The Next Will Shakespeare?

Since Andrew was a toddler, I have known he was unique. I have known that he was mathematically gifted when he started making change for a dollar at age four. I have known that he is cranky when tired-- I mean, really cranky when tired. I have also known that he is a passionate reader. But, until about two weeks ago, I never knew he had a creative side.

I don't mean to openly stereotype him as a linear thinker without much creative thought, but truly, that is what he has shown to us. So, it was a huge surprise when he started talking about a project that his reading group at school was working on. They were going to write a play for a novel they had just read AND Andrew was going to write it.

My first reaction? WHAT? Andrew write a play?

But then I watched him diligently construct the play, avoiding playing video games or watching his favorite show. Then, he henpecked the paper on the computer, working tirelessly and missing my nightly reading and asking me to wake him up early to finish it.

Curiosity got the best of me, and I glanced at what he had written. He wrote four pages about the book, labeling characters and inserting a narrator when the action didn't have words. How impressed I was of him! As an English teacher, I haven't seen the English flair in the boys that I have, so I was thrilled to see this side of him.

A few days later, Andrew was working on his own book report that he needs to do once a month, and again, he decided to write a play about his book capturing the main event of the book. He merely needed to prove to his teacher that he had read the book, and he thought this concept would best prove that to her.

Really? Two plays in a week or two?

I am so proud of his initiative and budding creativity. Who knows? Maybe Shakespeare and Marlowe need to move over. Here comes Andrew Doucette!