Jefferson Fisher

Not because I was trying to mislead him, but because to his mind, I represented all the bad things he ever thought he knew or had heard of about the law, lawyers, or the system. Of course, he had no reason to trust me. I understood. It was the stupid questions that got me. Now, I know good and well that I do many, many stupid things every day. But what I don't do is ask stupid questions.

Not because I was trying to mislead him, but because to his mind, I represented all the bad things he ever thought he knew or had heard of about the law, lawyers, or the system. Of course, he had no reason to trust me. I understood. It was the stupid questions that got me. Now, I know good and well that I do many, many stupid things every day. But what I don't do is ask stupid questions.

In that instant, a wave of anger surged through me. I felt my whole body go tense. My ears got hot as I shifted my weight in my seat. I could sense that I was becoming defensive. My questions up to that point had barely scratched the surface. Nothing about them had been difficult or even uncomfortable. Stupid? I'll show him stupid, I thought.

In that instant, a wave of anger surged through me. I felt my whole body go tense. My ears got hot as I shifted my weight in my seat. I could sense that I was becoming defensive. My questions up to that point had barely scratched the surface. Nothing about them had been difficult or even uncomfortable. Stupid? I'll show him stupid, I thought.

In that instant, a wave of anger surged through me. I felt my whole body go tense. My ears got hot as I shifted my weight in my seat. I could sense that I was becoming defensive. My questions up to that point had barely scratched the surface. Nothing about them had been difficult or even uncomfortable. Stupid? I'll show him stupid, I thought.

I felt myself wanting to come back with quips about his size in relation to his intelligence. Just a few well-placed cutting words and I'd best him. I tried to tell myself that his reaction was all I needed to know about who he truly was. But I'd been wrong before. When I was in third grade, my school started a reading buddy program, pairing strong readers with those who hadn't learned yet.

I felt myself wanting to come back with quips about his size in relation to his intelligence. Just a few well-placed cutting words and I'd best him. I tried to tell myself that his reaction was all I needed to know about who he truly was. But I'd been wrong before. When I was in third grade, my school started a reading buddy program, pairing strong readers with those who hadn't learned yet.

I felt myself wanting to come back with quips about his size in relation to his intelligence. Just a few well-placed cutting words and I'd best him. I tried to tell myself that his reaction was all I needed to know about who he truly was. But I'd been wrong before. When I was in third grade, my school started a reading buddy program, pairing strong readers with those who hadn't learned yet.

That's how I got paired with Evan. Twice a week, we'd sit on beanbags during our library period. I'd listen as he would struggle to read aloud books like Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. Evan was physically much bigger than I was. Back then, I had a hard time understanding how he was so big but couldn't read.

That's how I got paired with Evan. Twice a week, we'd sit on beanbags during our library period. I'd listen as he would struggle to read aloud books like Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. Evan was physically much bigger than I was. Back then, I had a hard time understanding how he was so big but couldn't read.

That's how I got paired with Evan. Twice a week, we'd sit on beanbags during our library period. I'd listen as he would struggle to read aloud books like Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. Evan was physically much bigger than I was. Back then, I had a hard time understanding how he was so big but couldn't read.

When he'd come across a word that he didn't know, my job was to help him sound it out. But he still struggled. So I figured out ways to explain things to him differently, like associating words with memorable phrases or creating metaphors on the fly with whatever was near us in the room. I got really good at crafting little tricks that engaged Evan's interests, making harder ideas more memorable.

When he'd come across a word that he didn't know, my job was to help him sound it out. But he still struggled. So I figured out ways to explain things to him differently, like associating words with memorable phrases or creating metaphors on the fly with whatever was near us in the room. I got really good at crafting little tricks that engaged Evan's interests, making harder ideas more memorable.

When he'd come across a word that he didn't know, my job was to help him sound it out. But he still struggled. So I figured out ways to explain things to him differently, like associating words with memorable phrases or creating metaphors on the fly with whatever was near us in the room. I got really good at crafting little tricks that engaged Evan's interests, making harder ideas more memorable.

Sometimes we'd do our reading sessions during our lunch period. While I'd pull out my lunch in a brown bag with a handwritten smiley face on it that my mama had made me that day, I'd watch as a teacher would bring him a tray from the cafeteria. Evan's mama didn't make his lunch. I began to notice that his clothes never seemed to fit him, like they were three sizes too big.

Sometimes we'd do our reading sessions during our lunch period. While I'd pull out my lunch in a brown bag with a handwritten smiley face on it that my mama had made me that day, I'd watch as a teacher would bring him a tray from the cafeteria. Evan's mama didn't make his lunch. I began to notice that his clothes never seemed to fit him, like they were three sizes too big.

Sometimes we'd do our reading sessions during our lunch period. While I'd pull out my lunch in a brown bag with a handwritten smiley face on it that my mama had made me that day, I'd watch as a teacher would bring him a tray from the cafeteria. Evan's mama didn't make his lunch. I began to notice that his clothes never seemed to fit him, like they were three sizes too big.

Once, when we were going over throw, through, and through, T-H-R-O-U-G-H, I tried to help by relating it to how he'd throw a baseball to his dad. Evan flatly replied, I don't know who my dad is. I vividly remember feeling as though I couldn't move my mouth. I was speechless. My heart broke for him. I'd later learned that Evan had been living with his grandparents.

Once, when we were going over throw, through, and through, T-H-R-O-U-G-H, I tried to help by relating it to how he'd throw a baseball to his dad. Evan flatly replied, I don't know who my dad is. I vividly remember feeling as though I couldn't move my mouth. I was speechless. My heart broke for him. I'd later learned that Evan had been living with his grandparents.

Once, when we were going over throw, through, and through, T-H-R-O-U-G-H, I tried to help by relating it to how he'd throw a baseball to his dad. Evan flatly replied, I don't know who my dad is. I vividly remember feeling as though I couldn't move my mouth. I was speechless. My heart broke for him. I'd later learned that Evan had been living with his grandparents.