distane learning

It was fourth grade. I was, what, 10? Yeah, 10- that seems about right. Anyways, it was fourth grade and it was the fall. This day wasn’t average though, it was the day every kid has marked in their calendars- the Scholastic Book Fair. The day where people aren’t afraid to say they are excited to go to a library. Anyways, I was heading to the library with my class. I was the kaboose- I always liked being the last person in line. That way you can watch the other people in line and, hopefully, there’s no one else around to bother you. Just some quiet time to observe.

We arrive by the library and there’s other classes already in there, running around, screaming, and swarming the posters, erasers, and highlighters.

I trail in later than the rest of my class after staring at a bulletin board in the hallway- Ms. Traywicks class made some poetry. Interesting.

I stood watching the other kids and I couldn’t help but wonder why they wanted to waste all their money on that useless stuff. Me, on the other hand had my eye on the science fiction section and planned to head over soon. I needed to scope the scene out though. Make sure I knew all the options and how to approach this motney of books. But my gaze kept straying back to the other kids. Suddenly, I felt the cool touch of my teacher’s hand on my elbow. “Remember our meeting Riley? Why don’t you go talk to the other kids over there.” She gives me a soft smile and lets go of my arm.

I was reminded of this day when I came upon my copy of The City of Ember. Later on that year I took my teacher’s words to heart. The spring book fair I got a poster of Captain Underpants. I threw it away when I got home though.