I den stille eftermiddag i den aflåste skole i det hyggelige kvarter, bevægede de lette efterårsbriser de farverige blade over stierne.

In the quiet afternoon in the locked school in the cozy neighborhood, the light autumn breezes moved the colorful leaves over the paths.

Børnene havde klippet papirblade i alle nuancer af rød og gul, som nu hang i klasseværelset vinduer.

The children had cut paper leaves in every shade of red and yellow, which now hung in the classroom windows.

Indenfor ventede Astrid på dagens sidste forældre-lærer-samtale.

Inside, Astrid waited for the day's last parent-teacher meeting.

Niels kom ind med en nervøs energi og rettede uroligt på sit slips.

Niels entered with nervous energy and anxiously adjusted his tie.

Han kiggede rundt og mærkede roen i klasseværelset.

He looked around and felt the calmness in the classroom.

Hans egen skolegang havde været anderledes.

His own school days had been different.

Han havde altid ønsket mere for sin egen søn, så denne aften var vigtig for ham.

He had always wanted more for his own son, so this evening was important to him.

“Hej, Niels,” sagde Astrid varmt og gestikulerede mod en stol.

"Hi, Niels," said Astrid warmly, gesturing towards a chair.

“Hvordan går det?

"How are you?"

”Niels satte sig forsigtigt.

Niels sat down carefully.

“Hej, Astrid.

"Hi, Astrid.

Jeg håber, at Johannes klarer sig godt.

I hope Johannes is doing well.

Jeg vil høre om hans præstationer.

I want to hear about his performance."

”Astrid smilede.

Astrid smiled.

“Johannes er en vidunderlig elev.

"Johannes is a wonderful student.

Han mestrer sine lektier glimrende.

He excels at his homework."

” Hun holdt en pause.

She paused.

“Men, Niels, jeg har set noget særligt i ham.

"But, Niels, I have noticed something special in him."

”Niels rykkede lidt tættere.

Niels moved a little closer.

“Noget særligt?

"Something special?"

”“Ja,” svarede Astrid.

"Yes," replied Astrid.

“Hans kreativitet skinner virkelig, når han maler og skriver små historier.

"His creativity really shines when he paints and writes little stories.

Han ser ud til at nyde det meget.

He seems to enjoy it a lot."

”Niels tænkte over Astrids ord.

Niels thought about Astrid's words.

Han havde altid fokuseret på de akademiske fag.

He had always focused on the academic subjects.

“Jeg forstår,” sagde han forsigtigt.

"I understand," he said cautiously.

“Jeg vil gerne sikre, at han har mange muligheder.

"I want to ensure he has many opportunities.

Men han skal også have topkarakterer.

But he also needs to get top grades."

”Astrid nikkede forstående.

Astrid nodded understandingly.

“Det er vigtigt.

"That's important.

Men måske kan vi støtte ham i både det akademiske og det kreative.

But perhaps we can support him in both the academic and the creative.

Balancen kunne være gavnlig.

The balance could be beneficial."

”Midt i stilheden reflekterede Niels.

In the midst of the silence, Niels reflected.

Skulle han ændre de planer, han havde lagt?

Should he change the plans he had made?

Tankerne fløj gennem hans sind.

Thoughts flew through his mind.

Johannes’ smil, når han fortalte om sine malede billeder derhjemme.

Johannes' smile when he talked about his painted pictures at home.

Måske var det på tide at overveje noget andet.

Maybe it was time to consider something different.

“Du har ret,” sagde Niels endelig.

"You are right," Niels finally said.

“Jeg vil tale med ham i aften.

"I will talk to him tonight.

Måske er der rum for begge dele.

Maybe there's room for both."

”Astrids smil blev bredere.

Astrid's smile widened.

“Det tror jeg vil gøre ham glad.

"I think that will make him happy."

”Efter mødet gik Niels ud igen.

After the meeting, Niels went out again.

Blade raslede under hans fødder, og han bemærkede skønheden i farverne, som han før havde overset.

Leaves rustled under his feet, and he noticed the beauty in the colors, which he had previously overlooked.

På vej hjem tænkte han på nye aktiviteter, han kunne foreslå Johannes.

On the way home, he thought about new activities he could suggest to Johannes.

For første gang så han mulighederne for hans søn i et nyt lys.

For the first time, he saw the possibilities for his son in a new light.

Det var ikke kun karakterer, der definerede succes.

It wasn't just grades that defined success.

Johannes’ glæde og vækst var det vigtigste.

Johannes' joy and growth were the most important.

Niels vidste, at han var nødt til at finde en vej, der inkluderede alt det, hans søn elsker, i stedet for kun det, han troede var bedst.

Niels knew he needed to find a path that included everything his son loves, instead of only what he thought was best.

Astrid havde vist ham en ny side af Johannes, som han ikke selv havde lagt mærke til.

Astrid had shown him a new side of Johannes, which he hadn't noticed himself.

Og det gjorde fremtiden for sin søn meget lysere og mere håbefuld.

And that made the future for his son much brighter and more hopeful.