Thursday, February 08, 2007

A Long February Evening

Last night was one of the longest evenings of the New Year. I’m sure it was partly due to CrafterKat and I having colds (I’m coming out of mine, she’s just starting up) but it was also the fact that we had to attend a mandatory school meeting which was really just an excuse for us to come and sign up for another 20-minute meeting with the school district later in the month.

You see, Critter starts high school this fall.

We arrived early and wandered the halls, searching for the auditorium. Past glass cases of trophies and plaques, sign-up sheets for Spring events, photos from the DC trip, posters for the upcoming Sadie Hawkins dance, senior pics of each Valedictorian, and reminders on gym use.

The Auditorium was full of a dozen theater kids and we watched them strip the stage and set up a podium and mike for the Principal, completely indifferent to the swarms of younger kids and their anxious/confused/annoyed parents who joined them.

Then it was time for introductions and speeches. Counseling is important. Sports are important. Attendance is important. College credit can be had. Be nice. Be responsible. Stick with the Friendlies and avoid the Uglies.

We let our breath out slowly.

Of course it’s important. We know the value of education, the costs of college, the passing of the bond measure. But our minds drifted during the repetitive speeches and unnecessary introductions:

To graduate in 1987, we didn’t have to take a computer class.

Didn’t we have to take three years of math, too?

The stage reminds us of
Miracle Worker and the 12 hours and 19 minutes of Markworth’s Oklahoma.

And then we’d glance at Critter, sitting there a bit bored and bit miffed that we wouldn’t let her chat with her unchaperoned friends in the front row.

Will she try out for drama?

When will she read Romeo and Juliet?

How many football games will she attend?

What will her first history report cover?

Will she remain friends with her locker partner?

Will she ride her bike to school?

Will she run for Class Treasurer?

Who will be her prom date?

Will she wave at us when she takes her diploma?

As I said, it was a long evening.

1 comments:

CrafterKat said...

Crafterkat: and what will the Freshmen be learning in Social Studies?

Soc Teacher: Well, I'm retiring at the end of this year, so darned if I know what they'll be teaching next year...

Crafterkat: [thinking] Um, why are you here? Why am I here?