First day of nursery.
Thrashing around in mom’s (dad’s?) arms, didn’t want to go, didn’t seem reasonable at all. My sister’s here? Traitor. Wasn’t for me.
Thwack.
Accidentally kicked the teacher who got close enough to see what the trouble was about. Stopped thrashing, felt bad, what now then? On her knee apparently. Big smiles, nice words, not so bad. I guess.
Fast forward.
No playground until a clean plate. Vegetables left (gross), so I’ll never get out there. Lunch lady heading over, friend or foe? Latter. Big smiles, nice words, not so bad. Stays with me the whole time, real friend.
Playground, finally.
Sister is here (I bloody knew it). We’re invited to a party! Friends my own age? Friend comes over, just sister, not me. I’m not invited. No smiles, mean words, feels bad. Lunch lady better friend.
First day of reception.
Grey trousers, white shirt, striped tie, black shoes (zip-up). Yellow book bag, no friends, very nervous. Where is lunch lady?
Class dismissed, but laces first. I don’t know why. Velcro next, so laces smarter kids? I have neither. Black shoes, zip-up. Sitting quietly, waiting my turn. Finally teacher looks up, notices me.
“I called laces and velcro.”
“I have zips.”
Not sure if zips smart, but probably not. Next time, zips first, so zips smart? Probably not. Feels bad maybe. Extra-not-smart maybe.
Never mind.
Made friends, played on playground, Tom seems nice, likes my jacket. Class okay, drawers in desks, Tim likes to kick mine into my tummy. Tell someone? Probably not, don’t cause a fuss.
Year one now.
Don’t remember much. Chicken pox, maybe mine? Note sure, but think so. Other kids don’t like it, were mean. Was I other kids?
School play. Too shy, but maybe I’ll have a role. They need trees, I’ll be tree. Brown foam tube, but need green arms. Cub scouts? Yes Miss. Good, turn jumper inside out. Brown foam tube, green jumper.
Swoooooosh.
Part of tree is sway when witch blows icy air. Make sound like wind through leaves. Sway, not too much, just enough. Think I’m doing okay, maybe good tree. Play finished, back in classroom, giddy.
School lunches, not everyone gets? Pineapple juice, first time, love it a lot. Green plastic knife but also spoon? Ah, for kiwi. Cut kiwi, scoop, taste, do not like at all. Swap for yoghurt, Petits Filous.
Year two next.
Mrs Webb, or Webber? Or Miss, or Ms.
Not sure, but like her. Big smiles, nice words, not so bad at all. Play games, make art, bring in things for show & tell. First time playing with scissors. A girl cuts her hair, another her finger. Wonder why.
Time to paint each other. I paint Jack. Jack paints me. At home dad tripped on carpet I’d rolled up, parrot cage tumbled, hit head (mine), Steri-Strip on forehead. Jack paints it, don’t like that. Tell him? Probably not, don’t cause a fuss. Just a painting, Jack is friend.
Hide and seek, George counting, Jack pushes, George hurt. First time seeing friend hurt friend, don’t like it, will never hurt friend.
Paper planes, Joe best at making, everyone makes. Planes on playground, planes all over field, planes everywhere, teachers not happy. Plane time over, back in classroom, giddy, bit worried.