They Called Him Stupid (Drama)

The other kids called him stupid, sometimes even to his face. Ryan still couldn't read or spell correctly, even after years of formal schooling. He stuttered when he talked, laughed at inappropriate moments, and cared about insignificant things. His teachers shook their heads as they graded his homework--some in disgust and others in pity.

For the life of him, he also couldn't hit a baseball or get a basketball even near a net.
Some kids wondered why he still kept trying after failing over and over at what seemed like everything he ever did. After awhile they didn't have to wonder because he decided one day to stop trying.

Through school he was shuttled from class to class, grade to grade--he was long past the age where there was any hope of catching him up to speed. His parents did their best to try to encourage him, but he knew it was because they loved him and not because he was really something special.

One day in his developmental English class, Ryan began to sketch. As his teacher's voice melted into a distant muffle, his eyes focused to the details of the backs of the students' heads, their desks, the marker board, and finally the teacher.

"....the answer to number three, Ryan," she said--or at least that's what he caught of what she said.

Noticing that he wasn't paying attention yet again, the teacher went over to him to privately scold him about it. As she neared his desk, she dropped her dry erase marker in shock of Ryan's "sketch." With the exception of the lines and holes in the notebook paper, it was like someone had photocopied a picture of the room.

"That's amazing! How long have you been able to draw like that?!"

"F-f-for an hour or two I guess. T-t-this is the f-f-first time I've tried."

Shortly after the bell rang, calls were made to his parents, the principal, and the school guidance counselor. About thirty minutes later, Ryan found himself sitting in the cold blue plastic seat next to the principal's office while his parents were told about the slight "mistake" that had been made regarding Ryan's ability.

Though he couldn't hear everything through the door, the words "idiot savant" were said by the guidance counselor. Ryan thought that must mean stupid in most things but a genius at one thing...but maybe one thing was enough, like having one really great gift for your birthday instead of a bunch of little ones. Ryan smiled for what seemed like the first time in years.

Another surprise came weeks later when Ryan's IQ test results arrived back--not only did he show artistic ability, but his speech impediment and test anxiety had masked the fact he had the ability to learn quickly when someone worked with him one-on-one and let him set his own pace.

One apology after another was made, and he was given free extra help after school to catch up with his peers. By his junior year, Ryan was in college prep classes and even doing better than some of the kids that had previously called him "stupid." It was a hard adjustment socially, but he was able to make it through.

When Ryan's senior year finally arrived three years later, and school offered to pay him to paint a mural for its newly remodeled entrance, unfortunately complete with metal detectors. Violence had not been as bad at the school as some others nearby, but chances could not afford to be taken anymore. There didn't seem to be an answer to the problem anywhere.

It only took a day to draw the mural, and he was able to get help from other students with his idea of putting inspiring quotes throughout the design. By day two he was painting in the red, blue, and black blocks of color. Suddenly, the principal burst out of his office and ran over to him.

"Ryan! I'm so glad I caught you before you started painting in the quotes. Look, I love the design and the quotes are a great idea. I just can't have you put this one--I'll lose my job, and you'd have to paint back over it anyway," he said as he bent down to catch his breath.

With a confused look, Ryan looked down at the list to see what quote somebody had wrote that must have slipped by him.

"Y-you're kidding, right?" he said in disbelief, his stutter not as pronounced since he'd been working on it, "I don't know who wrote that one, but it doesn't feel right that I paint all of the others up there and not theirs. Why would they fire you if I put it up there? I don't get it."

The principal shook his head sadly as he brushed some dust off the top of the metal detectors, "The other quotes are fine. I am sorry Ryan, but these things are complicated."

The mural was completed, and Ryan went on to college. Students who pass it every morning are still impressed by its scale--and especially by the quotes. A few have noticed the cryptic message underneath Ryan's signature--G.M.E.S.

A few theories surfaced that it stood for "Great Men Explore Success" or "Growing Mentally Eliminates Stupidity."

The real quote is with Ryan, the student that wrote it, the principal, and now you:

"God Made Everyone Special."