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A Rolling Optimist or a Seated Pessimist

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A Rolling Optimist or a Seated Pessimist
Reading Level

	edHelper's suggested reading level:	grades 5 to 6
	Flesch-Kincaid grade level:	4.81

Vocabulary

	challenging words:		custom-made, recognition, mechanism, productive, difficulty, fullest, mulled, optimism, totally, merrily, perpetual, pessimist, dealt, skitter, beginning, self-pity
	content words:		Winston Churchill, Second World War

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A Rolling Optimist or a Seated Pessimist By Mary Lynn Bushong

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¹     The wheelchair rolled down the ramp and bumped into the van that was parked in the first handicapped spot. Liam sat slumped in the chair and looked down across the parking lot. A small breeze caught a maple leaf and tossed it up and down and spun it in circles. Liam's sad face turned into even more of a frown as he watched the leaf skitter merrily on its way.
 
²     "Honey, I will be there in just a minute to open the van door for you. I need to talk to Alex for a second before we go," said his mother as she turned to talk to the director of the rehabilitation center.
 
³     "Alex, I know his body is getting stronger, but his mental state is not. I knew this would be hard for all of us, but I don't know how to cheer him up. Nothing seems to work, and he seems to just keep getting more and more depressed," said Mrs. O'Dell, looking down into the director's eyes.
 
⁴     Alex studied the boy for a few moments as he listened to Mrs. O'Dell speak. Then he looked at her and said, "The body can do wonderful things to heal itself, but the mind is a totally different thing. I would like to work with Alex in his own environment. Would it be possible for me to come to your house this afternoon?"
 
⁵     "Yes, of course. That would be fine. You may come anytime you like. We should be home all afternoon."
 
⁶     "Very good. I will see you around 1:30 then," said Alex. "Oh, and Mrs. O'Dell, you should let Liam open his own door."
 
⁷     Mrs. O'Dell looked puzzled for a moment, and then she hurried down the ramp and lowered the lift mechanism so Liam could enter the van.
 
⁸     "Alex is going to come to the house this afternoon, Liam. I think he has some ideas that will help you learn to use your chair better," said his mother.

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