WWJD, y'all!

Anthony had a reputation preceding him. And not the good kind.

Which is why I absolutely love him. Seventh-grade teachers looked at my roster, saw his name and groaned, but Anthony came in the first day and has been nothing but a perfect gentleman ever since. He is popular and even feared around school, but he's used that power to my advantage--reprimanding those talking when I'm talking, encouraging classmates to do their work. Because I was expecting a him to be such a challenge, Anthony has by far been the most pleasant surprise this year.

He likes to tease me about my football team, and wore a Florida Gator sweatshirt today just to mess with me. He playfully pokes fun at me, and I give it right back to him. I'm not going to lie, but whatever makes these boys popular with their peers still has some sway with me. Last year I noticed that even the "bad" kids who were adored around school also won my affection early on. They gave me hell all year long, but they had a certain something that made them impossible not to love. All that to say: Anthony is my boy.

BUT.

Today during lunch, some kid came up to Anthony and pulled on his bandaged finger. Anthony immediately got up and shoved the kid. It was a playful shove, but enough to send the boy's tray flying. The boy left the lunchroom immediately.

"Anthony, I'm going to need you to clean that up."

"I gotta eat first."

"Anthony, I'm going to need you to clean that up. Now."

"I gotta eat."

"Anthony, I'm going to need you to put your sandwich down on your tray, get up, get the broom and sweep that up."

He turned his body so he wouldn't have to look at me. "That ain't my tray, and I ain't gonna clean it up by myself. Malik pulled my finger. That's his tray."

Etc. etc. I let it go until the end of lunch when we were throwing away our trays and lining up. "Anthony. I know that might not be your tray, but I need you to do me a favor and clean it up. That food is still sitting there."

"That's not my tray. I didn't do it."

"I understand. Look at me. I need you to do me a favor and clean it up."

"That ain't my mess to clean," he said again, avoiding my eyes.

"Then look at me in the eye and tell me you won't do me that favor."

He didn't want to. He realllly didn't want to.

"That ain't my tray."

"Then look me in the eye and tell me you won't do it."

I could tell a war was raging in Anthony's head. He wanted to comply, didn't want to be blatantly defiant. He didn't want to deny me a favor, but it was no longer about the mess. It was about his pride.

A similar war was raging in my head. What do I do?? I clearly cannot make this kid do anything he doesn't want to do. He's clearly not going to do what I've asked. I don't want to blow this out of proportion, but I also feel like I need to make a stand. All the other students are watching. You can't look "weak." And then there's still the issue of the mess that has to be cleaned up one way or another. Lord, show me what to do! Or better yet, how about YOU make him do it!

All over a LUNCH TRAY. Anthony made eye contact for a fraction of a second. "I won't do it." He immediately ducked his head, ashamed.

"OK," I said. "Then hold this." I gave him my lunch bag and my water. "Follow me. I want you to watch me." I grabbed the broom and the dust pan and took it to the mess. "Stand right here and watch." Anthony watched sheepishly as I swept up the mess in front of his feet. His best friend Ra'Quon immediately swooped down to help. Ra'Quon handed me the dustpan, which I took to the trash can and emptied. I replaced the broom, took my stuff from Anthony and looked at him in the eye. "That's all I wanted you to do, Anthony." He slinked to the back of the line and said very little the rest of the day.

It's been a year, and there are still hundreds of little moments throughout the day where I think, "What in the WORLD do I do now?" Or when a moment has passed me by, "Did I handle that correctly?" I tell you. The first time I was in middle school, we were all wearing those cheesy WWJD bracelets. Now it's my second time around and I'm thinking about bustin' them out again. JUST KIDDING y'all!!!

I have no idea where those things are.