Ted said, “Last night I had the Special Power dream: br I could go through doors unseen.” br “Bernstein, ” said Michelle Dooling, br “that’s one of your composition topics.” br “This often happens: br I invade the subconscious mind of my students.” br Ted continued, “And after I had another: br I could stretch myself like Rubber Man br to be any size I wanted.” br Danielle stared at Ted with those sad serious eyes br I had seen before br when her baby ran a high temperature br and lay in the hospital close to death. br She spoke softly, “There ain’t nothing wrong br with how tall you are, Ted.” br “Yeah, I know.” br “Just got to find a little woman.” br “You saying we can’t get together br cause you’re six feet and I’m only five? Eh? br But I’m growing. br The doctor says in another year br I’ll shoot up seven inches.” br Danielle continued, “You’re my friend, Teddy. That’s all.” br He leaped from his chair, stood on it br finally screaming, “THIS HOW TALL YOU WANT ME TO BE? ” br “C’mon, Teddy...” br “ANSWER ME.” br Then tears seeping into a terrible moan, br “I wanna know when I should stop growing br cause I don’t wanna get too damn tall.” br Ted flopped down, missed the seat, br now on the floor, looking up br utterly exhausted by his confession. br Laughter resounded throughout the room. br Finally Danielle yielding, me too br probably not wanting to enter sadness just then. br “What you two giants laughing at? ” said Ted, br making no effort to rise up. br Michelle Dooling asked, “Why you call them ‘giants’? br They ain’t that tall, just you so short, is that it? ” br Ted’s tiny tears trembled down his cheeks br the lad really suffering now br and more to come br unhappy in his own skin.