A New Understanding
Part 21
"Ashley, I've been wondering," Mrs. Johnson said, her eyes locked onto Ashley's. "Have you ever been tested for dyslexia or ADHD?" Ashley shook her head, a hint of curiosity in her voice. "No, but I have bipolar disorder," she said, her words tumbling out in a straightforward manner. Mrs. Johnson's expression turned thoughtful, her eyes never leaving Ashley's face. She nodded slowly, as if processing the information. Just then, the classroom door swung open and Erica walked in, a look of relief washing over her face as she spotted Ashley. "Ashley, I'm so sorry I'm late," Erica said, rushing over to her sister. "Traffic was a nightmare." Ashley smiled, feeling a sense of comfort with her sister by her side. "It's okay, I'm just having a chat with Mrs. Johnson," she said, gesturing to her teacher. Erica's eyes flickered to Mrs. Johnson, who was still watching Ashley with a keen interest. "Oh, hi Mrs. Johnson," Erica said, her voice friendly. Mrs. Johnson smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Hi Erica, come on in. I was just talking to your sister about her test results." Erica nodded, taking a seat in one of the empty chairs. "How did you do?" she asked Ashley, her brow furrowed with concern. Ashley shrugged, feeling a sense of pride. "I did exceptionally well, apparently," she said, a hint of amusement in her voice. Mrs. Johnson leaned forward, her eyes locked onto Ashley's. "Actually, that's part of what I wanted to talk to you about, Ashley. You have a natural talent for this subject, but I think there might be more going on here than meets the eye." Ashley raised an eyebrow, feeling a sense of intrigue. "What do you mean?" she asked, her curiosity piqued. Mrs. Johnson's expression turned thoughtful. "Well, with your bipolar disorder, and your exceptional test results... I think it's possible that you might have a learning style that's a bit different from your peers." Ashley's eyes widened, as she considered her teacher's words. Could it be that she had a learning style that was different, rather than simply being smart or not smart? The thought sent a thrill of excitement through her, and she felt a sense of hope that she hadn't felt in a long time.