Today, while my students created a poster with a summary of Neil Gaiman’s book, The Graveyard, I walked from group to group. Somehow, five 14-year-old boys ended up in a group together.

When I stopped to review their vocabulary, one of the boys exclaimed, “Your earrings match your necklace.”

For whatever reason, the boys thought that was hilarious. Maybe it was because it was 2:00 on a Thursday afternoon.

Then, Brian asked, “Did someone give them to you?”

My face flushed.

Joey laughed. “Obviously. Who?”

“My late husband,” I replied.

Taken aback, Joey asked, “You were married? What happened to him?”

“He passed away.”

All five boys said with both their eyes and voices, “I’m sorry.”

I smiled.

Standing next to me, Brian asked, “Did he give them to you at the same time?”

I thought a minute. “No. Why do you ask?”

“Did you get the necklace before the earrings?”

“Yes,” I replied.

“Oh, I bet he bought them at the same time; but, kept the earrings for later. My dad has a whole closet of stuff for my mom.”

I didn’t tell him that I knew David Frank sent them for each occasion from Detroit. All of my fine jewelry came from Leo Frank and Sons.

Instead, I laughed. I really laughed.

I love teaching. I wouldn’t be a teacher without my late husband.