i wish so badly that i had a photo or video clip to flash at you here, but i forgot that my boy had taken the camera out of my bag and to work, so a verbal image will have to do. this one is barely a recuerdo, but also one i don't want to soon forget. it was christian's last day on track at school today, and i had promised him that he could perform some dance moves during my rotation as a sort of going away celebration, since he was the only one tracking off. that was on monday. on tuesday he stopped me between classes to say he had changed his mind and wasn't going to do it. then today he was back on. and it was beautiful! not quite literacy enhancing, but well-deserved by the youngsters and well-worth the break. the kids were literally rapt as he improvised moves to beat it for a full three minutes! some of us simply could not contain an elated smile and others unwittingly imitated his movements as he jerked subtly to and fro à la michael jackson.

at the end of the day i took up post watching the silhouettes of parents leaving with their progeny, and relishing the sight of weary field-working mothers gingerly slinging their children's backpacks on their own backs and physically challenged fathers grasping unwieldy, leapard-print clad hands. when christian's turn came i took a mental shot of his distinctly broad, baby-toothed grin and freshly shaven head as he waved goodbye. i can only hope that i have the pleasure to be graced by his contagious smile and sweet moves again someday.