Got Some Pot?

OK. Yes. So, a few days before Valentine's Day, one of my students had a special little treat for me. So nice. You know, the regular teachers always get remembered at holidays, but the "special area" teachers are often forgotten even though WE WORK JUST AS HARD. Thankfully, I am clearly not bothered by that as I am well aware that just being with my students is gift enough. Ahem.

So, it was quite a pleasant surprise when my (student) Matthew lurched out of his classroom and thrust a Valentine card and a terra cotta pot with enclosed flower bulbs into my hands. I said, "Matthew, what is this?" and he replied, "It's for you for Valentine's Day!" So, I cooed and exclaimed about it all the way to my room. He's been an interesting one this year - lots of emotional and some physical issues that have made his school year challenging. In any case, I have absolutely fallen for this kid, and while his (divorced) parents have issues with each other, they have both been wonderful to me. His mother was the one who did this in December, so I wasn't surprised that she would be so generous again.

Of course, I wrote a thank you note and tucked it into his speech folder last week. And then I received this email from his mother this week:

From: "Matthew's Mother"

Sent: Mon 3/2/2009 9:50 AM

To: Julie

Subject: Thank You Note

Hi Julie;
I received your lovely thank you note for the flower bulbs. Unfortunately, I did not get a gift for Valentine’s Day. Matthew and I only gave you a card. I asked his father if he purchased a gift and he said no. I am at a loss.
"Matthew's Mother"

Ummm...yes, I am at a loss, too, because I know I am not confusing Matthew with another student. And then it occurred to me that perhaps his mother sent it in for one of his classroom teachers, but he inadvertantly gave it to me. So, I shot off an email to his mother saying that if she had sent it for one of his teachers, I would be glad to "deliver" it on to that teacher (see - I can be tactful at times). And today, I stopped by his classroom to see which one of his teachers didn't get to take their bulbs home. And they both confirmed that they each had their own pots of bulbs at home, and they each specifically remembered his mother bringing that pot in - a day or so after she brought their pots in - and telling them it was for me.

I haven't heard back from his mother so, for now, I still have [someone's mystery] pot rolling around the floorboard of my van. Really not how I want to phrase to the cop if I get pulled for speeding.