It’s the first day of school for my sweet baby. I can still remember the colors of my first day of school and how confused my mother was when I tried to explain it. Kai doesn’t seem to see things the way I did, and I’m relieved. He won’t have to fight to be understood by his teachers and friends. It took years for me to learn to translate my color-coded emotions into the appropriate words.
Prosperity: Are you happy about starting school today?
Kai: I’m super-duper happy! I want to make lots and lots of friends.
Prosperity: Just remember that you have to sit still and listen to the teacher. Save making friends for recess, lunchtime, and when it’s appropriate, okay.
Kai: Okay, mommy!
Prosperity: Eat your food so you won’t be late.
Kai manages to finish his breakfast. I step out onto the porch and watch him leave, hoping that his excitement for school never dies.
I hope the same for myself as I pull out my computer and attempt to complete yet another assignment. It seems they keep on coming, and it’s getting harder and harder to stay ahead. I do what I can, then leave for my first class.
After class, it’s back to the grind. I have a term paper that I need to get a jump start on. It doesn’t take me long to complete it, but it’s full of typos and confusing ideas. I consider turning it in any way just to be done with it but decide that that’s probably not a good idea. I save the draft, hoping to find time to edit later. I hurry out the door to my next class.
Kai goes straight to the daycare center after school. Miss Charlie is in the process of getting their snacks ready, so she has them join her in the snack room. They attempt to finish up their homework as they wait. Kai is practicing writing his numbers, while Vern brags about how he’s in a higher grade because he skipped kindergarten.
Vern: Do you know why I was able to skip kindergarten, Miss Charlie?
Miss Charlie: Uh, no…but maybe –
Miss Charlie’s attempts to divert the conversation because she knows the other children are listening. She doesn’t want them to feel bad, but Vern goes right into what he was saying.
Vern: It’s because my dad is a college professor, and he taught me all the baby kindergarten stuff before I started school.
Miss Charlie: I wouldn’t call it baby –
Vern: So now I’m in the first grade, and guess what…I can read middle school level books!
Kai writes his numbers carefully. He doesn’t have a dad, so he thinks maybe that’s why he didn’t get to skip kindergarten, too.
Vern finishes his homework quickly and gets up to get a glass of milk from Miss Charlie. Kai looks over his work. Satisfied, he puts it away and receives his snack from Miss Charlie.
Liliana completes her work after the others and walks over to get a glass of milk.
Miss Charlie: Did you have a good first day at school, Liliana?
Liliana: Yes, ma’am.
Liliana quietly sits back down at the table with her milk.
Vern: So, who’s your teacher this year, Kai?
Kai: Mr. Washington
Vern: Oh, I heard that he’s mean. I’m lucky I’ll never have him because I skipped kindergarten.
Kai: He’s not mean. I like him.
Vern: It’s only the first day. Believe me; it’s coming.
Kai hopes that’s not true.
I find Kai in the snack room when I drop by to pick him up after class. Just like yesterday, he’s happy to see me.
Kai: Mommy!
Prosperity: Did you enjoy your first day of school?
Kai: Yes, and I met a lot of friends, just like I said I would!
I decide that it’s a good time to give Kai the gift from his dad when we get home.
Prosperity: I have something for you.
I give Kai the box.
Kai: Another birthday present? Thanks, mommy!
Prosperity: This one isn’t from me. It’s from your father.
Kai: I have a father?
Prosperity: Yes, everyone has a father.
Kai seems a bit confused as he opens the gift. Inside is a soccer ball, which brings back memories of Craig and I playing soccer on the beach.
After he’s opened the gift…
Kai: *excited* Can I see my father? Will he teach me all the baby kindergarten stuff, so I can go to first grade like Vern?
Now I’m confused…
Prosperity: What?
Kai: Vern’s dad is a professor, and he taught him all the kindergarten stuff so he could skip it. Can I skip it, too, now?
Now I see. Kai has run into his first little bragger. Now I have to try and fix the mess this Vern kid has made.
Prosperity: I’m so sorry, Kai. I don’t know when you’ll see your father. And there’s nothing wrong with being in kindergarten. Kindergarten is where you’ll have the most fun. Believe me! I wish I were in kindergarten right now.
No matter how excited I try to sound, my words do nothing to erase the disappointment from Kai’s face. I have another idea that might help.
Prosperity: Kai, I have something to show you.
Kai: What is it?
Prosperity: You’ll see, follow me.
I lead Kai inside.
(Generation 2 Chapter Summaries)
