Free Finders Keepers by Andrea Spalding Page A

you.”
    Mystified, Danny followed Mr. Hubner to his office, then stopped short at the door when he saw his mother. “Oho,” he thought, “what have I done now?” Much to his relief she smiled reassuringly at him. He looked at the principal again.
    â€œDanny, this is Ms. Wakefield. She’s a friend of your mother who works with students who have learning problems.”
    The tiniest woman Danny had ever seen stepped from behind Mr. Hubner’s bulk. Danny blinked. He was considered tall for his age, but most adults still towered over him. Not this woman, though. She was just about his height.
    She smiled and held out her hand. “Hi Danny. I’m Carol Wakefield. I’m really pleased to meet you.”
    Danny automatically took her hand and shook it, thenlooked questioningly around at the other adults. What was going on? His Mother didn’t usually bring visitors to meet him at school.
    Mr. Hubner pointed to a row of three chairs. “Sit down Danny. We’d like to talk to you for a minute.”
    Danny perched uncomfortably on the chair next to his mother, her friend sat on his other side and Mr. Hubner sat behind his desk.
    Mr. Hubner cleared his throat. “Danny, you’ve been having some problems doing your school work.”
    Danny’s heart sank. He nodded and looked miserably down at the floor. He might have known he’d be in trouble again.
    â€œWell it seems that er… Ms… er… Wakefield here, works with students who are experiencing problems,” Mr. Hubner continued. “She’d like you to take some tests. Then when the results come through she might have some suggestions that would help you.”
    Danny froze. In fact he had heard only one word— TEST . It echoed and rolled around the inside of his head, emptying his brain of all knowledge, shrinking him, and leaving him hollow and shaky.
    From miles away the adults seemed to be looking expectantly at him.
    Help came from an unexpected quarter. The woman next to him turned, gently touched her hand to his knee and looked reassuringly at him. “Not those kind of tests,” she said gently. “Not school tests. My tests are more like games, really. You can’t fail them Danny—no one can.”
    Danny looked at her in amazement and the room slowly slid back into focus. This woman could read his mind. She knew he had frozen at the word ’test’. Maybe, just maybe, she could understand his problems.
    â€œHow come I can’t fail?” asked Danny suspiciously.
    â€œThere’s nothing to fail, it’s just exercises to show me how your brain works.”
    â€œI’ll fail,” said Danny positively. “My brain doesn’t work.”
    Everyone laughed as though he’d cracked the joke of the century. Danny wriggled uneasily.
    â€œNot true, Danny,” said Ms. Wakefield with a twinkle. “This morning your mom showed me some models you’d assembled. How did you make those models?”
    â€œI just followed the diagrams,” said Danny baffled.
    Ms. Wakefield nodded. “Yes. Your brain decoded the picture and you were able to figure it out and stick all the pieces together in the right order. You’ve a good brain Danny. If you do the exercises, I’ll be able to see the ways your brain works, the skills you’ve got. Then maybe we can figure out some ways to use those skills in school.” She paused and looked consideringly at him. “Think about it Danny, but you don’t have to do them if you don’t want to.”
    A small sputter of surprise escaped Mr. Hubner. Everyone turned to look at him. But before he could speak Ms. Wakefield spoke again.
    â€œYes, these exercises are voluntary.” she said firmly. She looked back at Danny, “and no one will be mad at you if you decide you don’t want to take them. It’s your choice.”
    â€œAre they long tests?” asked Danny