The Home Teacher

      As Benjamen crossed the street on his way home from school he spied Brother and Sister Madsen coming from their garden. He has been there a few times home teaching with his father. He reached them the same time they reached their back door.

     "Do you want home teachers?" He asked solemnly.

     Brother and Sister Madsen looked at one another in surprise and then smiled and said, "Sure."

     "Do you want a lesson?" The blue eyes surveyed them seriously.

     "I suppose if you are home teaching we'd better have a lesson." Sister Madsen encouraged.

     Benjamen took a deep breath and then began to tell them all the events of his day in school "We learned how to add numbers today. Then our teacher showed us all about how tadpoles turn into frogs. I liked that. We practiced writing our names very neatly. When the Mom Helper came we did finger painting. That was fun, but sort of messy. Then we got to go out and play at recess!"

     "What do you like to do at recess?" Brother Madsen asked.

     "Play soccer! My Dad used to play soccer in Spain and I'm going to someday, too."

     "What is your favorite part of school?" Sister Madsen asked.

     "Recess and then I like it when our teacher reads to us. She's reading a story about a dog who gets lost."

     "Do you like that story?"

     "Yes. It makes me think about how sad I would be if Oscar and Lobo were lost. That's why it is important to take care of our dogs and be responsible." The big word twisted off his tongue grudgingly. "Do you want to hear the rest of the lesson?"

     "Yes! By all means!" They chorused with another encouraging smile.

     "Well, we had to go to reading group and then do our spelling words. Just before we left to come home we had a birthday treat for Trisha." He took off his backpack, zipped it open and reached deep inside. He pulled out a napkin wrapped around a crumbly cookie. "I was going to take this home to my Mom, but I think you need it more." He extended the cookie towards them.

     They looked at his sweet face and could not refuse the crumbly gift given so openly. "Thank you so much."

     "Well, that's your lesson." He said swinging his backpack on. "Before I go we have to shake or it wouldn't be finished." He extended his hand to Sister Madsen, but she wrapped her arms around him instead.

     "Oh, Benjamen, thank you for home teaching us." And she hugged him tight. He hugged her back.

     Brother Madsen followed her example and when he let go of Benjamen added, "You can tell your Dad we will be out of town for a few weeks and so you have already done his home teaching for him."

     "Okay! I will!" Benjamen said as he turned to walk down the driveway. When he reached the road he turned and waved to them.

     They stood arm in arm and watched him cross the road carefully and head for home.