The Young and the Restless

Yesterday one of my students asked me to read this short story he had to read for class and explain it to him. So I start to read it.

Basically this young high school couple gets swept up in the high of having running away to have sex. However, soon the high wears off when they realize no one really cares what they're doing, especially the young girl's mom. Throughout the story as the girl is describing herself you also realize that she is pregnant. Again no one really notices, not even the boyfriend. She eventually births the baby herself in another room, disposes of it in a trash can somewhere, and is eventually found out and arrested.

So I'm sitting there reading this thinking: "Here is one of my high school students who is a more recent arrival to America and I have to explain this very.... something story to him. blah."

When I finish, I turn to ask him if he's even read it yet. Luckily, he hasn't even read it so I respond that I'm not telling him what it's about until he reads it! hah! Throwing it back on him! (that's my tactic.)

Meanwhile, he's reading and he gets to a section which basically goes like this, "And we turn on 'The Young and the Restless' and the room starts shaking and meanwhile mom is walking downstairs- clickity-clack clickity-clack."

Student: "What is "The Young and the Restless?"
Me: "It's a soap opera..."
Student: *blank stare*
Me: "Well, here it's supposed to mean... you know... well...."
Student: "Oh. O.K."

I'm starting to feel like a protective mother hen with these young people. I want them to learn about this stuff, but at the same time I look at their youthful faces and think- not yet! (or maybe not in this form).