May 17: As school let out, an adult woman and two male students came out of the third story bathroom together, the private bathroom that can only be opened with a classroom key. I had seen the two boys around, but I have never seen the woman. I thought it was weird at the time, but it didn’t strike me as worrisome until half an hour later. I told Melissa, but I’m hoping that whatever was happening was just an innocent accident.
May 18: We went out for drinks after work to celebrate Ana’s graduation from college. I ended up sitting next to her daughter, who proclaimed herself to be a taste test expert. She went on to taste test the bread, the chicken croquette, and even her paper napkin.
May 19: I wonder how many people besides me were woken up by their husband and dog howling at a passing fire truck together.
May 20: The neighbors had left over beer from a fundraising event, so they decided to make an impromptu sidewalk party. The beer keg sat out front with two more coolers of drinks. They had to move the barbecue because the wind was just pushing it down the street and they realized that it probably wasn’t the safest idea.
May 21: I told the kids about high frequency noises that they would be able to hear, but that I wouldn’t. They loved the idea of teenagers having high-pitched ringtones on their phones that their teachers could not hear. I played them a video on YouTube that played higher and higher frequencies in five second intervals. They were unable to hear at even normal frequencies because they spent the whole video yelling at each other.
“Back up!”
“Give me the speaker!”
“Leave it where it is!”
“I can’t hear anything!”
“Stop yelling in my ear!”
May 22: Today’s journal question was asked the class what is brown and sticky. Most of the students guessed either Nutella, poop, or a combination of the two. When all answers were turned in, I told them that the answer was “a stick”. Exactly one student laughed.
May 23: One of Jen’s kids wrote her book about how she is going to grow up to be a doctor some day. The illustration that accompanies this sentiment is of her with crossed eyes and a syringe flying across the room because I guess she thinks that giving someone a shot is akin to treating them like a dartboard.
May 24: The kids in Streetside Stories showed off their comic books today. Gwendolyn made one about putting dog poop in her mom’s desk as a prank and another one about a dinosaur who finds a diamond and then immediately dies because of the comet.
much love,
hedgie
Thursday, May 24, 2018
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
beautiful and ironic
May 9: I’m not really sure what parents think I do in the after school program, but Kiara’s mom keeps calling me on my cellphone to send her daughter outside so she won’t have to even leave her car to pick her up. Today, she called me twice in two minutes when Kiara took a little too long to get outside after the first call.
May 10: In order to save time, the front office has changed our time cards to an online format which we are asked to turn in five days before the end of every two week period, which means we are forced to predict our hours for the next five weekdays.
May 11: Today the dance teachers returned and issued their non-apologies. When speaking to Melissa, they never said they were sorry and just talked about how in the dance classes they take, they get it much worse. From what Joanna told me, they told the kids that they may say mean things, but they really care about them, essentially blaming the kids for misinterpreting them when they told a room full of elementary school kids to shut up. Again, the words “I’m sorry” were never said.
May 12: The music was a gentle acoustic during “Nobody Knows Me At All”, so the singing from the audience could be heard along with Deb’s voice. When the song ended, she stepped closer to he mic and laughed. “There’s something beautiful and ironic to hear a room full of people sing “nobody knows me at all” together.
May 13: Nick and I called our parents for Mother’s Day. In the ten minute phone call to Nick’s parents, his dad managed to insult the size of our apartment, our dog, and how often we travel. So that was fun.
May 14: Melissa went to the principal of the school, who gave us permission to use the school’s laptops so our classes could type up their books for the Young Authors class. Today, when she went to actually collect the laptops, the librarian refused to let us use them, saying that she didn’t think it was a good idea despite the fact that the same exact kids use them and the after school teachers have been working here for longer than most of the day teachers.
May 15: Jen is desperately trying to get out of jury duty. We brainstormed a few ways for her to do that, including getting caught committing a felony. Ana suggested that she just not show up. Ana has never shown up for a jury duty summons. Then she offered us flex time to lie under oath for her if anyone comes to fine or arrest her for it.
May 16: A new dispute has taken over the school. It is a bad recording of a digital voice. Half the people who hear it think the voice is saying “laurel” and the other half thinks it is saying “yanny”. I hear laurel and every one of my kids hears yanny. I’m pretty sure they think I’m screwing with them because Jimmy has asked me over twenty times if I really don’t hear yanny.
much love,
hedgie
May 10: In order to save time, the front office has changed our time cards to an online format which we are asked to turn in five days before the end of every two week period, which means we are forced to predict our hours for the next five weekdays.
May 11: Today the dance teachers returned and issued their non-apologies. When speaking to Melissa, they never said they were sorry and just talked about how in the dance classes they take, they get it much worse. From what Joanna told me, they told the kids that they may say mean things, but they really care about them, essentially blaming the kids for misinterpreting them when they told a room full of elementary school kids to shut up. Again, the words “I’m sorry” were never said.
May 12: The music was a gentle acoustic during “Nobody Knows Me At All”, so the singing from the audience could be heard along with Deb’s voice. When the song ended, she stepped closer to he mic and laughed. “There’s something beautiful and ironic to hear a room full of people sing “nobody knows me at all” together.
May 13: Nick and I called our parents for Mother’s Day. In the ten minute phone call to Nick’s parents, his dad managed to insult the size of our apartment, our dog, and how often we travel. So that was fun.
May 14: Melissa went to the principal of the school, who gave us permission to use the school’s laptops so our classes could type up their books for the Young Authors class. Today, when she went to actually collect the laptops, the librarian refused to let us use them, saying that she didn’t think it was a good idea despite the fact that the same exact kids use them and the after school teachers have been working here for longer than most of the day teachers.
May 15: Jen is desperately trying to get out of jury duty. We brainstormed a few ways for her to do that, including getting caught committing a felony. Ana suggested that she just not show up. Ana has never shown up for a jury duty summons. Then she offered us flex time to lie under oath for her if anyone comes to fine or arrest her for it.
May 16: A new dispute has taken over the school. It is a bad recording of a digital voice. Half the people who hear it think the voice is saying “laurel” and the other half thinks it is saying “yanny”. I hear laurel and every one of my kids hears yanny. I’m pretty sure they think I’m screwing with them because Jimmy has asked me over twenty times if I really don’t hear yanny.
much love,
hedgie
Tuesday, May 8, 2018
pig milk
May 1: Nick got discounted tickets to a musical adaptation of The Color Purple. The singers and all were great, but the part that keeps coming back into my mind was the part where Celie is finally leaving Albert. He yells that she will go to Memphis over his dead body. She responds with “your dead body’d be just the welcome mat I needed”.
May 2: Abel was rooting through the dozen and a half unwanted milk cartons in the share bin, a mixture of pinks and greens to denote the percentages of fat.
“What are you doing, Abel?,” Melissa asked.
“I’m looking for milk,” he said.
“There’s a ton right there in front of you.”
“I’m looking for a green one. I don’t want a pink one. That’s pig milk.”
May 3: George must have eaten something he shouldn’t have because he has explosive diarrhea. So much has come out of him that I am a little surprised he hasn’t jet-propelled himself into outer space.
May 4: To add to the list of things my kids are unwittingly internalizing, Gwendolyn’s books is about two girls who are best friends, but their houses are separated by a giant wall. They try to tear it down themselves by kicking it, hitting it with a hammer, and unsuccessfully trying to rent a bulldozer. But they can’t do it themselves because they are children. Eventually, they have to talk to their parents and get all the adults to take it down so that the two girls who live next door to each other can finally play together.
May 5: Addie was already on Nick’s side of the bed when he was ready to get in. She was using his pillow and thought she looked so cute and comfortable that he took my side of the bed so as not to disturb her.
May 6: Our living room windows look directly into the living room windows of the apartment across from us. It is impossible to not accidentally spy on them. There are two people a lot like us, young, newly married people. They watch a lot of the same shows as us to the point that when I noticed they were nearing the end of The Office, it was really hard not to put a sign in our window recommending that they try Parks and Recreation. Today, the woman in the couple and I were both wearing glasses and a grey Hamilton hoodie that, based off the size, we had both stolen from our husbands.
May 7: Last week, Luna came in crying and claiming that the dance teachers had their favorites in class and she wasn’t one of them. We got more detail on it today from other sources. Turns out, the dance teachers have been yelling at her to shut up and berating her because she missed the lesson the previous week.
May 8: My girls like to get creative when they eat oranges at snack. Last year, they would stick a straw straight through the peel and just suck out what juice they could. This year, they have taken to separating their oranges into segments, squeezing the juice into the paper boats they are given their food in, and then drinking it like a soup with their plastic sporks.
much love,
hedgie
May 2: Abel was rooting through the dozen and a half unwanted milk cartons in the share bin, a mixture of pinks and greens to denote the percentages of fat.
“What are you doing, Abel?,” Melissa asked.
“I’m looking for milk,” he said.
“There’s a ton right there in front of you.”
“I’m looking for a green one. I don’t want a pink one. That’s pig milk.”
May 3: George must have eaten something he shouldn’t have because he has explosive diarrhea. So much has come out of him that I am a little surprised he hasn’t jet-propelled himself into outer space.
May 4: To add to the list of things my kids are unwittingly internalizing, Gwendolyn’s books is about two girls who are best friends, but their houses are separated by a giant wall. They try to tear it down themselves by kicking it, hitting it with a hammer, and unsuccessfully trying to rent a bulldozer. But they can’t do it themselves because they are children. Eventually, they have to talk to their parents and get all the adults to take it down so that the two girls who live next door to each other can finally play together.
May 5: Addie was already on Nick’s side of the bed when he was ready to get in. She was using his pillow and thought she looked so cute and comfortable that he took my side of the bed so as not to disturb her.
May 6: Our living room windows look directly into the living room windows of the apartment across from us. It is impossible to not accidentally spy on them. There are two people a lot like us, young, newly married people. They watch a lot of the same shows as us to the point that when I noticed they were nearing the end of The Office, it was really hard not to put a sign in our window recommending that they try Parks and Recreation. Today, the woman in the couple and I were both wearing glasses and a grey Hamilton hoodie that, based off the size, we had both stolen from our husbands.
May 7: Last week, Luna came in crying and claiming that the dance teachers had their favorites in class and she wasn’t one of them. We got more detail on it today from other sources. Turns out, the dance teachers have been yelling at her to shut up and berating her because she missed the lesson the previous week.
May 8: My girls like to get creative when they eat oranges at snack. Last year, they would stick a straw straight through the peel and just suck out what juice they could. This year, they have taken to separating their oranges into segments, squeezing the juice into the paper boats they are given their food in, and then drinking it like a soup with their plastic sporks.
much love,
hedgie
Monday, April 30, 2018
a month's worth of birth control
April 24: Today was my last appointment with my psychologist. He is moving to Hawaii now and he thinks I’m doing well enough that I don’t need to see anyone anymore. It’s so strange to think that two years ago, I couldn’t get out of bed and didn’t want anyone to look at me. And today, I have bright pink hair and I’m about to go make an idiot of myself in front of over twenty children.
April 25: Last night, I started reading Michelle McNamara’s “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark”, the true crime novel about the serial rapist and murderer my family has been following for years. This morning, dad texted me, saying they made an arrest. Jospeh James DeAngelo, 72-year old ex-cop.
I wonder what questions will get answered. What made the cops interested in this man specifically? When he attended the town hall meetings about his attacks, was he there pretending to be a concerned citizen or was he in uniform? Does he really have the bull tattoo? Were the noises in the background of his threatening calls from the television or from a family he had? What made him stop killing and raping for so long?
April 26: Serenity is a child who is hyperactive to the point that she spends all of her lunches in the bungalow with us because she will start physical fights with her classmates if she is with them for longer than half an hour. Today, she came in with a full Rockstar energy drink in her lunch because her grandmother thought it was a can of bubbly juice.
April 27: Dora’s book is about the differences and similarities between dogs and wolves. She needed some help adding some padding to her book to fill out pages.
“What do dogs and wolves do that are the same?”
“They both eat meat?”
“What kind of meat do they eat?”
“Dogs eat food that their people feed them.”
“And wolves?”
“They eat carne asada.”
April 28: Nick has made me start jogging again. He says he wants me to live longer or some stupid shit like that.
April 29: I don’t really understand how Nick can buy 500 bullets at one time, but I can only get a month’s worth of birth control at a time.
April 30: Maria is preparing for May the Fourth be with you. She brought in a larger than life cardboard cutout of Darth Vader, who has to sit in on our regular Monday morning meeting. She and Jen put a sombrero on him since Cinco de Mayo is on a Saturday and we have to get both holidays at once.
much love,
hedgie
April 25: Last night, I started reading Michelle McNamara’s “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark”, the true crime novel about the serial rapist and murderer my family has been following for years. This morning, dad texted me, saying they made an arrest. Jospeh James DeAngelo, 72-year old ex-cop.
I wonder what questions will get answered. What made the cops interested in this man specifically? When he attended the town hall meetings about his attacks, was he there pretending to be a concerned citizen or was he in uniform? Does he really have the bull tattoo? Were the noises in the background of his threatening calls from the television or from a family he had? What made him stop killing and raping for so long?
April 26: Serenity is a child who is hyperactive to the point that she spends all of her lunches in the bungalow with us because she will start physical fights with her classmates if she is with them for longer than half an hour. Today, she came in with a full Rockstar energy drink in her lunch because her grandmother thought it was a can of bubbly juice.
April 27: Dora’s book is about the differences and similarities between dogs and wolves. She needed some help adding some padding to her book to fill out pages.
“What do dogs and wolves do that are the same?”
“They both eat meat?”
“What kind of meat do they eat?”
“Dogs eat food that their people feed them.”
“And wolves?”
“They eat carne asada.”
April 28: Nick has made me start jogging again. He says he wants me to live longer or some stupid shit like that.
April 29: I don’t really understand how Nick can buy 500 bullets at one time, but I can only get a month’s worth of birth control at a time.
April 30: Maria is preparing for May the Fourth be with you. She brought in a larger than life cardboard cutout of Darth Vader, who has to sit in on our regular Monday morning meeting. She and Jen put a sombrero on him since Cinco de Mayo is on a Saturday and we have to get both holidays at once.
much love,
hedgie
Monday, April 23, 2018
wild penguins
April 17: A few of the third grade classes went on a field trip to Muir Woods today. Jai’von packed a stuffed penguin in his backpack in case he saw some wild penguins there.
April 18: Today, Ms. Alexander had a substitute that wrote today’s date as “Wensday” April 18. Also today, Briana worked on her book, which is about a brownie that lives in Candyplace and is lonely because no one wants to be friends with him because he is too brown. He later moves to Chocolateplace where everyone loves him. I’m not sure which event saddens me more.
April 19: An older lady who volunteers at Reading Partners went off for a full five minutes about how kids have been complimenting her on her necklace. Her voice carried from their side of the bungalow from the Mission Graduates’ side that was split in half with an Ikea bookshelf. She says that they really appreciate that she takes care of her appearance and how she presents herself to them. She doesn’t understand why all the teachers she sees at the school always wear leggings and so much black. Maria and I both looked down at our own outfits. We are both wearing black leggings and our black Mission Graduates sweaters. This lady comes in two days a week and reads with one child for one hour and judges us without trying to figure out why so many of us opt for comfortable and dark clothing. She doesn’t have to stand on her feet for six straight hours. She doesn’t deal with cleaning up the cafeteria and bathrooms. She isn’t sweating outside and chasing after children stained with asphalt. She isn’t the one kids run to when they had a bathroom accident or are currently vomiting. We dress like this because it’s the only thing that will survive our average day. Teachers get paid shit and yet are expected to do the work of at least seven different people. We are teachers, babysitters, social workers, therapists, bodyguards, nurses and guidance counselors. And now I guess I’m supposed to be a fashion icon too. Oh, and a sniper.
April 20: After the incredibly long, incredibly awkward SFUSD training about keeping appropriate boundaries between adults and students, Fernando decided that we all deserved Grasshopper Pie ice cream from Mitchell’s. We piled into Jen’s car, loping up and down San Francisco’s hills.
“I love that feeling,” Fernando said. “When you go down a hill and it feels like your soul is being lifted for a moment.”
April 21: The Cherry Blossom Festival in Japantown featured very few cherry blossoms. We took a break from the search to get a bowl of ramen. Halfway through our meal, a group of men in matching blue kimonos came in to bless the restaurant and its patrons. They asked us to participate in a clapping ceremony. One of the men instructed us to hold up our hands to about shoulder level. “Don’t worry, this isn’t a hold up.” This was then followed by one man shouting something in Japanese while the other men of his party clapped in rhythms of three and everyone in the restaurant desperately tried to figure out the beat.
April 22: There is a window in the kitchen that catches the sunlight for most of the day. I often go in there to make a cup of tea and find Addie and George on the tile floor, curled up in the square puddle of sunbeams.
April 23: The case about the monkey selfie finally got settled today. They determined that the monkey could not hold copyright for the photo. Man, I would have loved to have been on that jury.
much love,
hedgie
April 18: Today, Ms. Alexander had a substitute that wrote today’s date as “Wensday” April 18. Also today, Briana worked on her book, which is about a brownie that lives in Candyplace and is lonely because no one wants to be friends with him because he is too brown. He later moves to Chocolateplace where everyone loves him. I’m not sure which event saddens me more.
April 19: An older lady who volunteers at Reading Partners went off for a full five minutes about how kids have been complimenting her on her necklace. Her voice carried from their side of the bungalow from the Mission Graduates’ side that was split in half with an Ikea bookshelf. She says that they really appreciate that she takes care of her appearance and how she presents herself to them. She doesn’t understand why all the teachers she sees at the school always wear leggings and so much black. Maria and I both looked down at our own outfits. We are both wearing black leggings and our black Mission Graduates sweaters. This lady comes in two days a week and reads with one child for one hour and judges us without trying to figure out why so many of us opt for comfortable and dark clothing. She doesn’t have to stand on her feet for six straight hours. She doesn’t deal with cleaning up the cafeteria and bathrooms. She isn’t sweating outside and chasing after children stained with asphalt. She isn’t the one kids run to when they had a bathroom accident or are currently vomiting. We dress like this because it’s the only thing that will survive our average day. Teachers get paid shit and yet are expected to do the work of at least seven different people. We are teachers, babysitters, social workers, therapists, bodyguards, nurses and guidance counselors. And now I guess I’m supposed to be a fashion icon too. Oh, and a sniper.
April 20: After the incredibly long, incredibly awkward SFUSD training about keeping appropriate boundaries between adults and students, Fernando decided that we all deserved Grasshopper Pie ice cream from Mitchell’s. We piled into Jen’s car, loping up and down San Francisco’s hills.
“I love that feeling,” Fernando said. “When you go down a hill and it feels like your soul is being lifted for a moment.”
April 21: The Cherry Blossom Festival in Japantown featured very few cherry blossoms. We took a break from the search to get a bowl of ramen. Halfway through our meal, a group of men in matching blue kimonos came in to bless the restaurant and its patrons. They asked us to participate in a clapping ceremony. One of the men instructed us to hold up our hands to about shoulder level. “Don’t worry, this isn’t a hold up.” This was then followed by one man shouting something in Japanese while the other men of his party clapped in rhythms of three and everyone in the restaurant desperately tried to figure out the beat.
April 22: There is a window in the kitchen that catches the sunlight for most of the day. I often go in there to make a cup of tea and find Addie and George on the tile floor, curled up in the square puddle of sunbeams.
April 23: The case about the monkey selfie finally got settled today. They determined that the monkey could not hold copyright for the photo. Man, I would have loved to have been on that jury.
much love,
hedgie
Monday, April 16, 2018
to fart on cue
April 9: Now five of my girls have taken up the cat ear trend. They go towards the ones that are metal rods shaped into triangles on a headband. It may be the more hygienic choice since there is nothing for lice to live on, but I do end up getting stabbed between the ribs every time one of them rushes in for a hug.
April 10: I passed a plater full of succulents, they were muted tinges of green like the stems and leaves has been dusted with powdered sugar.
April 11: Shanah and Janessa got into an argument at snack. Recess ended before it was resolved and so they scheduled to fight each other after school. I didn’t think that happened outside of movie high schools let alone between third graders.
April 12: I swear to god that Jai’von has trained himself to fart on cue. Twice during meditation time when everyone finally settled and fell silent, he ripped a huge one and then made ridiculous faces to show that he was the one behind yet. Yet he still does not understand why no one wants to sit next to him.
April 13: Each grade came to school dressed up in a different color so that when they lined up in the yard, the whole school created a rainbow to celebrate LGBT families. They paraded around the yard holding up handmade signs saying that love is love is love, that all families are welcome here, that everyone deserves respect and acceptance. Rah held up a poster that read BLACK PANTHER.
April 14: I always told all my cousins that they were my second favorite. That way, they knew there was room for improvement. But today, dad sent me a photo of Max and Jenny’s baby. Conrad Buchanan. He is unequivocally cousin number one now.
April 15: Addie jumped up onto the chaise lounge where Nick was reading. At first, she started curled up at his feet, but a few minutes later, she stretched out behind his knees and rested her chin on his thigh. Fifteen minutes later, she was laying across his lap and taking up three quarters of the seat.
April 16: I have not been reacting well to having in-laws. They have somehow managed to bring out my rebellious teenage phase at the age of 28. My kids have had very strong reactions to the pink hair, but none of them have stopped screaming long enough for me to figure out if they like it or not.
much love,
hedgie
April 10: I passed a plater full of succulents, they were muted tinges of green like the stems and leaves has been dusted with powdered sugar.
April 11: Shanah and Janessa got into an argument at snack. Recess ended before it was resolved and so they scheduled to fight each other after school. I didn’t think that happened outside of movie high schools let alone between third graders.
April 12: I swear to god that Jai’von has trained himself to fart on cue. Twice during meditation time when everyone finally settled and fell silent, he ripped a huge one and then made ridiculous faces to show that he was the one behind yet. Yet he still does not understand why no one wants to sit next to him.
April 13: Each grade came to school dressed up in a different color so that when they lined up in the yard, the whole school created a rainbow to celebrate LGBT families. They paraded around the yard holding up handmade signs saying that love is love is love, that all families are welcome here, that everyone deserves respect and acceptance. Rah held up a poster that read BLACK PANTHER.
April 14: I always told all my cousins that they were my second favorite. That way, they knew there was room for improvement. But today, dad sent me a photo of Max and Jenny’s baby. Conrad Buchanan. He is unequivocally cousin number one now.
April 15: Addie jumped up onto the chaise lounge where Nick was reading. At first, she started curled up at his feet, but a few minutes later, she stretched out behind his knees and rested her chin on his thigh. Fifteen minutes later, she was laying across his lap and taking up three quarters of the seat.
April 16: I have not been reacting well to having in-laws. They have somehow managed to bring out my rebellious teenage phase at the age of 28. My kids have had very strong reactions to the pink hair, but none of them have stopped screaming long enough for me to figure out if they like it or not.
much love,
hedgie
Sunday, April 8, 2018
a taco a day
April 1: There were bright red sign evenly spaced out over the acres of farmland along the freeway. The first sign read “A Taco”. A few minutes later we passed “A Day”. Dead grass and a few lonely trees fell in between until we reached “Keeps The”. Doctor? Was that the new phrase? Tacos keep the doctor away? Then the answer was cleared up. “Hangry Away.”
April 2: The school now has a drum circle elective, which they have decided to locate ten feet outside of our door. It’s been going on for over two hours. I got a headache after ten minutes.
April 3: Miss Melissa had everyone sit in a circle on the rainbow rug and share what they did over spring break. Montse went first.
“I went to Vacaville and I died…” her voice trailed off. Melissa and her assistant traded confused looks until Montse finished her sentence. “Easter eggs.”
April 4: Serenity waited until the room was silent to announce to everyone that she thinks I’m really cute when I sleep. Everyone’s eyes darted towards me. I wasn’t sure what to do with this information. Serenity could tell something had passed between us all. “What? I meant it as a compliment,” she said.
April 5: Even after factoring in all the benefits I get from Nick’s insurance, my two pairs of glasses alone are costing me an entire week’s paycheck. How are teachers even still alive right now?
April 6: When it rains during school hours, the kids seem to accept they will lose out on morning and lunch recess. But by after-school, kids hold you personally responsible for the rain and will angrily bunch up their fists and glare at you when you tell them they are stuck inside.
April 7: Max and Jenny lost one of the twins. I wish I could do something more helpful than send them my love and condolences over text.
April 8: Charlize Theron had the shiniest legs I have ever seen in my life. It was hard to concentrate during her interview because my eyes continued to switch between being blinded by her shins and looking at the emotion on her face. But I did leave that night with one resounding memory, Charlize Theron reminding us all to “dream big, fuckers!”.
much love,
hedgie
April 2: The school now has a drum circle elective, which they have decided to locate ten feet outside of our door. It’s been going on for over two hours. I got a headache after ten minutes.
April 3: Miss Melissa had everyone sit in a circle on the rainbow rug and share what they did over spring break. Montse went first.
“I went to Vacaville and I died…” her voice trailed off. Melissa and her assistant traded confused looks until Montse finished her sentence. “Easter eggs.”
April 4: Serenity waited until the room was silent to announce to everyone that she thinks I’m really cute when I sleep. Everyone’s eyes darted towards me. I wasn’t sure what to do with this information. Serenity could tell something had passed between us all. “What? I meant it as a compliment,” she said.
April 5: Even after factoring in all the benefits I get from Nick’s insurance, my two pairs of glasses alone are costing me an entire week’s paycheck. How are teachers even still alive right now?
April 6: When it rains during school hours, the kids seem to accept they will lose out on morning and lunch recess. But by after-school, kids hold you personally responsible for the rain and will angrily bunch up their fists and glare at you when you tell them they are stuck inside.
April 7: Max and Jenny lost one of the twins. I wish I could do something more helpful than send them my love and condolences over text.
April 8: Charlize Theron had the shiniest legs I have ever seen in my life. It was hard to concentrate during her interview because my eyes continued to switch between being blinded by her shins and looking at the emotion on her face. But I did leave that night with one resounding memory, Charlize Theron reminding us all to “dream big, fuckers!”.
much love,
hedgie
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