Monday, September 5, 1977
"You ready for your first day of kindergarten, KJ?" I asked with a smile and an enthusiastic tone of voice.
KJ looked up at me and smiled brightly. "Yeah!" he answered with an excited nod.
Both KJ and Mariah were starting their very first day of kindergarten. We'd gotten lucky, since KJ was born the first day of September. Since that was his birthday, he'd just made the date of birth for whether or not he'd get into a specific class or not. We were glad he'd been able to be in Mariah's class, that way they both had their best friend with them- also, even though he was one of the youngest in their class, he wouldn't be a year behind than he should've just because of his birth date.
I had taken the day off from work just so I'd be there for KJ's first of kindergarten. He'd be staying there the whole regular school day, which at the moment for him would be until 2:30 in the afternoon. I'd say that was a pretty good time, that way, I'd have more time before I had to pick him up. Which would be easier for the time being, since Sky wasn't even two years old yet. Now, I wouldn't have to rush around in the afternoon.
These were the things that made everything seem so surreal. Sometimes it felt a bit unreal, being married with two kids. Not to mention that nearly everyone I'd grown up with through my childhood and teenage years was also married and had kids, or expecting. I'm not complaining, don't get me wrong, but it did feel a bit odd at times. Like, when you just randomly realize and think, Wow, this is my life, it's always a bit of a temporary eye opener, or reality check. Then it kinda feels like you've blinked you years, and ten years have passed- yet so much has happened and changed.
Before either of us could say anything else, Keith came into the room with Sky, holding her high in the air. She was giggling as he made sounds with his mouth. I laughed as the scene in front of me as I picked up KJ, who'd already begun to laugh. I had him high in the air as well, and he began to laugh.
"The incredible flying kids," Keith laughed.
"KJ the Flying Boy," I laughed, "And Sky the Soaring Girl!"
After this game had continued and finished, I set KJ down on the couch, and Keith set down Sky right next to him on the cushions. I looked at the clock, which read 8:05 in the morning. We had to be at the school by 8:30 in the morning.
"We should probably get goin'," I pointed out.
Keith nodded and grabbed KJ's small backpack for school, which wasn't much bigger than him. "Not a bad idea," he agreed and took KJ's hand as he got down from the couch, "Me and KJ'll go to the car."
I nodded as the two walked out the front door. I grabbed Sky's bag, picked her up in my arms, then walked out, making a quick check that everything was turned off. Once I saw that everything was turned off, I walked outside to the car. Keith had already helped KJ into the backseat, then helped me put Sky in her seat next to her older brother. Keith and I then got into the front seat, him in the driver's side, and me in the passenger's side.
"Think he'll freak out when we leave?" I asked in a hushed tone of voice.
Keith shrugged a bit. "Who knows?" he said, "I know Keilah did when she went for the first time."
"Did you?"
"I was upset when my mom had to leave, yeah. But I'm pretty sure it's normal."
"Yeah, I guess so."
Keith set one hand on my leg in a comforting way. "It's gonna be fine. I mean, he did pretty fine at his first day a' preschool last year."
"That was for only half of the day, though," I insisted.
"That don't make a different to KJ," Keith said, "Sure, he kinda know how to read, but he can't tell time yet."
I started to think that I was having separation issues. I know that a lot of mom's had problems whenever some big milestone in their child's life. I'm not gonna lie, I'd get nervous about whether or not I'd get that way, and now I had a feeling that I did. Honestly, I didn't want to get nervous like that about every little thing, only the major things… but then again, when you think about it: this is parenting. Isn't every little thing in a child's life major and important?
We pulled into the parking lot of the small school and parked the car. Keith and I got out from the car to get KJ and Sky from the back seat. He too KJ and his backpack while I took Sky. The four of us walked toward the front entrance, occasionally glancing at the other families in the area. I knew Darry and Marilyn would be somewhere with Mariah and DT, but at the moment, I couldn't find any of them.
Once we reached an empty area of the lot near the school, the four of us stopped. Keith leaned down and helped KJ pull his backpack onto his shoulders. He smiled excitedly, and I couldn't help but smile back. I leaned down to him and set Sky on her feet onto the concrete so she could walk, even though she was a bit unsteady on her feet. I held onto both of her hands to keep her from falling as she stood.
"So you're really ready for your first day of kindergarten?" Keith asked in a gentle tone.
KJ nodded eagerly. "Yeah," he smiled.
"Mariah's in your class, too, ya know," I pointed out.
"What 'bout you and Daddy and Sky?"
Keith and I exchanged weird looks before looking back at KJ. "Well, we don't go in with you," I said slowly and gently, "But we pick you up later on."
KJ began to frown. "Like at preschool?"
"A little bit," Keith answered a bit sadly, "But you're gonna have a lot fun, even without us here."
I nodded. "Yeah, and then later one, we're gonna come and pick you up."
KJ looked up hopefully. "After lunch?"
"Well, a little after lunch- but now you get to have more fun during the day."
The two of us spent the next five to ten minutes trying to comfort KJ. He was obviously upset about the fact that we wouldn't be with him, but it seemed as if he kinda understood that he'd be there for the majority of the day without either of us physically there with him. My heart broke to see him so upset about it, but I know- sadly- that there'd probably be multiple other times, probably hundreds of millions of times in the future that he'd be disappointed.
The school day begun and me, Keith and Sky all left. To say that I was nervous throughout the entire day would be a complete lie and understatement. I'd grew more and more nervous throughout the course of the day that maybe he'd freak out or that he got into trouble… something! I knew Sky could tell I was nervous, cause she actually asked me as best as she could, "Why Mama sad?"
At the end of the day, Keith, Sky and me drove to the school. This time I could see Darry, Marilyn and DT in the crowd. We walked over to them, exchanging multiple greetings. The group of us waited until the school bell rang, and the kids would all be released to their families and parents.
"Their first day of kindergarten," Marilyn breathed out, "They're growin' up, Rain."
"Shut up," I laughed, "Don't make me feel old."
"Hey, I'm older than you, how do you think I feel?"
"Good point." She gave a feigned offended look at my words, then laughed, and I did the same.
Before anyone could get another word in, the school bell rang. The six of us walked into the school and to the kindergarten classroom. A row of what looked to be around twenty backpacks and light jackets lined the wall outside the classroom, and I grabbed KJ's backpack. The teacher opened the door to the classroom, exposing the twenty or so children in the room. I could see KJ and Mariah playing with each other, along with a few other kids. I smiled at the scene, happy that nothing had gone wrong.
When the two saw all of us, they ran out of the classroom and past the teacher toward us; KJ ran out first, then Mariah behind him. I leaned down to KJ as he ran out and practically jumped on top of me.
"Hi, sweetheart," I smiled, "How'd you like your first day of kindergarten?"
"It was fun!" KJ smiled.
"We both made new friends,' Mariah informed with a smile.
"Well," Marilyn stated, "You two get to see them again tomorrow."
The two smiled, and I couldn't but smile myself as the eight of us left the building.
This story is so cute at times, really. But the next chapter is gonna be kinda… I don't know, shocking? Rude? Terrible? I don't know.
I finished reading The Lost World by Michael Crichton. It was great. My favorite character- Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum in the first two Jurassic Park films) was high on morphine for the majority of the second half, or the last third of the book. Ironically, it was pretty much that way in the first book as well. It was funny, especially cause he gets really cynical and philosophical when he's high, it's amazing. Now I'm reading Buckaroo Banzai by Earl Mac Rauch; the film from 1984 is my second favorite film in my top three (Rhinestone from 1984 being my first, then This Is Spinal Tap from 1984 being my third). Supposedly the book came first, but it's suggested to watch the film first.
By the way- please wish me luck! Right before I finished typing this, I got a call from Chick-Fil-A. I submitted an application for work there yesterday, and I got a call to schedule an interview, which is tomorrow, so wish me luck (I'm sixteen and need a job so yeah).
So yeah, I think that's it. Alright, hope you enjoyed the chapter, peace from all the hippies of the world. =^-^=