Blogs

This is a continuation of my journal from my 2001-2002 school year.  Please read the previous posts to give this entry context. 

Topsy-Turvy

Amanda brought a bag of Hershey’s Kisses to class and shared them with everybody, including me!

Everything about the day was topsy-turvy.  Given that we’ve been talking about yin/yang and oxymora, it’s as though life is imitating art; it’s spooky. For example, I had a massage appointment after work, which I forgot about.  I took clothes with me to work out at the spa after school.  My husband got hold of Roxanne and told her to remind me of the appointment, but it was raining and normally Roxanne and I would not have been walking.  As it turned out, Roxanne had an umbrella and we did walk.  She had also e-mailed me the message.  However, when I got to my massage, the masseuse was ill and I ended up going to the spa to work out anyway, so it was a good thing I had my spa clothes with me.

The whole day was like that.  I saw the vice-principal in charge of Guidance (thus, scheduling) and he indicated to me that it didn’t seem likely that my fifth period would be collapsed.  What the school wanted was another section for Newcomers and that was a two-hour block class, so collapsing a one-hour class wouldn’t really clear the way for it, and who would teach it anyway?

Sixth period, though, the vice-principal stopped by my room to indicate that I should hold my horses, that something might be possible after all.  I have no idea what’s brewing, but for him to make a special stop by my room is indicative of something. 

Wednesday - March 27^th

Sixth period started in delight and ended in tears. Amanda had photos of her quincinera, which she invited even me to see.  She was gorgeous in what could have been a wedding dress—sleeveless with wide straps and fitted bodice.  Her hair was down and she held a bouquet of imitation flowers, something white with red rose buds to match the gowns of her damas.

Sheridan and Mindy had made a video of their performance of the balcony scene.  They did a much larger scene than they had to.  They had costumes, including a wig and mustache for Sheridan.  They used the upstairs landing in the house as the balcony.  “Romeo” was below on the stairs.  It was marvelously well done. 

Elizabeth, however, could not get through her recitation of the prologue.  After her first stall, she asked if Popo could leave.  He’s distracted her on performances before, so I asked him if he could step outside.  So then Amanda, who pretends to be Elizabeth’s friend, started to say how unfair that was to Popo, that he hadn’t done anything.  A couple of others jumped on the bandwagon.  Popo himself was willing enough to go, but it didn’t seem to help Elizabeth.  She started off with a solemn face, almost stern, with sweeping gestures to the “two houses, both alike in dignity.”

But she could not make it through the prolog and began crying at her desk during the other presentations.  Amanda got her tissue.  Amanda, who two minutes before, had made some comment like, “I’ve gotta see this one.”

Elizabeth took another stab at it toward the end of the period, but had the same problems.

We talked after class.  Tears streamed down her face.  I feel so helpless at such moments.  It’s not really safe even to touch a student.  I handed her more tissue.  Listened.

She talked about what stress she’s under.  She hadn’t gotten enough sleep.  She’s been sick with a sore throat and the persistent stomach aches. 

I asked her straight out if she had been doing anything silly like purging.

No she hadn’t.  However, she is anemic.  She’s taking iron.

As I’m sitting her typing, it NOW occurs to me that that could be part of the problem.  Since I’ve had my own stint of anemia, I know that taking iron can be rough on the stomach.  I wonder why I didn’t think of that when I was talking to her!

Elizabeth’s parents are taking her to a doctor tomorrow, but she thinks a lot of her problem is stress.  She has a project due in AVID; she’s in the school play (a huge commitment), and preparations have started for her quincinera in July. This is a reminder of how young she is compared to most of the class.     

I made reassuring murmurs.  Vacation is almost here and life will be less stressful.  It’s good she’s going to a doctor.  Perhaps he’ll be able to figure out what’s wrong.  She’ll feel better with a good night’s sleep.

Won’t we all?