"Dr. Carr! Is it you? Is it really you?" I turned from where I had been browsing in the bookstore to see a six-foot-six, muscular, good-looking, smiling, sandy-haired young man calling me.
"It's me, Dr. Carr! Gibby!"
"Gibby, it can't be. You're all grown up!"
Looking closer, I would have known those eyes anywhere: serious, intense, penetrating blue eyes. Yes, It was my Gibby, all right.
He leaned down to hug his former elementary principal, and my thoughts went back to that shy, overweight little boy who transferred to our school as he began the fifth grade. He was quiet and withdrawn then.
Gibby had a difficult time the first few months, as do many children when they enter a new school. Some of the boys teased him
Often I would watch the students playing at recess. I noticed that when they began to choose up sides for a game, serious little Gibby would usually be left standing alone. Several times I went out on the playground and said, "I never get to choose a team. May I?" The boys and girls would laugh at their principal who wanted to play, and say, "Okay, Dr. Carr, it's your turn!" I'd call out a few names and then, around the fourth or fifth spot, I'd call Gibby's name and a few others who never seemed to get selected by their peers. My team may not have been the best, but we were, by far, the happiest and definitely the most committed, determined, and loyal.
In the early spring of Gibby's fifth grade year, I held an exercise class on the playground during recess for anyone who wanted to tone up their winter-weary muscles. Girls flocked to this program, and so did a few boys. Gibby was one of those.
We began by walking briskly around the perimeter of the large playground. I led the pack and Gibby invariably brought up the rear, puffing and panting and tripping over his shoestrings. As my group circled, we would pass Gibby who was giving it his all, but nevertheless, lagging far behind. I'd call to him, "Good going, Gibby. Keep it up. You're getting the hang of it. Uh . . . Better tie your shoestrings, Son."
"Yes, ma'am, Dr. Carr," he said, breathing hard and trying to put on a happy face.
After a month, Gibby shed a few pounds and didn't huff and puff as much. He still tripped over his shoestrings, but he did keep up with the group much easier.
By the fifth week, we had as many boys in our exercise class as girls. I don‘t believe the boys were suddenly all that interested in their health, for it was
Now, after all those years, here we were standing in the bookstore. My little Gibby towered over me.
"What are you doing here, Gibby?" I asked. "I heard you have moved to Georgia."
"Yes, Dr. Carr. I live in Atlanta now, and I'm division manager of a computer software company. I'm visiting my mom here this weekend," he replied.
"Well, you look good and sound happy, Gibby."
"I am happy, Dr. Carr. And I think of you often. You know, it was kinda hard for me to change schools back then and move to a new town, but you were real nice to me."
"Why, thank you, Gibby."
"Yeah, you were always laughing, and you made it fun to come to school," he said. "I'll never forget your exercise classes. You really made us work."
Then a big smile lit up his face as he continued, "But, Dr. Carr, you know the thing that I remember most
"I have no idea, Gibby. What was it?"
"Well," he said, as he stared at me with those deep blue eyes, "Whenever you got a chance to choose up sides on the playground, you never picked me last."
"Of course not, Gibby. You were one of my most determined players."
We hugged again and he said, "I'm married now, Dr. Carr. She's really nice and always laughing. Come to think of it, she's a lot like you. And the best thing
Tears flooded my eyes. I looked down to avoid his gaze and try to regain my control.
It was then that I noticed his shoes.
"Better tie your shoestrings," I mumbled, wiping away my tears with the back of my hand.
"Yes, ma'am, Dr. Carr," he replied, flashing that boyish grin.
相关单词：browsing
browsing解释：v.吃草( browse的现在分词 )；随意翻阅；（在商店里）随便看看；（在计算机上）浏览信息
browsing例句：
He sits browsing over[through] a book. 他坐着翻阅书籍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
Cattle is browsing in the field. 牛正在田里吃草。 来自《简明英汉词典》
相关单词：penetrating
penetrating解释：adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的
penetrating例句：
He had an extraordinarily penetrating gaze. 他的目光有股异乎寻常的洞察力。
He examined the man with a penetrating gaze. 他以锐利的目光仔细观察了那个人。
相关单词：withdrawn
withdrawn解释：vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出
withdrawn例句：
Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。
相关单词：athletic
athletic解释：adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的
athletic例句：
This area has been marked off for athletic practice.这块地方被划出来供体育训练之用。
He is an athletic star.他是一个运动明星。
相关单词：coordinated
coordinated解释：adj.协调的
coordinated例句：
The sound has to be coordinated with the picture. 声音必须和画面协调一致。
The numerous existing statutes are complicated and poorly coordinated. 目前繁多的法令既十分复杂又缺乏快调。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
相关单词：shoestrings
shoestrings解释：n.以极少的钱( shoestring的名词复数 )
shoestrings例句：
Laura loved him and he was ready to kiss her shoestrings. 劳拉爱他，他都乐于吻她的鞋带。 来自互联网
Result: The strong shoestrings were easily restored in the semi-solid medium with rich organic nitrogen source. 结果：在富含有机氮的半固体培养基上蜜环菌最易形成粗壮的菌索。 来自互联网
相关单词：recess
recess解释：n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处）
recess例句：
The chairman of the meeting announced a ten-minute recess.会议主席宣布休会10分钟。
Parliament was hastily recalled from recess.休会的议员被匆匆召回开会。
相关单词：standing
standing解释：n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的
standing例句：
After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
相关单词：determined
determined解释：adj.坚定的；有决心的
determined例句：
I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
相关单词：perimeter
perimeter解释：n.周边，周长，周界
perimeter例句：
The river marks the eastern perimeter of our land.这条河标示我们的土地东面的边界。
Drinks in hands,they wandered around the perimeter of the ball field.他们手里拿着饮料在球场周围漫不经心地遛跶。
相关单词：puff
puff解释：n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气
puff例句：
He took a puff at his cigarette.他吸了一口香烟。
They tried their best to puff the book they published.他们尽力吹捧他们出版的书。
相关单词：puffing
puffing解释：v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧
puffing例句：
He was puffing hard when he jumped on to the bus. 他跳上公共汽车时喘息不已。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
My father sat puffing contentedly on his pipe. 父亲坐着心满意足地抽着烟斗。 来自《简明英汉词典》
相关单词：decided
decided解释：adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的
decided例句：
This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
相关单词：spunk
spunk解释：n.勇气，胆量
spunk例句：
After his death,the soldier was cited for spunk.那位士兵死后因作战勇敢而受到表彰。
I admired her independence and her spunk.我敬佩她的独立精神和勇气。
相关单词：regain
regain解释：vt.重新获得，收复，恢复
regain例句：
He is making a bid to regain his World No.1 ranking.他正为重登世界排名第一位而努力。
The government is desperate to regain credibility with the public.政府急于重新获取公众的信任。
相关单词：mumbled
mumbled解释：含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 )
mumbled例句：
He mumbled something to me which I did not quite catch. 他对我叽咕了几句话，可我没太听清楚。
George mumbled incoherently to himself. 乔治语无伦次地喃喃自语。
