There has long been a theological argument about whether animals can go to Heaven. My opinion is that if they can't go, who wants to be there? At any rate, whatever happens in the afterlife, I know of one of Gawd's creatures that will be there. It's Brother Bird.

While teaching I had a variety of classes both in subject matter and make up of the students. However, no matter what kind of class it was or who was in it, the last period of the day was difficult a lot of time. The kids were tired. I was tired. It was a gut check at the end of the day.

One year I taught 7th grade Life Science. There were about 25 kids in the class. I looked up their reading levels to get an idea of where they were in that area. I didn't want to be condescending about their skills. I wanted to get an idea of where to start. I had a two pronged approach. I wanted to give them material that would teach them the subject matter AND help them learn to read better. I have always felt that every teacher should know how to teach reading, and that textbooks should be designed to teach subject matter as well as reinforce reading skills.

I digress. Anyway, the highest level in this class was a reading level on the 2nd grade. I wanted to beat my head on the desk, and then go find some education poobah in the state system and beat them. There was nothing I cold do but give it my best shot. Sometimes that shot ended up in my foot.

This class was particularly hard for them because it was the end of the day. I'm sure they had had their fill of feeling like failures in some ways. I also didn't have the energy I needed. These kids needed my very best! After a day of several classes, I was not at the level I needed to be.

Some days were what I called 'straw days.' One more straw of any kind would break the camel's back and ANY type of learning or cooperation would evaporate. On those days, we talked about whatever. I gave a happy damn about being observed by an administrator. I don't know how often anybody really tried to talk and listen to these kids.

On one of these days, I happened to have a sick bird wrapped upon in a shoe box. Somebody had brought it to me at the beginning of the day. It was on its last wing, so I named it Lazarus. That was the sum total of my attempt to help the bird.

When the kids in the class arrived, they were all het up about the bird. There is no faster or accurate grapevine than the one that runs in schools. I found out more shite that was going on that from the kids than any administrator. I told them to sit down, and we would check on Lazarus. Alas, sometime in the last few minutes he had expired. I didn't hide this from them. They wanted to peek at the bird, and its condition was obvious.

When I gave them the sad news, they were upset. Then they demanded that we hold a funeral. There had to be a viewing as well as a short service. They weren't being silly. It was a very serious matter to them. So,I thought "What the hell?"

They immediately began planning all stages of the event. They put most funeral directors that I had ever seen to shame. I did tell them that they couldn't touch the bird, and the box would have to do as a coffin. They decided that some greenery would make up for that. A couple of students went outside nd picked out some leaves, flowers, and whatnot. They tastefully arranged it around the box/coffin.

Then they all lined up and solemnly walked by my desk and paid their respects. Again, they took this very seriously. There wasn't an organ, so a couple of kids who could carry a tune hummed softly in the background.

Then came the service. They had chosen a student named Russell to give the eulogy. Russell couldn't read a lick, but he tried his bet. I was curious about what would happen.

Well Russell went to the front of the classroom and flat out took over. He gave one of the bet eulogies I have ever eard. He referred to Lazarus as Brother Bird. He extolled Lazarus as a bird among birds. His pitch would rise and fall, and the kids were testifying. I heard more amens in that time than I believe I ever heard when I attended church.

Russell spoke for about 10 minutes and then lead a prayer. I put the box in a bigger box and solemnly put it in the storeroom. I had told them that we couldn't bury it at the school. I would take it and bury it in the woods near my house. I promised that I would say a prayer and put some type of marker on the grave. The bell rang just as the service ended. They didn't try to rush out as usual. They solemnly filed out slowly.

I sat at my desk for a while. I wondered if I had wasted a day or had had a moment that meant something. I decided on the latter. I also decided that Lazarus, Brother Bird, was one being that went to Heaven that day. He might be the only bird there, but I was sure that Russell had preached him into paradise.