The Perfect Day

I walked back into my classroom, and there it was sitting on my desk. My first thought was maybe this was my black notebook. I keep one in my bottom drawer at all times for brainstorming and ideas generation. This is a classic move for a “Teacher-preneur” like me, but when I saw the beautifully crafted thank you sticker I knew it wasn’t mine. I was tempted to call the office and see if anyone had lost it, then I noticed my whole name embossed in gold in the right corner. How could that be? Who put this here? My door was locked how did they get it in here? Should I open it? After at least 3 minutes of internal struggle with what to do next, I opened it.

Inside was the most surprising, thoughtful, and life changing paragraph ever written. I re-read it at least four times to make sure I had read it correctly.

Dear Tracey,

We share at least 15-20 students. Our students consistently say the most amazing things about your class. Teaching in a virtual environment has been a challenge for all of us. The innovative way you have positioned teaching English during this pandemic through your “Lit Tea” , “Rachet Reads”, Book Challenges, Literature Themed Jeopardy rounds, and “College Fridays ”...you are impacting students and having them fall in love with books, reading, and poetry in unprecedented ways. I wanted to first say thank you for your passion and dedication. Students love your energy and corny jokes (their words not mine). Second, I recently came into a large inheritance and I wanted to put a smile on the faces of a few of my stellar colleagues. The key taped to the inside cover of this book opens a safe deposit box at First Bank. I hope the token of appreciation inside brightens your day. I know with teaching it is never about the money, but please accept this gift in the spirit in which it was given a thank you for changing and pouring into our students lives daily.

Anonymous

I stared at the book in tears trying to decide what to do next. Who wrote this? Was I being pranked? This can’t be real. Should I go to the bank? Call my husband? Do my students really talk about me like this? They have really been listening and drinking my “Lit Lover Koolaid”! I am so excited! Back to this key. What do I do?

After 10 more minutes of playing 20 questions I grabbed my car keys, and headed toward First Bank. My heart and head are racing. The tears are still flowing as I race down the E hallway stairs to my car. I fumbled with my keys, and finally got in. It is 2:40pm, I have to grab my daughter from school by 3. I raced over to pick her up. She is blurting out details about her day. I want to be interested...I REALLY do, but this key is burning a hole in my pocket. I texted my husband and asked him to meet me at the gas station, so he can grab our daughter and that allows me time to run to the bank. I haven’t given him any details. I didn’t know what to tell him, since all I have is the black book and instructions. A quick kiss and kid swap, and I am back on my way.

Back in my car, again the questions. What am I walking into? Will the bank know what to do with the key? What if there is really money in there? Can I keep it? Do we have a policy on this kind of stuff? Do I need to text my boss?The part of my brain that is still wired for corporate Human Resources won’t let me have a minute of peace to enjoy this.

Finally, I pull up in the parking lot of the bank. My hands and knees are shaking as I get out of my car. I grab my purse and head in. I put my name of the list, and wait to speak to the banker. While I am waiting I pull out the black book. I re-read the message. I pull my pink pen out of my purse, and go to the last page and start writing to calm myself. I start with the following thank you note:

Dear Anonymous,

As I write this thank you note I am literally in tears. You have no idea how life changing the words you left in that black book were for me. Thank you for sharing my students sentiment. Last semester was such a tough semester for me. I had seniors and sophomores, I had all of this passion and great ideas, and I couldn’t get to students to come to virtual class. I couldn’t get them to commit to learning and stop cheating. I am usually an eternal optimist, but it was heartbreaking to see students who have so much potential settle for a semester riddled with lack of effort. Then in November my entire immediate family got Covid-19. I didn’t take time off, I just pushed through and tried to apply my “Army Strong” refuse to quit mentality to every day until I physically started to feel better. My students, who deserve my 125 percent, were a big part of my daily inspiration to keep fighting to get back healthy. It worked, but it was so hard catching up with grading, emails etc. All of my energy during my sickness was spent trying to make sure I planned quality instruction, didn’t look like what I was going though, and making sure learning continued. Many days and evenings were filled with wondering if I was still cut out for teaching. I made it through the semester, and winter break I spent most of it trying to figure out how to make this virtual semester different, and bring the “magic” back into my classroom even if it is virtual. Based on your timely feedback it is working! THANK YOU!

I am sitting in the lobby of the bank now, and even before I walk in and find out the full extent of your token I wanted you to know that your acknowledgment and kind words have made all the difference in my day and week!

I am proud to be your colleague!

Best,

Tracey

I quickly closed the black book. They were calling my name to go back. I took one last apprehensive breath and followed the woman to the safe deposit room. I showed her my identification and opened the book. There were twenty, new, crisp, one thousand dollars bills and a card that says “Thank you for all you do...there is more coming. I was officially speechless. $20,000! I silently prayed for this huge blessing, and started making plans to utilize this life changing blessing. Who am I kidding? I don’t need to make plans. The plans were already carefully laid out in my little black book...it was time to execute!