7 seconds
7 seconds
our SRO told us
you gotta get into position
7 seconds - that’s the magic number -
if you want to stand a chance,
and keep ‘em quiet.
so then i told my middle schoolers -
7th and 8th graders, 12 and 13 year olds,
with stories untold,
eyes full of wonder,
smiles lit by silly -
they had 7 seconds
to get from their seats
to the space
against the back wall,
out of sight of the door.
and they had to move in
absolute. silence.
so we practiced.
the first run through
took them 11.3 seconds.
they groaned;
defeat hung around their necks.
again, they said.
determined to get it
in less than 7 seconds;
we can win this, they said.
electric with anticipation,
ready. set. go.
bodies moved once more,
adrenaline palpable,
in perfect silence
(an impractical, impossible feat for these gigglers).
they froze in position
and looked to me with wide eyes.
6.2 seconds
YEAH! they shouted. we won!
so proud.
their cheers were thunder; high fives were fireworks.
me?
i went home and cried.
