Search for:

The Spot

Our classroom has a lanai. (You can’t be surprised, this is Hawaii!) The lanai is cement and has a hopscotch pattern painted on it. The pattern is comprised of numbered circles. The favored circle is a blue dot with a yellow number two painted inside and a green border. Both K.K. and Chez insist on sitting in this spot everyday.

At the same time.

Without each other.

I am certain you have already realized this causes a problem. The only time the problem gets solved wih any grace is when one of the boys is absent. (We prefer it when they are both absent, but have only been granted that gift twice all year long.)

Today the contention began — as usual — after lunch as we returned to our classroom. We walked across campus peacefully with Chez leading the way, but when we rounded the last corner, K.K. shot from the middle of the line, to the front and out ahead. Immediately I yelled, “K.K., stop!”, and much to my surprise, he did! He spun around put his hands on his hips and demanded, “What?” I told him that Chez was the line leader, and that he needed to return to his own spot. Much to my surprise — and Chez’s — K.K. meekly agreed and complied!

When K.K., once again in the middle of the line, reached the hopscotch stencil, Chez was happily planted dead center of number 2. K.K. stopped and looked at Chez. Chez said, “Mine!” K.K. said, “I’m wannit!” Chez said, “Mine!” K.K. shrugged his shoulders and sat down on the number five, which bore the same paint job.

Chez looked at K.K. K.K. looked back Chez. Chez said, “Fwiend!” and held out his hand to K.K. K.K. looked sad. Chez got up, went over and took K.K.’s hand. “Stan up,” he said. K.K. climbd to his feet. Chez led K.K. to the number two circle. “Sit here,” he said. K.K. sat. Chez stood looking at him.

K.K. scooted over just a bit and patted the cement beside him. Chez sat down. They grinned at each other. “Share,” K.K. said. “Share,” Chez agreed.

Quilly is the pseudonym of Charlene L. Amsden, who lives on The Big Island in Hawaii. When she is not hanging out with Amoeba, she is likely teaching or sewing. Or she could be cooking, taking photographs, or even writing. But if she's not doing any of that, she's probably on Facebook or tinkering with her blog.

9 Comments

  4. Awe! Doesn’t that just warm your heart and make you want to be a teacher even more?
    Gosh it is so hard for these little guys to be…little. When emotion and wants don’t mesh with understanding and reason.
    And yet, 6 months of maturity and they are one step closer to being the young men they are destined to be.
    Thank you for sharing this story. It definately brought a smile to my face today.

  7. “Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.”
    — Malcolm Forbes –

    Sounds like these kids are GETTIN’ it!

  8. Jill — momentary.

    CrazyCath — they surprise us daily.

    Polona — the scene repeated today!

    Jules — your insight is profound. Many people expect small children to act like small adults. Which is strange because usually the adults in question are acting like small children ….

    David — what they’re buying stock in now just might make them wealthy in ways money can never measure.

    Dr. John — often they surprise me. That’s why I still teach.

    Melli — I love that quote!

Comments are closed.