Monday, July 14, 2008

The big day

IT was Ashwin's first day at the new big school he is supposed to study the next 14 years. So I jumped out of bed at 6.15 am in spite of the fact that I had gone to bed at 12.45 a.m. because I had to cover his books with the wrapping paper and labels the school provided (despite the fact that the book pile had reached us a month ago); label his lunch box, water bottle and school bag; search for 2 passport size photographs of his and prepare a leave application because Ash had taken an extended leave on July 10 and 11 because he was down with a cold.
Yes, me and V are masters at last-minute jobs - such as searching for a pair of black shoes and black socks at a couple of Bata showrooms late yesterday evening, only to be told that the former was out of stock and we wouldnt run the luck of finding them in any Bata showroom. Guess all the early birds got their shoes well before the schools opened especially as Bata was offering a sipper free with every pair of shoes. I finally found a pair of black, school-worthy shoes in a modest footwear shop that also stocked Bata products.
The kids were rustled up at 6.30ish, the younger one the earlier. After managing two kiddie bathtimes and mealtimes and the fist fights between the two in between - while Mira kicked Ash on his right ear, he pushed her and tried to bite her - we were ready at 8 am. to make school trips in two different directions.
We dropped Mira as soon as her school gate opened at 8.15 am and rushed braving many a traffic jam to Ash's school to reach at 8.35 a.m., 5 minutes after the school bell rang. A pentecost lady, who seemed to be in charge of matters of discipline, eyed us herding Ash to his class and said half-sternly and half-apologetically: "Try to come before the bell." We told her equally apologetically that it was our son's first day in school and he would come on time hereafter. We can almost guarantee that since Ash will be taking the school van at 8 am from tomorrow morning.
Ash has a pretty young lady for his teacher, and she welcomed him in. The other kids chorused a welcome too. The classroom is spacious and every two kids share a desk and bench. There must be some 30 pupils in his batch. The lady from our church is the class teacher in the neighbouring class.
As we left, the pentecost lady was lecturing to a dozen latecomers of all ages. Probably kids who come by bus or have dads who are habitually late too.
V called to say after school hours, 12.15 noon from today, that Ash's first day went uneventfully save for the fact that he was upset with the teacher for taking away all, save one, of his precious new books. The books will be kept in school. I like that - the donkey's burden that kids in India carry to school are meant for later years.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

hee i like the last line!
congrats and good luck to him. God bless him .
take care
ust

Romila said...

Aha! that made me smile and giggle at the same time. The last minute chores:)so Ash has started the big school eh! Becoming a big boy...and my! the school timings are rotten esp. for parents who've to wake up atleast 2 hours earlier.

Ladybird said...

I secretly dont mind the fact that I get up at 6.30 now. I dont mind any time after 6 am (but have a mental block to getting up before that - spoils my day and mood) though until now my wakeup time was anywhere between 7 and 8.30 am thanks to a live-in maid.
And we manage to get two temperamental kids ready by 8 am, an hour's job.

Anonymous said...

Ash u look smart.. good luck and God's blessings in u'r new school yr.
ust

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