She Had No Idea the Word Bra Was a Problem

She was standing outside her classroom when I arrived I did not recognize her; I know I have had her class. But they all wear a different mask every day; I barely recognize any of them. I ask her for her name. I am fabricating it due to confidentiality. Let’s call her Rainbow. Rainbow and I walked to the counselor’s office in silence. I asked what chair she wanted to sit in. She wanted to sit in my rolling chair. This is not the first time this has happened. I let her have it. She was crying; it might help. I am the school counselor, so I am flexible about who sits where. She was sob gulping because someone had said she had on a bra. She has on a t-shirt; she is eight. But it embarrassed her. I told her that we should let the person know how she felt. We colored a bit before she was ready, and we played in sand. I had her laughing about scaring me with her terrifying ghost stories. If you know me you will know it was just to get her calmed down. We went to the playground where the other child was. The other child had no idea that the word “bra” was a trigger word. She did not think anyone would be embarrassed about having one. She has two or three teenage sisters. We discussed it. Rainbow was busy tying her shoe for a while. I told her to stop tying it and tell the child how she felt. The other child said she had no idea some families do not talk about bras. I imagine this is true. I asked her to call Rainbow’s undershirt an undershirt if she has to mention it again. She agreed. Problem solved. Potential end of a beautiful friendship averted. Just a sliver of my day as an elementary school counselor.