candle, Connecticut, juicy, chair, plaidWrite about the first day of school
We Have A Winner!!! 02/03/10
It was a beautiful fall day. At least it would be if it was Connecticut and not Arizona. For September 4th it was hot. 104 degrees and it was only 8:00 in the morning.Winner: Vicki
Emily was ready fro her first day of school her plaid uniform skirt and crisp white pressed blouse looked darling on her 5 year old frame. I was packing her snack a ripe juicy pear I wrapped it in a white soft napkin to keep it from bruising and put it in her new pink lunch box. She stood bouncing by the front door waiting for me.
I walked her to the corner with the other moms and girls, all dressed alike. The little girl had all grown up together many had gone to the St. Augustus’ preschool together. Today they all started Kindergarten together. We stood waiting for the bus we would then drive to school and meet them there.
The girls all bounced with excitement Kindergarten was a such a big deal for them. They were so exited to go. The school bus pulled up as I remember it, a brand new bus. The girls got on the bus and waved to us once the were in their seats. The bus driver shut the door. And the girl started to bounce in their seats and face forward. Emily gave me a big smile and waved one more time.
We watched the bus pulled away and then quickly followed Jeanine to her mini-van like the bus it was brand new. Jeanine started the mini-van and went the opposite way It was faster and a straighter shot to take the highway. We got to St. Augustus’ in about 15 minutes the bus would take another 15 or so minutes.
We went to the classroom where other mothers and a few children were waiting. Miss Penfold greeted each of us and made small talk. I remember the first time that she checked her watch. I thought nothing of it. The second time made me wonder if this was the worst day of school for her She asked us to find our child’ chair where she had written their names on a card in such precise way that each child should know how to properly write their name. She talked a little about the day at which point I noticed other parents checking their watches I checked mine it was 8:50. I looked a Jeanine she looked at me in a quizzical manner. Then as I looked at her face fell seeing something behind me. I turned to see the Principal, Sister Alice, standing in the door tears streaming down her face.
To this day I don’t remember what she said I just know the chaos of crying and the police van smelling of vomit taking us to the hospital.
That was six years ago. Jake was born 7 months later. Today he is in Connecticut with his father getting ready for his first day of school. I am sorry to miss it but I needed to be here in Arizona with Jeanine and the others lighting a candle at St. Augustus’ for each of the children that died on the bus when it was hit six years ago today. I take the card that Miss Penfold had written Emily on all those years ago and place it by her candle.
Reason: Such a sad story. Not at all what anyone would expect on the first day of school.
5 comments:
On the first day of second grade so many years ago, I missed my school bus and had to walk to school. Over the summer, Mom had walked to the school with my brothers and I so that we could play on the playground, so I knew the way, though I’d never walked the route alone. But with the twins still asleep and mom in the rocking CHAIR rocking a sick baby, she couldn’t walk with me. Dad had long since left for work in the car, but Mom didn’t drive anyway, so my walking was her only option.
I felt like such a big kid, maybe even as big as fourth grade, walking to school all by myself! In my patent leather shoes and my little PLAID skirt, I skipped along, eating my big red JUICY apple that was supposed to be part of my lunch, when I started to realize…it took a lot longer to walk to school when Mom wasn’t walking with me! Suddenly, it felt like I was walking all the way from CONNECTICUT! I began to get a little frightened. Looking back, I couldn’t see my house, only some stranger’s house with a funny looking CANDLE in the window. Looking forward, I couldn’t see my school. Did I turn the right way? Did I forget the way? Was I lost? Just when I was about to panic, I saw some other children walking ahead of me. Following along behind, it wasn’t too long before I saw the old familiar playground…I had made it to school! I slid into my CHAIR just before the bell rang. After school, I was very glad to see Dad outside to pick me up, and I was extra careful from that day forward to always be ready when the bus came.
It was a beautiful fall day. At least it would be if it was Connecticut and not Arizona. For September 4th it was hot. 104 degrees and it was only 8:00 in the morning.
Emily was ready fro her first day of school her plaid uniform skirt and crisp white pressed blouse looked darling on her 5 year old frame. I was packing her snack a ripe juicy pear I wrapped it in a white soft napkin to keep it from bruising and put it in her new pink lunch box. She stood bouncing by the front door waiting for me.
I walked her to the corner with the other moms and girls, all dressed alike. The little girl had all grown up together many had gone to the St. Augustus’ preschool together. Today they all started Kindergarten together. We stood waiting for the bus we would then drive to school and meet them there.
The girls all bounced with excitement Kindergarten was a such a big deal for them. They were so exited to go. The school bus pulled up as I remember it, a brand new bus. The girls got on the bus and waved to us once the were in their seats. The bus driver shut the door. And the girl started to bounce in their seats and face forward. Emily gave me a big smile and waved one more time.
We watched the bus pulled away and then quickly followed Jeanine to her mini-van like the bus it was brand new. Jeanine started the mini-van and went the opposite way It was faster and a straighter shot to take the highway. We got to St. Augustus’ in about 15 minutes the bus would take another 15 or so minutes.
We went to the classroom where other mothers and a few children were waiting. Miss Penfold greeted each of us and made small talk. I remember the first time that she checked her watch. I thought nothing of it. The second time made me wonder if this was the worst day of school for her She asked us to find our child’ chair where she had written their names on a card in such precise way that each child should know how to properly write their name. She talked a little about the day at which point I noticed other parents checking their watches I checked mine it was 8:50. I looked a Jeanine she looked at me in a quizzical manner. Then as I looked at her face fell seeing something behind me. I turned to see the Principal, Sister Alice, standing in the door tears streaming down her face.
To this day I don’t remember what she said I just know the chaos of crying and the police van smelling of vomit taking us to the hospital.
That was six years ago. Jake was born 7 months later. Today he is in Connecticut with his father getting ready for his first day of school. I am sorry to miss it but I needed to be here in Arizona with Jeanine and the others lighting a candle at St. Augustus’ for each of the children that died on the bus when it was hit six years ago today. I take the card that Miss Penfold had written Emily on all those years ago and place it by her candle.
Light a candle for me on this first day of school.
Connecticut's teachers are horrid and cruel!
Juicy gossip? No time!
All this homework's a crime!
But the plaid chair in my dorm? Kinda cool.
Plaid shirt, "Juicy" sweats,
U of Connecticut chair,
Candle's lit: College.
candle, Connecticut, juicy, chair, plaid
Gramma always sat outside in her favourite chair, waiting for us kids to return from school. On the first day of my 3rd grade year, I remember bounding towards the porch, my plaid jumper bouncing up off my shoulders with every step. I thought it might jump right over my head!
"Gramma! Gramma! Guess what?!"
She smiled gently and handed me one of her homemade juicy cherry empanadas with the the special super crunchy part she knew was my favourite. She told us kids that that one darkened spot came from the candle she used to peer inside the little pastry pocket to make sure we kids got the ones with the most berries.
"What's that dear?" Gramma answered as she lifted me up onto her lap.
"We had a practice spelling quiz and one of my words was Connecticut and I spelled it RIGHT! I got a blue star by my name on the star chart."
"That's wonderful, dear!" Gramma replied. "Can you spell it for me?"
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