V-Day

There's a gang in one of my classes.

I guess these four girls are only a few in their whole gang, but the fact that they think of themselves as a gang, just a clique, a non-violent group of girls in college, seems foreign to me. The Pink Gang (their name) is probably much like a sorority, only without dues and organized events, parties, charities, etc. Nonetheless cliquey.

My Happy Valentine's Day greetings, after my Filipino friend May sang her "Happy Heart Day" to me at 5 this morning, came largely from the Pink Gang.

They each gave me a little, wilting red rose with a pink ribbon tied around its stem. Another of the girls in my class left and reappeared to hand me a big red heart balloon, probably purchased right outside the classroom. When this girl said it was from her, each of the Pink girls chimed in, "It's from me. It's from me, too."

Then came the batting of the eyes and the pleading: "Teacher, I want to pass Eng I. Please, teacher. I want to pass." Cheeky smile.

Happy V-Day to you, too.


One week of classes left with a Thursday holiday. What?