Way to go Ray !

It's noon and my cell phone beeps that I have a text.  Who would be texting me?  Rachel?  What is she doing with her phone out at school...this had better be important.  It reads:  "mom, you will be soooo proud of me."
Hmmmm, what could it be?  She wasn't late for homeroom, managed to hand in all her homework on time today....? Oh, maybe a good test score, that must be it.  But why would she take the risk of getting caught with her cell phone out during school, just to tell me that?  Oh well, it gives me something to look forward to.

Three o'clock arrives and she is home....I am dying to know what happened today.  Here goes:  Rachel was in bio class and the period was almost over.  A group of students with special needs (including her sister) was walking in the hall  on their way to the cafeteria.  Some smart aleck kid in the bio class starts making goofy noises and laughing at the kids in the hall.  A few others (part of his posse') start chiming in.  After a minute of this, Rachel has had it....OH BOY--LOOK OUT !

She stands up and proceeds to use some language not appropriate for a young lady of 14, telling these clowns to SHUT UP !  Of course, thinking they are doing nothing wrong and that Rachel is going to be in big trouble, they tell her to shut up and sit down. " I will not", she replies.  "How would you like it if someone were laughing at you?........blah, blah, blah............blah, blah, blah..........."

The remaining parts of the 10 minute lecture are a blur...keep in mind, this is a 14 year old female telling a story, with barely a breath taken between sentences.  But I get the idea that she really let them have it.

So what was the teacher doing during all this, I ask.  I am told that her jaw was hanging open as she proceeded to sit down at her desk and quietly listen, letting Rachel go to town.  When Rachel finally finishes and sits down, the teacher stands up and starts applauding, along with some other students in the class.  By this time, the bell is ringing, class is over and students get up to leave.  "Rachel, come here" says the teacher.  Rachel humbly goes up to her desk, expecting to be sent to see the principal.  But it didn't happen !  Instead, her teacher gives her a thumbs up and says "I don't know if I would have been able to stand up and do that.  Way to go!"

Rachel leaves class, feeling a great sense of pride for having stood up for her sister and her classmates.  I too, am proud that Rachel was brave enough to do what she did today.  I just wonder if what she did will inspire others to take a stand and do the same someday. 

In my eyes, my Ray is a very special kid too !! Way to go Ray !