“Can I see?”
At first, Jake refused.
Then, for some reason, he handed her the notebook.
Mrs. Carter read several pages.
The next day, she called me.
“Sarah, your son has written something that I think many people need to read.”
I was frightened.
I didn’t want Jake to become something for strangers to stare at.
He had already endured enough attention.
But then his teacher read one passage to me.
“If my face looks old to you, that doesn’t mean I’m old inside. I love video games, pizza, and terrible jokes. I want friends, and someday I want to fall in love. When you look at me, don’t try to guess when I’m going to die. Ask me how I’m doing today.”
I was silent for a long time.
That evening, I spoke to Jake.
“Do you want people to read this?”
He shrugged.