky? You’re not going to eat your chicken?” Her grandson never said no to food, especially roasted chicken.

Chuck lifted his curly head from her warm bosom and solemnly said, “Ms. Williams taught me a breathing technique to improve my life if I try and keep the Five Promises. The first one is not to kill. Even though I didn’t kill the chicken, I will participate in the killing if I eat it; liking meat doesn’t justify the act of killing. I can’t eat meat or fish anymore, sorry, Grandma.”

His Grandma’s eyes glistened. “It’s ok, Chucky, no big deal. It makes so much sense. I’ll join you. We won’t eat meat, chicken, or fish in this house. Can you teach me the technique? I’d love to improve my life!”

“Sure, Grandma. Could I have something to eat instead of chicken? Perhaps some nuts and beans? I’m hungry!” Chuck and his Grandma shared a moment of laughter, and she prepared something delicious that didn’t include dead animals.

After completing his meal and homework, Chuck introduced Grandma to the practice of Anapana, which she effortlessly grasped. Following the teacher’s recommendation, they practiced the technique together for ten minutes before sleeping.

Before she left Chuck’s room, Grandma said shyly, “Chucky, could you introduce me to Ms. Williams? She sounds so wonderful!”

“Of course, Grandma, I thought it too. I’ll ask her the next time I see her in her office. I’m sure she’ll agree. Anybody would be glad to meet you. Good night, Grandma.”

“Good night, Chucky. Dream of a world at peace.” She kissed him and hummed from Imagine, her favorite song, “You may say I’m a dreamer, But I’m not the only one.” Then she left her grandson’ room smiling, thanking Ms. Williams for the changes they were going through. Grandma knew it was only the beginning of shifts to fill their life with wonders.