Back in the saddle again

              The next year when I went back to the classroom, it was following a summer of intense educational courses to renew my emergency certificate.  I felt much more “official” as I went to the required inservices prior to the beginning of school.  I had a much clearer picture of what my days would entail and my dreams of being a writer were but a distant memory. 

                Joan was my aide again and since we had made so many changes the first year, we had to really stretch to figure out what else we could do to make it a better year for the kids.   But it was good to be "back in the saddle again."  In addition to Joe, Michael, Kathy, Cate, David, Eric, Shyna, Patrick, and Deena, two new students were added to my roster.  Dawn was a 14-year-old wheelchair bound nonverbal student.  The tray on her wheelchair contained a “yes” and a “no” side such that every question posed to her had to be formatted to be answered with one of those two options.  Dawn was a pleasant girl—full of laughter and smiles.  Although the constant drool nauseated me at times, I was looking forward to working with her.  The other student, Naim, was not as pleasant.  He was an extremely small 10-year-old who happened to be the brother of Eric.  Naim was nonverbal as well, but constantly walked around the room, holding his hands at shoulder level, opening and closing his hands while chanting a high-pitched “mimi, mimi, mimi” over and over. 

                The first day of the second year found us waiting for the buses to arrive while reliving past moments.  “Goddammit Joe, don’t you swear,” Joe greeted us.

                “Joe, you know you can’t talk like that at school!” I said confidently, worlds away from that girl who the first year stood back and timidly watched her prized bulletin board being eaten.

                “Hi Eric!” I was happy to see my blues lovin buddy again after three months.

                “BB King, Stevie Wonder?” He said, testing the waters.

                “Did you listen to music this summer?”  I asked.

                “Yes.” He said, laying his head on my shoulder.

                Mr. Brock walked by. 

                “Good morning, Eric” he said.

                “Mr. Brock, Mr. Brock” called Eric.  I held my breath.  Mr. Brock stopped and looked at Eric sternly.

                “Eric listen to m-m-music this summer.” Eric replied proudly pointing to himself.  Mr. Brock stiffly walked away.

                I looked at Eric and said, “So tell me what kind of music you listened to Eric.”

                “BB King, Stevie Wonder, M-M-Michael Jackson.”  Eric did a jerky moon walk dance step followed by a loud peal of laughter.

                “Joe smash cans,” said Joe jumping across the cafeteria.

                “Not now, Joe” I answered, “right now you need to come sit while we wait for the rest of our friends.  Joe, come and meet Dawn.  She is going to be in our class this year.”

                Joe put his hand on Dawns tray covering up a decorative sticker in the center.  “Dawn ride wheelchair?  Joe push.”

I was floored that Joe knew the word wheelchair and knew it had  to be pushed!  “No, don’t push the wheelchair right now, Joe.  Maybe another time.  We still have more kids to wait for.” 

                My train of thought was broken by yet another familiar voice, “Lodi, time for lunch?” Michael asked.   I looked at Joan and together we rolled our eyes.  “The school year has begun!” she announced with a laugh.  I joined her in the happiness of the moment and I knew she was right when I heard Darryl announce his presence with, “Lonna, Look!”