If it were at all
possible, he remembers his life beginning after the yawn. It was clear
as day and it happened in second grade. Tommy and Sandy were nearby,
having one of their endless arguments over whose turn it was to use the
computer when it was that he realized that he had been yawning for what
seemed to be forever and that nothing had existed before the yawn. It
was as if everyone was a blank slate. Was that even possible? Years
later, that yawn would seem like some Great Awakening in his life. For
it was now, with clarity, that he realized a few things. Tommy was
nothing but a bully and at recess that day, he pushed his former friend
away and made him cry for the first time in his life. That felt good.
Sandy was not quite the yuckiest kid on the planet. He thought about
this as they walked around at recess together in the snowstorm that
stung their eyes. The snowflakes looked wonderful on her outstretched
tongue.Words in books suddenly seemed important. He could hear his
teacher talking and understood. He was listening for the very first
time in his life. Really listening. And then he went home and lost it
all in a good night's sleep.
