I have not had the repeated visitor in my room for a while.
I thought maybe he was staying in his room. No such luck.
He was in the office when I went in to print something.
“What are you doing?” he asked me. I did not have time to answer.
“She is busy,” my boss told him. I was glad she did this.
He has been brought to my office many times.
He will not stay in a classroom long.
School is not valued in his home.
He skipped the last two years – both online.
One was our school online.
The other one was virtual school which never reported him missing.
He is nine. He has missed two whole years of school.
He is in the second grade, sadly.
How did he fall through the cracks?
He does not know his alphabet or his numbers.
He wants to play in a sandpile or with Playdough.
I cannot say that I blame him.
I am playing in the kinesthetic sandpile
With a child who has never professed to like me
I have done my unusual best to like him though
I believe he has come around today
When we share some stories and a couple of laughs.
He is a fourth grader who despises Chick Filet.
I despise Chick Filet myself, so we establish commonality.
I give him a time limit.
If I don’t, they want to stay all day.
I am the counselor.
My “gig” is playing.
I ask him if he has any questions for me.
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” He asks.
“I want to be a race car driver,” I reply.
He nods. “I thought that was it.”
Great start to a Friday.
Adult
hopeful, kind,
amusing, loving, driving
car, college, sandpile, swings
loving, exciting, enjoying
playful, kind
child
Wagon
sandpile, shovel
blue pail too.
We are outside today
How about
you?
Swimming pool
child, fort,
riding toys
Childhood laughter
the best possible
noise
We have done so
many wonderful
things
What other magic
will this unusually
warm weather bring?
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