Tuesday 1 August 2017

Everyday is another day. Hopefully!

'I don't want to go to school!'

This has been a unfailed chant every dawn. She's approaching two months since the day she began Grade I. Things seemed different in the beginning but now school seems revolting. I sometimes tell her it is not going to be the same every day.

Every day is another day. Hopefully.

'You know why I don't want to go to school? '

A tiny implore is diffusing out of her question.

'Because my ears pain when the teacher yells so much!'

Now she's lost it. Broken tears stream her face.

She may be a pep talker to some but she is containing it all inside.

Now how do I talk to this kid? How do I reach out to her?

Maybe talking is pointless. All I've been doing so far is hug and kiss and mutter a "I understand " into her ears.

'Why do they have to yell, Amma? All the time!'
How about your Maths teacher? You like her a lot, don't you? Does she yell sometimes?
'She never yells. She is gentle. But the other teacher, you know the helper teacher, she is always rude. And it is painful.'

She adores her Maths teacher deeply, truly, madly.

'Amma, she is my class teacher, you know? She is MY class teacher !'

If you want to be face to face with pure, unadulterated pride and acceptance, you should have been right there with me that day.
Before my very eyes.
She burned like a thousand splendid suns.