2 - Achievements in Education

The student who returned to Mr. Riggs' classroom on Monday couldn't have been more different that the one who had left on Friday. The previous week's Elizabeth had been shy and withdrawn, nearly terminally timid. She had also been, well, not exactly lethargic, but certainly listless, seemingly unable to summon the energy to be excited or enthused about much at all. This week's Elizabeth, however, was transformed. She was outgoing, vivacious and confident, and seemingly full of a boundless energy that mostly manifested as a nearly uninterrupted stream of talk and chatter. Mr. Riggs had found it necessary to reprimand her several times on Monday alone for talking in class, forcing a stern expression on his face each time he did so, but inwardly was as pleased as he could be.

Her classmates had been surprised by the changes in Elizabeth as well, but, with typical teenage speed and adaptability, had accepted this seemingly new personality almost at once. All but the clique-y-est of them welcomed this energetic, happy version of Elizabeth, who insinuated herself into their groups and circles with ease.

Elizabeth's energy persisted all week. After Friday's lab, she stayed behind after class of her own accord. Mr. Riggs couldn't keep a small, satisfied smile off his face as she approached him as he was again wiping clean the whiteboard.

"Mr. Riggs, thank you soo much for the pep powder!" Elizabeth said, so eagerly that she was practically gushing. "I've never felt so great before. I'm getting all my reading and homework done the fastest I've ever done. It's awesome!"

"I've, ah, noticed that you've been turning in a lot more of your work than you had before." Mr. Riggs replied. "I am glad that everything seems to be working out."

Mr. Riggs didn't mention that while the quantity of her work had certainly increased, perhaps too much so, the quality had somehow managed to drop even lower than it had been before. Still, it wouldn't do to discourage the girl at this stage, he thought.

"Has your mother liked the results of your efforts?" Mr. Riggs asked.

"Oh, she hasn't really noticed. She gets home pretty late from work, then usually goes right to bed. She has, like, two or three jobs, I think." Elizabeth replied.

"Well, I'm sure that she'll notice sooner or later." said Mr. Riggs.

Elizabeth shrugged, apparently dismissing the matter from her mind. The girl was positively brimming with pent up energy. Even just standing still to talk to him seemed to be hard for her to do. Her hands were constantly at motion, and she seemed to be rocking back and forth a little on the balls of her feet, almost bouncing up and down on them.

"Mr. Riggs, I mean it. Thank you so much. I.. I.." she said, words failing her, and Mr. Riggs was surprised to see tears glimmering in the corners of her eyes. They didn't fall, however, and Elizabeth managed to rally herself to finish her thought. "I've never felt so good or so happy before. Thank you."

For a moment, it almost looked like the girl was going to lunge forward and embrace Mr. Riggs in a hug, but she aborted the motion almost before it started. Instead, she simply clasped her hands in front of her chest and peered up into Mr. Riggs' face with a look that was nearly adoration.

"Thank you." she repeated, emphatically, then practically skipped out of the room.

"Well, well." Mr. Riggs mused to himself, still looking at the door Elizabeth had left through. "I wonder how she's going to be feeling this time next week."

He chuckled, a little darkly, and his wide, satisfied smile returned once more.