The Little Professor

By Kaylea L. Harris

With every step a very special professor takes, a flower sprouts from the ground. When a student sees the flowers and tries to tell her about them, the professor cannot see them and struggles to accept they are real. After the student tells her, "Try to believe in your beauty a little bit more," the professor finally begins to see the flowers. T

• Language: English
• Publisher: Palmetto Publishing
• Release date: Nov 30, 2022
• ISBN: 9798822900165

Kaylea L. Harris

Kaylea L. Harris is a singer, educator, and writer from Yukon, Oklahoma. She is a University of Central Oklahoma alumna and attends graduate school at Oklahoma Baptist University. Kaylea currently works as a high school English Language Arts teacher and has taught grades 9-11. From time to time, you can catch her performing at the Oklahoma Opry. If you want to get in touch with Kaylea, you can e-mail her at [e-mail]. She would love to hear from you.

Book preview

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NCE UPON A TIME, at a school not so far away, a student noticed something special about a little professor that walked by her one day. The Little Professor wore little glasses on her nose, and when you waved hello to her, she smiled all aglow. On the sunniest school days, she wore a wide-brimmed hat. But what made her most unique wasn’t that! You see, this little professor had a bounce in her step and a twinkle in her eyes. She didn’t even have to speak for you to know that she was intelligent, benevolent, and one-of-a-kind.

NOW, YOU MIGHT NOT believe me when I say this, but I promise it’s true: With each step this little professor took, a flower grew. When the student saw this, she shook her head in disbelief. Then, she plucked one of the flowers and wondered, How could this be? Do I really see what I see? The student approached The Little Professor politely and gave her shoulder a gentle tap, tap, tap. And she said, Excuse me, Professor, I don’t mean to interrupt. I just can’t help but notice that every time you lift your feet, flowers pop up!

WHEN THE STUDENT SHOWED The Little Professor the flower she had plucked, The Little Professor looked startled and confused. That’s preposterous! she exclaimed. Flowers can’t sprout from the bottoms of my shoes!

The student handed the flower to The Little Professor in protest. I’m telling you… she said, with every step you take, a flower just like this one blooms! Can’t you see the trail you’ve left behind you?

The Little Professor looked past the student and shook her head. I’m sorry, she replied with a sigh, I don’t see these flowers you say I’ve left behind.

No matter how sure the student was of what she saw, she couldn’t get The Little Professor to believe her at all. The student wondered why The Little Professor couldn’t see the flowers sprout. And she quickly became determined to figure it out! Then, the student sat down and thought and thought and thought. She thought about this miracle she could see, but The Little Professor could not. She thought about how this little professor made the school such a lovely place, with simply her presence, her shining face! And then she wondered in amazement how God had only put one professor like this little professor on the planet!

At the end of her thinking, the student knew there was only one thing to do. She had to help The Little Professor see the beauty inside her, too. So, the student set off with a prayer in her heart to show The Little Professor how she was a masterpiece! God’s work-of-art!

I

’M SURE YOU’RE WONDERING about the student’s plan. You’ll be glad to know that it was easy-breezy! And it only required her two little hands. First, the student decided she would collect all the flowers The Little Professor’s footsteps made. And that’s what she did all throughout the day.

As the student wandered around campus, she saw a trail of flowers here and a patch of flowers there. Oh, how that little professor had spread her love everywhere! By the end of her flower scour, the student was amazed! She held in her arms the most beautiful, bountiful bouquet.

NEXT, SHE BUNCHED THE flowers together and tied them with a big blue bow. What a lovely gift for the little professor who made those flowers grow! Now all she had to do was search for that little professor, and she was not difficult to find! All the student had to do, was walk in the direction God made the sun shine.

* * *

WHEN THE STUDENT ARRIVED at The Little Professor’s office door, she gave a modest knock, knock, knock. And as soon as The Little Professor opened it, her eyes widened in shock!

What a magnificent bouquet! The Little Professor said as she marveled at the blooms. And the student beamed as she declared, Professor, they’re for you!

YOU CAN PROBABLY GUESS that this left The Little Professor somewhat bemused. As much as she appreciated the gesture, she just wasn’t sure what to say or do! Out of all the feelings she could feel, deserving of this beautiful gift wasn’t one of them.

I wish I could be more gracious, The Little Professor replied. There was a hint of disappointment in her eyes. But I cannot accept it. Time and resources are precious; why don’t you spend yours on someone else next time? It was a question, but The Little Professor said it more like a statement.

Still determined, the student began, These flowers, Professor! You caused them to grow— But before she could finish, The Little Professor cried, Oh dear, not this again!

Here, Professor, please take them. The student insisted. It is the least I can do for you. After all, without you, these beautiful flowers couldn’t have bloomed!

"But, why me? The Little Professor asked the student desperately. Her eyes clouded over with worry. What have I missed? I don’t believe I’ve done anything to warrant such a lovely gift."

The Little Professor’s reaction made the student sad. She wished to offer The Little Professor a logical answer; unfortunately, that bouquet of flowers was all she had. So, she said to The Little Professor, I know you don’t believe me, but I promise it’s true! With every step you take, a flower blooms.

"But I cannot see any flowers growing from under my feet! So why have you brought this beautiful bouquet to me?" The Little professor asked again earnestly.

The student laid the bouquet of flowers down on The Little Professor’s desk. Then, feeling defeated and a little bit depleted, the student hung her head. And just when she was about to walk away, she heard a gentle Voice inside her heart say, Don’t give up, child. This story isn’t over yet.

The student took a deep breath in and raised her little chin. She tried to search The Little Professor’s eyes for that familiar twinkle, but it was harder to find this time. Then she, too, wondered why. Why could The Little Professor see the bouquet but not the flowers that sprouted with each little move she made? Did she not believe in her beautiful soul that caused those flowers to grow?

An understanding smile spread across the student’s face, and she told The Little Professor that wondering why was okay. But I can only do what I feel in my heart I should do, she said.