An Excerpt from Returned Receipt Requested

An Excerpt from Returned Receipt Requested

A novel following the first year of a Special Education teacher.

This excerpt is from the second chapter, "September" .

Tuesday morning brought a rush of excitement.  Trina arrived at school an hour before the bell rang.  She found comfort sitting alone in the quiet of her classroom.  Although not perfect, everything was ready.  She wondered when Julie and Dave would be arriving.  She busied herself with posting the class routine, setting out supplies for the day and some last minute rearranging in the science area.

            Twenty minutes before the bell, Dave arrived.  "Hey Teach.  You ready to meet the kids?"  He had tossed his duffle bag in the coat closet and was glancing out the window.

            "Ready as I'll ever be.  Do you think the room looks OK?  And there's the schedule over there.  I think I managed to get everything in it."

            Dave did not seem interested in the schedule, or even what she was saying for that matter.  "Looks like our bus is here.  I'll go out with the kids."

            "Great.  I want to come too.  Do you know where Julie is?"

            "She'll be here."  In unison, they walked down the hall.

             Julie was exiting from the teacher's room.  Juggling a cup of coffee in one hand and a purse in the other, she nodded at Trina and Dave.

             "Hi Julie.  Our bus is here.  Why don't you come out with us to meet the kids?"

            "I'll be out in a minute."

          Dave and Trina approached the bus.  Theirs was easy to identify in the long line of buses parked out front.  It was the small yellow bus.  Trina remembered that same bus pulling up in front of their house every morning to pick up Mak.  It took him to a school across town.  The neighborhood school did not have a classroom that would meet his needs.  While Trina wanted to take the lead role in welcoming each boy individually, Dave, without effort was in this position.  While high fives happened easily, there was a distinction in each greeting.  Eye contact, the fist shake, and a handclasp were some of the differences.  Dave verbalized only to some of the boys while others received a head nod, wink, or smile.  Trina felt out of place.  She had anticipated on greeting each child with a warm welcoming hug of acceptance.  It wasn't until the last child jumped off the bus was she even acknowledged.  As Dave released his hand from the sideshake, Tahoe spoke, "Sup wit the white hose?"  He motioned toward Trina. 

          Dave was quick to respond, "That is Miss Streeter your teacher; and don't you ever forget that."   

            "Whatever man, count me history."  Tahoe ran toward the playground.  The other boys were hovering, listening, and watching.  Two followed Tahoe in hot pursuit.  Of the remaining four, one seemed to be disappearing as he stood there.  He gazed at the bus as it drove away from the curb.  As Trina walked toward him, he wiped his eyes with the back of a dirty hand leaving a raccoon like smudge across his face.  Dave pulled a tissue from his left pocket and a peppermint from his right one.  Trina watched as he herded the boys toward the playground, while cleaning off the face that held the candy between its lips. 

            Candy in the morning to bribe a sad child was all Trina could think of at that moment.  Shivers went up her spine.  This type of behavior from Dave would just have to cease.  It defied all her behavior management beliefs and she would not stand for it.  However, she was unable to say anything to Dave right now.  She was searching for Tahoe and his posse.  

            The playground was steadily filling.  Teachers were approaching former students with hugs.  Parents were also seeking out other familiar adults.  While familiar faces greeted each other, the children in her class knew no one.  Trina believed she knew how her class was feeling, alone and unsure of what to expect.  Just as the bell rang, Julie joined them.

            Dave easily gathered the seven.  "Hey Teach, should we go into the cafeteria with the rest of the school or just to the classroom?"

            The boys, all seven of them, were unable to stand still.  "What are they doing in the cafeteria?"

            "The principal gives his welcome back speech and the kids find out who their teachers are for the year."

            "Well it would be good to hear and see the principal..."  At that moment, two boys began arguing.  Their argument continued without notice of Trina's comment.  She raised her voice a decimal higher as the physical defense of the two boys began expanding into pseudo martial arts stances.  "OK boys, we are going to go into our new class together.  Let's make a line in front of Mr. Tab."  Resembling a school of minnows, they continued down the hall and into Room 8.  After the execution of coat and backpack hanging, all the kids found their respective seats.  Miss Streeter began her rehearsed welcome speech.  Within minutes, there was a steady hum, increasing in pitch, from the back row, while two other boys were whispering and pointing arbitrarily around the room.  One boy was out of his seat, walking toward the door and another, with his head on his desk, was swinging his feet while counting outloud as he gazed at the ceiling.  Her well-thought out schedule was already crumbling.

              Trying to stay one-step ahead of the kids while directing Dave and Julie, Trina had expelled most of her energy by lunchtime.  However, Mr. Mahann had asked all teachers to stay with their classes during lunch the few first days until everyone was acclimated to the cafeteria routine.  Dave offered to go to the cafeteria since he was familiar with the expectations.  Julie saw this as an opportunity for her lunch break.  "Miss Streeter, if you and Mr. Tab go to the cafeteria then you probably won't need me there too."

            Trina, transitioning two boys from an unsuccessful game of Go Fish into the haphazard line Dave was forming, responded curtly, "Sure, Ms Jenkins.  If that's what you want to do."  Trina knew her voice and body language did not match her words.  However, a confrontation with an adult would not have been appropriate. 

             The boys, anxious for lunch, were unable to walk orderly.  Arriving at the cafeteria door, Mr. Mahann greeted Trina and Dave.  Dave walked past him and began directing the boys through the lunch line.  "Miss Streeter," Mr. Mahann began, "it seems we have forgotten to assign your class seats in the cafeteria.  From the class counts and my recollections from last year, the cafeteria just isn't big enough for another class."  Trina stood silent.  "After the boys all get their lunches, it would be best if you and Mr. Tab took them back to the class to eat."