Today was one of those rare days when I heard the voices of two students in our Google Meet without having to call on them to speak.

This is such an infrequent occurrence that I was disconcerted at first.

“Where did that voice come from?” I asked myself.

I scanned the frames on the Google Meet screen – some with actual faces and others with cute avatars – until I found it: the voice of a student I almost never hear from in class.

Tentatively, but with probably too much excitement in my voice, I said: “Yes?”

“Sra. Waingort, I just wanted to tell you that I won’t be here on Friday.”

Ah!

“OK,” I said. And that child returned to hiding behind the cute avatar gracing their frame.

It was something, I tried consoling myself.

Once voice from the void.

And, then, as I was contemplating how something like a student speaking in class – something that may appear insignificant to a bystander – could actually make my day – out of nowhere, another voice piped up.

I scanned the frames again until I found it.

“Sra. Waingort, if you go to “change layout” and then click on “spotlight” it will pin the speaker to the screen.”

I almost fainted.

You may laugh, but it’s true.

Another voice from the abyss!

Two in one class!

On the same day!

Oh, my!

I wait with bated breath for more voices from the void to spring forth tomorrow.

Cross posted to The Two Writing Teachers March Slice of Life Story Challenge.