the kangawolf

[the kangawolf]

As I was packing up my office and desk a few weeks ago (I know, can you even believe it's the end of the school year?!) I found The Kangawolf, and remembered that I wanted to share this little story with you. Enjoy:

A little background on the student: One of my 10th grade classes is an inclusion class, which means that most of the students are Special Ed students. One such student, we'll call her L, does not have any learning disabilities, she just has a vision impairment. I do know that she's not completely blind, but beyond that, I'm not sure to what extent she can see. Her vision impairment leaves her eyes in a constant shifting motion, like she's up to no good. She's a little odd, has a head of hair she doesn't quite know what to do with, has moth-ball breath, wears black nearly every day, and is of Puerto Rican decent. She also carries around a CD walkman. L proudly carries this walkman around as though it were a silver platter (or at the very least a bridesmaid's bouquet) and often sings along to it -- out loud. But she's a good, sweet kid.

So one day, a few months ago, L comes into class and is one of the firsts in the room. Since I don't have my own classroom, I wheel around an overhead cart with my stuff on it (hey, Respect the Cart), and I was standing at my cart getting something ready for L's class. She walks up to me, and the following conversation takes place:

L: Miss Johnson, can I ask you a question? [I forgot to mention that she's a close talker]

Me: Yes [oh crap, any time someone has to ask if they can ask you a question, you know it's going to be an awkward one]

L: Do you like figurines? [I can see that she is fingering something in her bag, which she is clutching with all of her might]

Me: Ummm.... yes. [I actually don't. I think they're a waste of space and collect dust. But clearly I have picked up on the fact that this is a loaded question]

L: Good, because it's Teacher Appreciation Day in Puerto Rico, and I made you this.

Me: Ohhhhhhhhh Thank you, L. It's very nice, thank you very much. [what am I going to do with this thing?!]

L: It's also Teacher Appreciation Day in Puerto Rico today, so I thought I would give this to you, since you're one of my favorite teachers. [I later did a littler research, it was indeed not Teacher Appreciation Day in Puerto Rico]

Me: Thank you! I'll just put it right here [on my cart].

L: What do you think it is?

Me: [OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH crap! I can't tell what this thing is. It's got a snout like a wolf, but a tail like a kangaroo, and feet like a kangaroo. It's color that I suppose could be either, but it's really ambiguous!] Is it a wolf?

L: [in a tone that suggests that maybe she's not even sure] Ummhmmm, yep.

Well I'm glad that solves that.

I feel kind of guilty for not keeping it. I mean, she made it for me, but I don't really want an ambiguous figurine. So I actually brought the kangawolf home, took a few pictures of it for posterity, and will promptly throw it away.

And that, friends, is the Legend of the Kangawolf.