Love Is What Matters

Vince was a polite and quiet child. He was always helpful to the teacher and was very perceptive about others’ needs. And smart! He tested three grade levels higher than anyone else. He was such a delight. His parents had explained his physical condition to the teacher, of course, and she understood perfectly. She explained it to the children in the class. Unfortunately, this made the children scared of him for a long time. When they went out to the playground at recess, Vince sat on a bench and read a book or watched the others play.

In the classroom, the teacher paired Vince up with the slowest student, and Vince understood this perfectly and was willing to help. Vince got along well in the early grades in school. He was polite and respectful of the other students, even though it was obvious that he was light years ahead of the rest of them in their studies. However, Mario and Gina thought it best that he was placed in a grade with students his own age. They explained this to Vince, politely, and Vince understood. This did not prevent Vince from reading advanced books at home, or continuing his music lessons. At recess, he sat on a bench with a book or writing in his journal, avoiding the rough-and-tumble play. Sometimes one or two of his classmates would run over and plop down next to him to say “Hi.” They would talk and laugh for a few minutes, and then they would be gone. The children had grown to love Vince.