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Friday, April 27, 2012

the slow lane



Yesterday and today are end-of-year testing days at the elementary school.  For reasons that are too boring to go into, June and I trade places on testing days.  She's got the 5-lane speedway while I've got the quaint little street in front of the school.

It's a whole 'nother world there!  Yes, there's a steady stream of traffic, but it's parents who have just dropped off/picked up the kids and scoot abidingly away. 

The clientele is quite different too.  There are a lot more little kids.  The speedway sees mostly the older kids - fourth and fifth graders peppered with a third grader or two with older siblings.  Occassionally, younger kids come through with a parent. 

In front of school are those accompanied by a mom or a dad, heading happily to kindergarten or preschool.  They take a moment to look at me bug-eyed.  I know they wonder why I'm not June.  Some squeeze Mom's hand a little tighter.  Stranger Danger!

It's nice to be at the school and see some of the staff members I don't see regularly.  I was a volunteer mom at this school for seven years.  Now that I'm an employee, but very part-time, some of them are becoming just  Somebody that I Used To Know.

Yesterday afternoon, as the kid flow had dwindled, my friend Mary the custodian came around to collect the orange cones.

"Hey, haven't seen you in a while!", she said as she approached.

"Yeah, I don't come up her much anymore".

"Girl, you need to clean your mailbox!"

"I know... I..."

"There's stuff in there from Christmas, from last fall, from..."

"Yeah, I know... I..."

"... Hundreds Day, from field day, from..."

"Yeah, I know... I... "

"... your birthday, from somebody's shower..."

"Yeah, I know... I KNOW!!  I  GOT IT!  Last week, I got it".

I think maybe I should visit more often.
.

7 comments:

terri said...

Hey, at least you know they miss you! It would be worse if no one noticed you weren't around much anymore.

ShadowRun300 said...

I can't help it. I want to know why you switch places during the end-of-year testing days. :)

Abby said...

Gee, you're right! That's probably all the more reason I need to go by every now and then a stir things up.

Abby said...

Ha! Well, it would be an entire (short) blog post in itself, so maybe I'll tell you in a later post when I'm strapped for ideas. Or maybe I'd rather just keep you guessing!

Scott said...

Maybe!

Anita said...

"Stranger Danger" LOL

You've reminded me that I kinda miss my kids' elementary school.

agg79 said...

Maybe it was the first time the kids saw the Xtreme Crossing Guard in person. I was curious, too, as to why you switched posts, but I guess I'll have to wait until the movie comes out.