After she read, I escorted her out of my class. Then in the hall all hell broke loose. Kids were screaming at each other, acting their absolute worst. I can't remember exactly when it was, but replaying it in my head I figure it must have been right before a holiday. I was embarrassed, but if Annette noticed she didn't let on.
Like the 25-year veteran high school English teacher she was, she wore a calm smile as she walked through the bedlam. And that's another reason Annette Sanford has meant so much to me. She was not only a top-notch writer but a damn good high school English teacher, I suspect. I was more than lucky to have met her. When she died, not only the Texas literary world but the wider literary world lost a real gem. I just wish more people would have noticed.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
