You really can't judge a book by it's cover

So as most of you know I am a crossing guard for Benion Jr. High. For the most part the kids are okay. There are a few that I just don't care for but for the most part they are a pretty decent group of kids. We probably cross close to a 100 kids so we get to see quite a variety. There is this one boy that has always kind of scared me. I actually nick named him to myself " Columbine". He wears the long black trench coat and is usually dressed in all black. He has a lip piercing and is always alone. Never with any of the other kids. To tell you the truth he looks a lot older then Jr. High. So last year I would just cross him and never try to talk to him. So this year I decided I would start telling him everyday to have a great day or night depending on the time of the day. So twice a day I talk to this kid and I never get any response. So a couple days ago I see him with his sister, trust me there must not be any parents in this house. She didn't look any better then he did and it was really so sad as I watched them walk home. I just started thinking how lucky my kids are to have parents that care and are around to make sure they are okay. But back to the story--- he TALKED!!! Yesterday afternoon when I crossed him I said my usual " have a good night and he said you too" I almost squealed like a little school girl. I was so excited to think maybe I might have gotten through to some small part of him. So this morning I thought if anwers me again then I will know. Well sure enough he said thanks this morning and nodded his head. So maybe by the end of the school year I might even get a sentence out of him. It just teaches me that you really can't judge a book by it's cover and I hope that maybe he will know that if no one else cares at least the crossing guard will always be there to tell him to have a great day.