They applauded again today.

Not the half-interested clapping that they would have been asked to do after a presentation, nor the sarcastic clapping that happens sometimes, but real, genuine, erupt-into-spontaneous clapping that only occurs when they are being real.

The first time it happened, it was Friday, last period, before a three day weekend. It caught me off guard. I went home and told my husband.

The second time was like the first.

The applause, I have come to realize, is just one of the many unexpected pure pleasures of my job.

I am a teacher.