My young heart skipped a beat. Where many in my place were nervous, I was brimming with excitement. My sister was in my place this time last year. I knew the school, I knew the teacher. I had nothing to fear. But as I looked into the expectant eyes of the teacher and that comforting grip on my hand began to loosen, my confidence waned.
My heart, giddy only moments before, fell into the pit of my stomach.
I felt the last, light brush of my sister’s fingertips and she pulled away. I watched her bounce down the tile, cinder-block walled hallway and around the corner towards the first grade classroom. My brown eyes began to fill with tears.
A touch on my shoulder jolted me back to reality. I finally heard her voice.
“Good morning, Julie! It is so nice to have you today.”
I glanced briefly at Mrs. D. Her eyes sparkled with kindness, her smile was warm. My eyes scanned the room, quickly taking inventory of the colorful posters, the plethora of books, the green chalkboard exclaiming, “Welcome to kindergarten!” in the unmistakable hand of a teacher. I inspected the wooden easel, splattered with years of drips from classes past. Kindergarten looked okay… but I still wasn’t sure. I felt small, alone. I longed for the comforting grasp of my sibling’s hand.
Then I saw her - my best friend. The one person I knew so well. She was happily chatting with girls we knew from church while her hands rhythmically slid the red beads on the abacus back and forth. She looked up, she grinned at me. My heart skipped a beat once again.
This was going to be a great year.
This is my first submission to the Red Dress Club! Please comment and let me know what you think.
10 comments:
You'll like TRDC. And how great was it for you that your best friend was in your class? I didn't have a friend until 9th grade.
I loved the way that you threaded your teacher's voice throughout. I could hear the unmistakable kindergarten lilt right through the screen!
My favorite line is: "I felt the last, light brush of my sister’s fingertips and she pulled away." because it showed so very much of how you were feeling, and of your relationship.
Wonderful writing! You described everything so vividly that I was there with you, nervous.
Great job!
What a great memory! I'm so glad your teacher caught you just at that moment. :)
You wrote about the different feelings of excitement and hesitation very well! Glad your friend was there where your sister left off. :)
Great piece. It totally reminds me f what will be taking place for my own girls in a year or so and that breaks my heart a little bit:)
There were so many parts to this that made me warm with nostalgic memories...the cinder block walls of the hallway, the home made corduroy book bag, and the paint splattered easels.
You were SO brave!! I can't imagine myself ever going alone on the first day of K nor any of my 4 children. Great post. Thanks for sharing.
i loved that your sister dropped you off and your best friend from church was in your class!
I loved seeing both sides of your emotions that day, the nervousness and the excitement.
oh you captured that perfectly! I love how you were able to convey both excitement and trepidation. well done!
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