Page 42 of Hearts & Embers

"That's the jaws of life."

"That is one name people use."

He looked satisfied with that answer.

A boy near the back raised his hand.

"Did you get to ride in an ambulance?"

"Yes."

"Was it cool?"

"No."

A few students laughed.

"Why not?"

"Because ambulances are much more interesting when you’re not in pain and don't need one."

That answer seemed to make sense to them.

Another student frowned.

"Did it hurt a lot?"

"It did."

"Does it still hurt?"

"Sometimes."

"Then why are you back?"

The question came from Sophie, who rarely spoke unless she genuinely wanted an answer.

"Because I'm well enough to be here as long as I follow the doctor's instructions."

Several students glanced at one another, visibly processing that.

"Are we supposed to help?"

The question surprised me.

"You are supposed to listen, work hard, and avoid creating situations where I need to chase anyone across the room."

A ripple of laughter moved through the class and a couple of students clarified what ‘no running’ meant.

"That means no running."

"It always meant no running."

"Now it extra means no running."

"Exactly."

The atmosphere shifted after that. The questions had given them what they needed, and the room gradually returned to something resembling normal. I opened the lesson by writing the word motivation on the board and asking them why characters sometimes made decisions readers considered foolish.