School Days
Damn but it tugs a bit when your 5 year old gets on that bus. Not yesterday so much, because of the pageantry that goes along with the first day of school. The pictures, the excitement and energy of the entire family. Mom staying home so she can see him get on and off the bus. It's the second day that's the killer. There's the usual, "Is it time to go yet?" "Nope, 10 more minutes", then the mad dash for the door. The usual walk that we've made for a year now out to the corner, but this time it's different. This time they're both leaving, and I'll be left behind.
Once we get out to the corner, I give Lexi a kiss goodbye, because she wants to go stand in line. Noah has always sat next to me on the big green transformer in the neighbor's yard, but now he, too, wants to go wait in line, to be near his sister. I give him a kiss goodbye, then decide I'll go wait in line with them. I ask if I can go to school too, since I'm feeling left out. Noah informs me that I can't go without a backpack. And I'd have to take a test.
Suddenly the bus rounds the corner up ahead. Quickly, Noah pulls me down and gives me a soft kiss on the cheek. This is what I need, to know that even though he's ready to go to school, he's still going to miss me. They get on the bus, and I walk back to the house. Elated because it's my first morning alone, and dejected for the same reason.
Once we get out to the corner, I give Lexi a kiss goodbye, because she wants to go stand in line. Noah has always sat next to me on the big green transformer in the neighbor's yard, but now he, too, wants to go wait in line, to be near his sister. I give him a kiss goodbye, then decide I'll go wait in line with them. I ask if I can go to school too, since I'm feeling left out. Noah informs me that I can't go without a backpack. And I'd have to take a test.
Suddenly the bus rounds the corner up ahead. Quickly, Noah pulls me down and gives me a soft kiss on the cheek. This is what I need, to know that even though he's ready to go to school, he's still going to miss me. They get on the bus, and I walk back to the house. Elated because it's my first morning alone, and dejected for the same reason.