The Third Day of Kindergarten

Fans, it was better.  Not long after Joe arrived at Kid's Place this morning, another boy--named Miles as it turns out--also in Joe's class arrived.  (We could tell because his dog tags, if you will, were also strung around his neck with aqua blue string.)  They said hello as best as two five-year-old boys on their third day of kindergarten surrounded by two teachers and two parents can.  When Julie left, they were sitting across from each other, Miles reading a magazine from home and Joe with the Spiderman puzzle that had been thrust into his hands.  When Julie arrived to pick Joe up, they were sitting next to each other at  a table with pretty much every other boy in the room staring at a video game that two of them were playing.  It was clear how the whole taking turns thing worked; doubtful that it was voluntary.  Anyway, they were sitting together.  When Julie asked Joe if he wanted to hang around a little longer or go home though, he said go home and got up to leave.  Julie suggested saying goodbye to Miles, and Joe did, but too softly for Miles to hear.  So Julie suggested he say it a little louder maybe.  And Joe practically shouted right into Miles' ear, "BYE MILES!"

Well anyway.  They were sitting together.

Julie got an impromptu tour of Joe's room when she asked Joe where a water fountain was and it turned out to be in Joe's classroom.  "It's on the right [of the sink]," Joe told her.  She saw his table, and learned the names of all the kids at it.  She also saw the mailboxes, where Joe proceeded to read the names of all the kids in the class, including one beginning with a silent T: "The T is silent," Joe informed Julie, as his put his thumb over the T.

On the walk home, Joe asked Julie if Graham had asked the same or different kid to slide down the slide.  (Julie had shared with Joe that Graham had had a similar experience on his second day of school as Joe had had with Aaron.  Joe naturally assumed that Graham had the same plan.  Of course.  Graham is a great guy so for sure he had the same plan.)

Julie said that she didn't know because she and Ms. Sara hadn't talked since this morning, but that they had agreed to check in later so Julie said she would ask.*  That was Julie's opening to ask Joe, "Did you ask the same kid or a different kid?"  Joe said, "Same kid," and. . .wait for it. . ."He said yes."  Can you believe how brave Our Hero was?!  Same kid!  Really?!  And, thank God, Aaron might be o-kay after all.  Maybe.  Joe later allowed that he also played with Karlis.  (Karlis sits at his table, not Brandon as it turns out.)

So here we are on the other side of the first week, short though it was.  We made it.  He made it.

*Graham had a better third day, too.