When I was in the 10th grade I had Mr. Donovan for English. I was the worst. Mr. Donovan had a long list of classic novels that he assigned throughout the year. He would pick a book, assign a few chapters, then we would talk about what we read in class until the book was completed. Then on to the next.

I would never read.

Then this one day, something happened. The book we were assigned this particular day was Silas Marner. Mr. Donovan was asking questions about it, and I (as was my standard procedure) slouched down behind the person in front of me and pretended to be invisible. Of course, Mr. Donovan was not your usual teacher. Most teachers ask questions and then choose who ever raises their hand. Mr. Donovan would always pick me - Mr. Invisible.

Sometimes when he would ask me a question I would try and fake it (thank you Cliff notes) but most of the time I would be forced to admit that I never "finished" the assignment (like I ever started.) This particular day he asked me one of the first questions of the day. When I didn't know the answer, he asked me another question so I was forced to admit that I hadn't done my reading.

"Brian, Please see me after class."

I remember when he said that I was so scared, but a little relieved that he would not be picking on me anymore during class. Then class finished. The room cleared out, and we were alone. I don't really even remember what he said. It was probably something like, "Listen Brian we can't keep on going like this.. you need to do your reading or you are not going to make it through this class."

I am pretty sure I was completely silent and just nodded my head to acknowledge that I understood. I was so scared. And ashamed. After he dismissed me I walked out of the room, down the hall, out the back exit and into a quiet wooded area. I hid behind a big tree and cried. It was a long, cleansing cry.

The next book we read that year was Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter. I read the entire book and was prepared for every single class. To this day it is still one of my favorites.

Mr. Donovan taught me to love reading. He was my favorite teacher from Chelmsford High School. He really changed my life. I still read 5 or 6 books a year. Mostly non-fiction, technical books and the classics.

If you have any book recommendations, please let me know.

Tonight Ben lay on my chest for an hour sound asleep.