pton Elementary School, casting long shadows over rows of old wooden desks. Inside Class 4B, children whi

American Civil War ended?" she

iliar figure; John Watkins, seated near the win

a gentle smile, "why d

allowed hard and stood slowly, all eyes

k the war end

burst int

dn't hold back. "That's not the Civi

ht, settle down. John, thank you for trying. It actually

No matter how hard he tried, the answers just ne

school with his two closest friends, Martins and Ferdi

e sky. "You know, sometimes I wonder what we'll be in the

really smart one. Maybe build rockets or in

aintly. "That

a football player. Play for a big team.

to John, who was

meone who listens. Someone who's kind. You know... someone

inked. "Li

Just... someone good. I don't want people to feel

stupid, Johnny. Just wait you'll find your

pped off the school bus with her backpack slung over her shoulder. Her

r. Robertson, seated on the wooden bench

" Eve said politely

brilliant girl is back from sch

im, folding her

day?" he asked, ad

arks in science and my teacher asked me t

"That's my girl. Not

ce for a few moments before h

our neighborhood. His name was Henry. He couldn't walk. Spent h

her head.

eople every morning. Gave advice. Shared what little he had. When he died, the whole street came to his fu

t him quietl

t power or riches. Just the simple act of being a

epped into the passageway, d

, you two?" sh

eeted her. "Good

r husband on the cheek. "You'll spoil th

he back. "Come now, dear. Let's get you re

buzzing with thoughts of Henry, and the way one ma

it again-the pull of pu

ertson was beginning to understand that she wasn't mean