Kindergarten
There were no desks, no blackboard, no chalk and no books. The large rug that covered more than half the room was empty. What kind of school was kindergarten, with no chalk and no desks? Penny’s sister was in second grade and she had desks in her room.
“I think we’re in the wrong place mom.” Tugging on her mom’s dress she repeated her concern. “Mom, we must be in the wrong place, there are no desks here.”
“Just a minute, honey.” Penny’s mom continued her conversation with another mother. Penny’s stomach churned. She thought maybe this wasn’t going to be the great day she had been promised. She turned her attention to the playground. Most of the kids were having a great time swinging on swings, sliding down slides and playing in the sand box. Penny saw dozens of familiar faces, most were kids from her neighborhood. A friend on the swings called to her.
“Penny, come and swing with me.” It was Marsha. Marsha looked happy. Penny forced herself to walk over to the swings; she even got on one and pumped as hard as she could until she was higher than anyone, her pigtails bouncing with each kick. She could see over the top of the building, she could see her mom talking with the teacher, she could see her mom turn and wave. Penny let go of the chain and gave a quick wave, then noticed Marsha was almost as high as she was and started pumping her little legs really hard to maintain her advantage. She looked toward her mom making sure her mom saw how high she was when she noticed her mom was walking away. This wasn’t good.
“Mommy!” Her mom didn’t hear her. The panic rose fast in her chest… the nausea returned. Penny slowed the swing as fast as she could, but her mom was gone by the time she got off. She ran to the gate. A teacher came to the door and rang a big bell. All the kids ran to the door and got in line. The teacher hollered to Penny, but Penny kept her post at the gate, knowing her mom would be back to get her. The teacher stormed over to the gate, grabbed Penny’s small hand in hers and pulled her toward the class room. Penny held on to the gate, the teacher pried her fingers loose dragging Penny away. Penny sat down on the sidewalk digging in her heels. The teacher won. The teacher led all the kids into the room, seating them around the edges of the big rug. Penny started to cry. She couldn’t help it she wanted to go home. She wanted her mommy. She hated kindergarten. Her friends tried to comfort her, but she couldn’t stop crying. The teacher brought a tall stool from the corner of the room and placed it in the center of the rug…then she picked Penny up and sat her on top of it. Penny held tight to the edge of the stool trying to keep her balance as her chest heaved, her tears flowed, and her heart broke. Finally able to talk, she looked into the teacher’s face and asked softly,
“Where is the chalk?” The teacher didn’t answer, she turned and walked away, talking to the quiet children in a high sing song voice. So, Penny spent her first day of school on a tall stool in the middle of a rug, in the middle of the class, in the middle of a deskless, chalkless, bookless room, with no blackboard.
No comments:
Post a Comment