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.
.
Hey, at least you know they miss you! It would be worse if no one noticed you weren't around much anymore.
ReplyDeleteGee, you're right! That's probably all the more reason I need to go by every now and then a stir things up.
DeleteI can't help it. I want to know why you switch places during the end-of-year testing days. :)
ReplyDeleteHa! 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!
DeleteMaybe!
ReplyDelete"Stranger Danger" LOL
ReplyDeleteYou've reminded me that I kinda miss my kids' elementary school.
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.
ReplyDelete