Missing

She’s a sweet little girl and she’s been absent all week.  Her table seems empty with her gone.  She’s fun to watch as she learns.  Her little friend misses her.  I worry she’s very sick and I’m sure her parents don’t have health insurance.  

Report cards are done, conferences start Monday.  I have several holes in her report card.  I will try to fill in the holes  on Monday. I have a bunch of unfinished assessments for her.   I sure hope she’s back!

The Thief Returns

 

The boy with red rimmed eyes came cautiously into my classroom. 

“Mrs. K, I need to tell you something.”

“Sure, what is it?”

“I, Abbey took something…”

I focused past him as I saw an adult stand behind the fourth grader.

“Abbey took some chocolates from the leprechaun traps in the hall way.”

“So, why are you here?” I asked in a puzzled voice.

“Well, Abbey took some of the green chocolates,” I looked up to see his teacher frowning and knew what had happened.

“Did you take some too?” I repeated. 

"Well Abbey took some.."

 I interrupted.  “I understand that Abbey took some chocolates, do you think that makes it OK for you to take some?

He looked down and softly answered, “no.”

After recess a well written note of apology was delivered, and hopefully a lesson was well learned.

Now send me Abbey.

The Fear of Fire

Sitting at our kitchen table with a shaking hand, drinking coffee and smoking cigarette after cigarette Mrs. Purdy’s distress is still clear forty years later.  Her daughter was sitting on her mom’s lap, quiet and frightened.  My mom a militant nonsmoker was handing her an ashtray as they waited together as the men of the rural community fought the house fire.

As a four year old I didn’t understand fire could burn a house down and later that evening our family, with Dad still in his smoke scented farm clothes, went to view the still smoking remains of the tall farm house.  That night as I slept had the first of many nightmares.  In my dream the fireman was coming to get me, a boogie man to be feared.  I had the reoccurring dream for several years. 

Today my new student G drew a kindergarten story about her house burning down.  The whole story was drawn in red. The story repeated, Mom, got out.  Dad got out.  My dogs got out.   Her story said that she’d been sleeping, they woke her up to get her out. 

As the sharing time went on she looked so sad, I repeated how happy I was she was safe.  I wonder how many years of dreams she’ll have.

A Conversation with my Cat

I urged to adopt you and your sister so you’d have a companion.

I take you to the vet, I clean your food dish, water dish and buy you the soft food you prefer.

I vacuum your hair and grumble not a bit…OK maybe a bit.

He gets you sitting on his lap purring your love.

He sees your on the table and sprays you to get down.

He asks if you really need that brand.

This morning as you brought your love

a mouse.

I decided I don’t deserve your love.