mademoiselle sultenfuss and the amazing dr. j! how's the summer treating you?
really? already? the summer's just begun.
no wonder you're my prize pupil. what about you thomas j?
better get on his case vada.
well i just bought it, now i'm fixing it up.
well, you never can tell.  i might get a pet.
well i'm gonna teach creative writing this summer, so, i'm doing some work.
thirty five dollars.
me, two hours a week, talking about poetry. this an interrogation vada?
it's summer! you're kids! go play!
the great way, is not difficult for those with no preferences, with the absence of both love and hate, everything becomes clear and undisguised. that was written by a chinese philosopher in the year 600. now why would i choose to bring that up in a creative writing class? because, the absence of judgment helps us to appreciate reality. in other words, i want you to listen to your classmates writing, with a clear and open heart, okay? so who's gonna go first?
now, i hear judgment, let's not forget the part about the open heart.
for this class?
vada, this is an adult writing class.
vada, you sure you wanna do this?
welcome to the class, go find a seat.
the floor's yours ronda.
uhhh, va, uhh, vada.
please.
vada that's.  it's very sweet, and it rhymes and that's also good but, you're not expressing to me what's in your soul. i want you to show me how you see the world, your fears, your desires, your innermost secrets.
before the class started, ronda and justin wanted to lead the class in a group meditation.
vada, what did you feel.
vada! i was just on my way to your house. are you all right? i'm so sorry about thomas j.
okay, okay we don't have to talk about him, vada, vada we don't have to talk about him, it's okay. we won't talk about him all right?
come here, sit down over here.
oh, vada.
pause as he takes all this in i think your dad would miss you.
suzanne, this is vada.
could you just give us a minute?
that's suzanne. she and i are gonna be married this fall.
i. i was gonna bring her to class next week. i wanted to hear your poem. oh vada, please honey i cared for him too, vada please! vada, vada sweetheart don't.
encased in talent, like a uniform, the rank of every poet, is well known. they can amaze us like a thunderstorm, or die so young, or live for years alone. my advice to you on our last class, be a thunderstorm.
i mean, be dangerous and unpredictable. and make a lot of noise.
vada.
i was hoping you'd stop by today.
we'd love to hear it.