Jason. “I learned that it’s okay to read at your own speed.”
I think this is a great answer.
Farah smiles at Laurie and me before she goes to the mike. “I learned about friendship,” she says.
Laurie and I cheer.
Peter says he learned he was “Peter-the-Even-Greater-Than-I-Thought-I-Was.”
Sasha’s answer is the longest: “I knew most of the things the other kids had to learn in kindergarten. So the best thing I learned was that I’m really good in math. And reading.”
I’m still thinking up my answer when I hear Miss Hines call my name.
“Your turn!” Laurie says, pushing me to get up.
It feels like a long way to the mike. I peek into the crowd and see Granny. And Mommy and Daddy. And Samuel.
When I get to the middle of the stage, Miss Hines asks what she’s asked every kid up here. “What did you learn this year?”
I don’t answer. On account of I don’t know what to say still. Chairs squeak behind me. Chairs squeak on the gym floor.
I know I should say something. Inside, I’m asking God what to say. Then the asking turns into thanking. Thanks for kindergarten, God. And I mean this. I liked kindergarten.
“Natalie?” Miss Hines says. “Can you tell us what you’ve learned?”
“I learned about adding,” I begin.
“That’s fine,” Miss Hines says.
Only I’m not done yet. “I learned that I don’t like subtracting much.” Everybody in the gym is a little laughing. “But adding can be a very good thing in life. And I know this for true, on account of at my house, we just added my brother. That’s what!”
Everybody claps. And claps even more. So I take a bow.
Miss Hines is laughing and clapping at the same time. “That’s wonderful, Natalie. Want to tell us your brother’s name?”
“Samuel,” I answer. Only that name isn’t fancy enough for my brother. I know that now. “Samuel 24.”
We finish being graduated. I go back and sit next to Granny.
“I thought that name needed a little something,” Granny says.
“Samuel 24 told me he wants his big sister to hold him,” Mommy says.
“I’d like to,” I say.
Mommy puts Samuel 24 in my lap. He fits. I give him a smiley face, and he gives me a smiley face back.
And guess what. I think I’m going to like being Not-Only-Natalie.
About the Publisher
Founded in 1931, Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Zondervan, a division of HarperCollins
Publishers
, is the leading international Christian communications company, producing best-selling Bibles, books, new media products, a growing line of gift products and award-winning children’s products. The world’s largest Bible publisher, Zondervan ( www.zondervan.com ) holds exclusive publishing rights to the
New International Version of the Bible
and has distributed more than 150 million copies worldwide. It is also one of the top Christian publishers in the world, selling its award-winning books through Christian retailers, general market bookstores, mass merchandisers, specialty retailers, and the Internet. Zondervan has received a total of 68 Gold Medallion awards for its books, more than any other publisher.
Share Your Thoughts
With the Author: Your comments will be forwarded to the author when you send them to
[email protected]
.
With Zondervan: Submit your review of this book by writing to
[email protected]
.
Free Online Resources at
www.zondervan.com/hello
Zondervan AuthorTracker: Be notified whenever your favorite authors publish new books, go on tour, or post an update about what’s happening in their lives.
Daily Bible Verses and Devotions: Enrich your life with daily Bible verses or devotions that help you start every morning focused on God.
Free Email Publications: Sign up for newsletters on fiction, Christian living, church ministry, parenting, and more.
Zondervan Bible Search: Find and compare Bible passages in a variety of translations at www.zondervanbiblesearch.com
Other Benefits: Register yourself to receive online benefits like coupons
I think this is a great answer.
Farah smiles at Laurie and me before she goes to the mike. “I learned about friendship,” she says.
Laurie and I cheer.
Peter says he learned he was “Peter-the-Even-Greater-Than-I-Thought-I-Was.”
Sasha’s answer is the longest: “I knew most of the things the other kids had to learn in kindergarten. So the best thing I learned was that I’m really good in math. And reading.”
I’m still thinking up my answer when I hear Miss Hines call my name.
“Your turn!” Laurie says, pushing me to get up.
It feels like a long way to the mike. I peek into the crowd and see Granny. And Mommy and Daddy. And Samuel.
When I get to the middle of the stage, Miss Hines asks what she’s asked every kid up here. “What did you learn this year?”
I don’t answer. On account of I don’t know what to say still. Chairs squeak behind me. Chairs squeak on the gym floor.
I know I should say something. Inside, I’m asking God what to say. Then the asking turns into thanking. Thanks for kindergarten, God. And I mean this. I liked kindergarten.
“Natalie?” Miss Hines says. “Can you tell us what you’ve learned?”
“I learned about adding,” I begin.
“That’s fine,” Miss Hines says.
Only I’m not done yet. “I learned that I don’t like subtracting much.” Everybody in the gym is a little laughing. “But adding can be a very good thing in life. And I know this for true, on account of at my house, we just added my brother. That’s what!”
Everybody claps. And claps even more. So I take a bow.
Miss Hines is laughing and clapping at the same time. “That’s wonderful, Natalie. Want to tell us your brother’s name?”
“Samuel,” I answer. Only that name isn’t fancy enough for my brother. I know that now. “Samuel 24.”
We finish being graduated. I go back and sit next to Granny.
“I thought that name needed a little something,” Granny says.
“Samuel 24 told me he wants his big sister to hold him,” Mommy says.
“I’d like to,” I say.
Mommy puts Samuel 24 in my lap. He fits. I give him a smiley face, and he gives me a smiley face back.
And guess what. I think I’m going to like being Not-Only-Natalie.
About the Publisher
Founded in 1931, Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Zondervan, a division of HarperCollins
Publishers
, is the leading international Christian communications company, producing best-selling Bibles, books, new media products, a growing line of gift products and award-winning children’s products. The world’s largest Bible publisher, Zondervan ( www.zondervan.com ) holds exclusive publishing rights to the
New International Version of the Bible
and has distributed more than 150 million copies worldwide. It is also one of the top Christian publishers in the world, selling its award-winning books through Christian retailers, general market bookstores, mass merchandisers, specialty retailers, and the Internet. Zondervan has received a total of 68 Gold Medallion awards for its books, more than any other publisher.
Share Your Thoughts
With the Author: Your comments will be forwarded to the author when you send them to
[email protected]
.
With Zondervan: Submit your review of this book by writing to
[email protected]
.
Free Online Resources at
www.zondervan.com/hello
Zondervan AuthorTracker: Be notified whenever your favorite authors publish new books, go on tour, or post an update about what’s happening in their lives.
Daily Bible Verses and Devotions: Enrich your life with daily Bible verses or devotions that help you start every morning focused on God.
Free Email Publications: Sign up for newsletters on fiction, Christian living, church ministry, parenting, and more.
Zondervan Bible Search: Find and compare Bible passages in a variety of translations at www.zondervanbiblesearch.com
Other Benefits: Register yourself to receive online benefits like coupons
Similar Books
