I always try to get to class early to get work done and not to be rushed.  This morning this cute guy asked if he could sit with me... I guess there weren't any empty tables around.  But there was pretty much no contact made  (no introduction, what class are you taking, etc.) as he went straight to his textbook and I continued tumblring on my iPad (don't judge).  I had to get to class and managed to say "have a good day" with a smile and eye contact at least......  I wonder if our generation really is at a loss.

At the after-school program where I volunteer, the kids often start out the day with a poetry exercise.  This one kid, who can't be more than 11 or so, has crazy rhyming and vocabulary skills and a sense of flow well beyond his years.  He could be on his way to being an amazing spoken word artist; all it takes is encouragement.  Instead of doing his homework, he spends his time engrossed in a story about a kid trying to save his best friend from galactic forces.  I'd say that's a good use of time.

Another boy (like most of the others who just write about their daily habits) wrote about his parents being sad.  One girl is too shy to show her work and writes in her notebook underneath the table, but she'll still go up front to read it out loud if asked.

Words sometimes are the only proper way to show the world the crags and fissures of you.