Tom Brady

The other day, my lips were dry so I grabbed the lip gloss I keep on my desk and swiped it across my lips as my students and I were on our way out to recess.

“Why are you putting on lip gloss?” one of my 5th graders asked me.

“Because my lips are dry and I think it works better than chapst—"

“Ohhh,” he said, realization dawning on him as he ignored my attempted explanation.  “Is it because we might run into Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson or Tom Brady in the parking lot?”

This child was completely serious. He stared at me, unblinking, waiting for an answer to his question.  He was truly wondering if I was preparing myself for a chance meeting with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and/or Tom Brady (both of whom my students know I'm in love with since I talk about myself way too much) in our school’s parking lot on the way out to recess.  As if Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and Tom Brady ambling by on their way to have a cup of coffee was some everyday, run-of-the-mill occurrence…

...and as if I had a chance.

And he wasn’t even guilt-tripping me with all of that, “But you’ve got a husband!” nonsense.

I wanted to hug him.

Instead, I simply allowed myself to slip into his fantasy world for just a few moments of my life as I said, “Yes.  Yes, that’s exactly why I’m putting on lip gloss.”

He nodded his head, satisfied, and turned to head out to recess.

My day had been made.

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