Sweet Encounter

I rushed through the doors of the Q train during rush hour right before it closed on me. As I was untangling my headphones, out popped a familiar face staring at me from the crowd. It was that familiar bright white smile I saw back in my senior year of high school. It was Mr. Allen, my favorite English teacher ever! I remember I enjoyed going to his class where he spoke with a slight Jamaican accent and made corny jokes. Sometimes when he got excited, his voice would crack. He would always make class really fun and he encouraged me to be more confident when making a speech. He was the only teacher I found after graduation, and was able to take a picture with! I felt so excited seeing him, and the fact that he recognized me so quickly was quite nice. Could it have been because I left such a good impression on him? Haha.

I asked Mr. Allen what he was up to and to my surprise, he's no longer teaching in my high school. He's climbing up the ladder to better his career and future. I remember he was always happy and excited when he mentioned his family, so I asked him whether or not he has had children yet (it's been three years) and I guess, it was quite a personal question that left us laughing awkwardly. But sincere Mr. Allen replied honestly, saying that he was actually talking to his wife about it the other day. Because he knows that having a child is a big responsibility so he wants to be more prepared and stable if he were to have one. He is indeed a good man.

I had to get off the next stop, so I raised my hand for a high five, but he reached out for a handshake, and so it was an awkward twisted high-shake. I wonder why I couldn't stop grinning from this very brief and awkward encounter! Life, please throw more wonderful surprises for me! ^^

Mr. Allen and I, after High School graduation!