Be My Valentine | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: Be My Valentine | Previous Challenge Entry
By Pam Novak
02/28/08
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In fifth grade, children aren’t very nice. I found that out right away. I had been allowed to skip fourth grade, but because I still got the highest marks in the class, I was routinely ostracized by most of my classmates. I learned to handle it, but I certainly didn’t enjoy it.

A few months into the school year, a new boy joined our class. His name was Russell. His clothes were worn and dirty, and he was very shy. Not even the other boys would talk to him. I confess, with regret, that I didn’t try to befriend him either.

When February came, our teacher hung paper sacks around the room, each bearing the name of one of the students. She gave us each a list of our classmates and told us these sacks were for us to put valentines in, and that on Valentines Day we’d each get to see what was in our sack.

My mom bought me a box of valentines, and one day after school I sat at the kitchen table and set about signing my name to one for each student. Once I was done, Mom came to the table to look.

“What about Russell?” she asked. “You’ve made up a card for everyone in the class but him.”

“Oh, Mom,” I moaned. “Nobody likes Russell. He’s dirty and stupid. I don’t want to give him a valentine.”

“That’s not the kind of girl I’m raising. You make out a card for him or you’re not giving one to anybody.”

So I did. I figured I’d rather have the whole class laugh at me than have Mom disappointed in me. But I can’t say I felt very gracious about it. The best I can say is that I resisted the temptation to give him the one with the skunk on it. (Why did they put that one in there, anyway? Talk about mean.)

Valentine’s Day came, and our teacher told us we could go get our sacks. Of course, the popular kids had lots of valentines, and even I got more than I expected. But then, as I looked across the room, I saw Russell with his sack. There was only one valentine in it. Mine.

I think I must have been teased about it, but I don’t remember much about that. All I remember is that I wanted to cry. What if Mom hadn’t made me do the right thing? Russell would have had an empty sack, while everyone around him was laughing and having fun.

I wish I could tell you that he and I became friends, but we didn’t. I think he was too embarrassed to speak to me, and I just didn’t know what to say. But I will never forget Russell, and what he and my Mom taught me that day.

Wherever you are now, Russell, may God bless you. And may you now have someone who asked you, sincerely, to be her valentine.

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