I was overly excited, the words speaking to me, putting me in a trance.

I look up after a while. To my surprise, no one is around me. Crickets fill the quietness.

“Are you going to join us Sean’; the teacher exclaims. 

The realization hits me. They are all on the carpet for reading time while I’m still at my desk.

Embarrassment fills my mind.

Kids on the carpet. Me in a chair. 

Why I wondered, did they think I couldn’t sit down?

I like the books better than the teachers. They are all very mean.

The teacher asks a question. 

I tell her the answer.

I expect validation of my answer, but all I receive is the glare of my teacher when she tells me not to call out.

I now have to sit inside for recess.

This happened almost every day.

Years later I now realize the truth

I wasn’t put in the chair because I couldn’t sit down. 

I was put in the chair because they thought I couldn’t control myself.

But I was just really excited about reading and getting the answer correct.

I was six. Not sixteen.