“For CC today,” Mr. Acevedo said on Friday morning, “I want to acknowledge some of the project work I’ve seen this week.”
He sat cross-legged in his spot on the carpet. I sat on the couch between Red and Sebi.
“Are we dazzling you, Teach?” Declan asked.
“You most certainly are, and I want to single a few of you out, but before I do, I want to say a few words about last night’s Back-to-School Night.” He chuckled. “It was standing room only in here.”
“Did you walk on the tables and read to the parents?” Diego asked, swinging the strings on his hat.
“Not exactly.” Mr. Acevedo shook his head. “Your parents had lots of questions and ideas. Lots of them. They like to have a say about what goes on in the classroom.” He chuckled again. “I’m going to see what I can do about meeting some of their expectations. Now let me single a few of you out. I’m starting with Gavin.”
“What did I do?” Gavin asked.
“I’ll tell you what,” Mr. Acevedo said. “You’re making some outstanding real-world connections. I’m super pumped you and Mariam are researching MREs.”
“What are MREs?” Lana and Jordan asked at the same time.
Mr. Acevedo motioned to Gavin.
“Meals Ready-to-Eat,” he said. “MREs. That’s what people in the military eat. They can be pretty disgusting.”
Gavin’s father served in Afghanistan. Each year, he leads the Veterans’ Day ceremony at RJE. Gavin’s notebooks are covered with photographs of his father and other soldiers. Sometimes Gavin wears a dog-tag necklace.
Mr. Acevedo turned to Hunter. “Would you say a few words about your topic?”
“I’m working with Attie,” he said. “Our topic is musical instruments.”
“They’re covered in germs,” Attie said. “It’s so gross.”
“We’re still deciding which instruments we’re going to write about,” Hunter said. “Definitely the piano and guitar.”
Hunter plays the piano and guitar. He’s amazing at both.
“I had no idea instruments were so filthy.” Mr. Acevedo recrossed his legs and grabbed his ankles. “Their topic is fascinating.” He turned to Avery. “So is yours. Will you share a little?”
“Do I have to?”
“I’d like you to. With whom are you working?”
She pointed to me.
“What’s your topic?”
“Our topic … our topic is my wheelchair.”
My wheelchair.
Everyone knew that was our topic, but I don’t think anyone had ever heard Avery say those two words before.
“What about your wheelchair?”
Avery curled her lip. “The nasty stuff that gets stuck to my wheels.”
“Noah,” Mr. Acevedo said, “let’s hear about your topic.”
“I’m working with Lana.” Noah wiped his chin with his sleeve. “Our topic is my brother’s booger wall.”
“Your what?” Trinity asked.
“My brother’s booger wall.”
“Sick!” Danny said. “My cousin has one of those.”
“What’s a booger wall?” Grace asked.
“My little brother picks his nose.” Noah wiped his chin again. “Then he puts the boogers on the wall behind my parents’ bedroom door. My mother found the wall over the summer and flipped out.”
“Dude, that’s friggin’ foul,” Avery said.
Noah nodded. “He still walks around with his finger up his nose, but we have no idea where he’s putting the boogers.”
“He’s eating them!” Zachary said.
Everyone laughed.
“On that appetizing note,” Mr. Acevedo said, “that’s a wrap for CC.” He strummed the carpet. “Next week, I need to make a few changes to the project.”
“What kind of changes?” Piper asked.
“You’ll find out Monday.”