Kindergarten Woes

He'd done it.

The impossible.

He would be renowned.

He would go down in history as the first boy in his year to balance himself on the wobbly chair.

Mitchell had said that no one could ever do it because that would mean they had to balance on two plastic chair legs, and everyone knew you couldn't balance on two of anything.

Leo had said that once upon a time, a girl had done it, but then she fell and died.

"MITCH!" He cried. "LEEEOOO!"

Mitchell, who was sitting next to him, turned around.

"Oh my god! You did it!" Mitchell yelled back.

"Your balancing!" Came Leo's reply from behind him.

"Mitchell, Leo!"

The three boys all turned to face the front of the classroom. Mrs. Bolter was standing by the whiteboard, the pink marker in her hand hovering over the end of the sentence she had been writing up. Mrs. Bolter always used the pink marker. It matched her hair.

Some of the girls thought Mrs. Bolter was a fairy because of her hair. Laney even swore she saw a pouch of pixie dust in Mrs. Bolter's desk draw last week. 

"What is all this yelling about?" Mrs. Bolter demanded, placing both hands on her hips, something she did anytime she demanded anything.

"Harrison balanced on the wobbly chair, Miss!" Leo said excitedly. "And he didn't fall and die!"

At Leo's words a collective 'ooooooohhhhhh' went through the room and everyone twisted in their seats to look at Harrison.

Harrison smiled proudly. His feet were back on the ground now, giving him optimum ability to revel in his fifteen minutes of fame. 

"That's very good, Harrison," Mrs. Bolter acknowledged sarcastically. "Now can you tell me what I was just teaching the class?"

The class seemed to hold its breath. Everyone knew what happened if you didn't listen to Mrs. Bolter.

"I...um..." Harrison stared intently at the board, but Mrs. Bolter sneakily moved herself in front of it so that he would have to rely on his memory to tell her.

After a few seconds of panicked silence, Harrison's shoulders slumped in defeat. 

"No Miss," He mumbled. "I wasn't listening."

Mrs. Bolter's eyebrow raised in dissatisfaction and her lips pursed. Harrison fought against the urge to cry because he knew what was about to happen.

"Harrison, please go and take the star off your name," Mrs. Bolter asked.

Hanging his head, Harrison pushed his chair back from his desk and stood up. Every single person in the class was looking at him, their amazement replaced with solemnity. 

The walk to the chart hanging by the door felt as though Harrison had had to walk to the moon. Mrs. Bolter waited impatiently as he dragged his feet along the carpeted floor, folding her arms and tapping her foot.

By the door there were two charts with fifteen names in alphabetical order on each of them. Harrison's name was on the first chart because his last name was Elm. Clipped next to his name was a felt star stuck to a wooden peg. The star meant he had been good in class. Reaching up on his tiptoes he squeezed the peg and removed the star, depositing it in the little pouch hanging off the bottom of the chart.

"Now go back to your seat and pay attention to the rest of the lesson." Mrs. Bolter turned away from Harrison and raised her pink marker to the whiteboard again.

"Right class, on we go. As I was saying, when you..." Mrs. Bolter's voice didn't manage to reach Harrison's ears. He was trying too hard not to cry, staring intently at the desk in front of him. He sniffled quietly overcome with shame and embarrassment.

He'd lost his star. That was the worst thing that could ever happen to him. A quick glance at the charts told him he was currently the only child in his class missing their star. He thought about what he was going to tell his parents. He couldn't not tell them - they'd be wondering why he was so sad when he got home from school. But if he did tell them, they might yell at him. He might not get to watch TV tonight. He might not get to have ice cream on Friday night.

A sudden shuffle around the classroom stopped Harrison's thoughts. Everyone was taking out their notebooks and pens. Harrison quickly followed, even though he had no idea what they were doing.

"Mitch, what're we doing?" He whispered.

"We have to write a diary entry to practice our writing." Mitchell said without looking at Harrison. 

Harrison nodded silently and flipped open the cover of his notebook. He flicked to a fresh page and picked up his pen. He was very worried for a moment because he didn't know if he had to write anything in particular, but thankfully, Mrs. Bolter started walking around the class and said, "Remember, I want you to write about what you have done today and try to use three words from your vocabulary sheet."

The nerves in Harrison's stomach calmed and he turned his attention to the blank page before him. He started by writing the day in the top left corner and the date next to it. Then he took a moment to think before writing.

Tyoosday 14/05/2019

I am very sad. twoday (from my vockabbyulary sheet) I lost my star beecoz I did not lissen to missez Bowlter. I was ballansing on my wibboly wobboly chair and then I sed mich! leo! and they loocked at me. then missez Bowlter asscked Leo why we wer yelling and he told her I woz ballansing on my wibboly wobboly chair. evrybodee sed ooooo. missez Bowlter asscked me if I had bean lissening and I sed no. then she mad me go and tayk off my star. I fel very sad beecoz I luv my star. I wonted to cri. Missez Bowlter sed I needed to pay atenshon to the lessen. I am very dissapoynted (from my vockabbyulary sheet). I will haft to tel mummy and daddy wen I get home. I hop they are not fyooreos (from my vockabbyulary sheet) with me beecoz I wont two woch teeve and eet iscreem on fryday. I dont no if I will eva bee hapy agen and I dont no if missez Bowlter will eva giv me my star bak. if she dusent then I will cri foreva and eva and I will not eva laff or smil agen. the end

Harrison finished just before Mrs. Bolter clapped her hands twice and said, "Pens down. Leave your books open to the page you were writing on. Kiara, please go and collect everyone's books in a neat pile and put them on my desk. I will mark them this afternoon."

"Wow," Sighed Leo. He held up his hands like he was holding a burger. "I wrote THIS much!"

Mitchell leaned over to Harrison's desk and held his hands wider. "Yeah, well, I wrote THIS much!"

"Aw no fair!" Leo pouted. "How much did you write, Harrison?"

"I don't know," Harrison said, still sad. Then he put his hands just a bit wider than Mitchell's. "Maybe this much?"

Mitchell flopped back into his chair in amazement. "Holy moly! What did you write about?"

"My star," said Harrison forlornly. "I really really really want it back."

"You know, one time, I heard about someone who lost their star and never got it back," Leo said mystically. "They must have done something really naughty."

Dread pooled in Harrison's stomach at Leo's words. "Is that true?"

"Uh huh!" Leo nodded. Then Leo expression turned sour with horror. His voice was a terrified whisper when he said, "What if you never get your star back?"

A lump formed in the back of Harrison's throat, and he couldn't help the tear that slipped onto his cheek.

"Don't cry, Harrison." Mitchell patted Harrison on the back. "I'm sure you'll get your star back."

His words did nothing to calm Harrison. Thankfully, before Harrison could break down any further, the final bell rang.

Harrison scooped up his pens and water bottle in his arms and ran from the classroom. He wasn't meant to run, but he was sneaky enough that Mrs. Bolter didn't notice.

Outside all the bags were hung up on hooks. Harrison pulled his off - a blue Smiggle bag with a Stegosaurus on the front and a 'H' keychain - and plonked it on the bench below. He unzipped the largest pocket and shoved everything inside, not caring enough to take the time to make it neat. Then he slipped his arms through the straps and went to were Mrs. Bolter was standing by the door.

"Can you see your Mum or Dad, Harrison?" She asked tiredly.

Harrison turned to scan the school yard full of parents, his gaze landing on a woman in a white singlet and a long flowy skirt.

"Yes," Harrison said meekly, pointing to the woman.

"Right, off you go." Mrs. Bolter gestured for him to leave. "And tomorrow, I want you to have better listening ears, please."

Harrison flew down the ramp that led to the basketball courts where all the parents were waiting. He weaved in and out of the grown up's legs, bee-lining for his Mum.

"Hey mate! How was your-oomph!"

Harrison's Mum was cut off by Harrison throwing himself at her and wrapping his arms tightly around her middle. He buried his face in her skirt and wept.

"Oh darlin'," His mum said, stroking his hair. "What's the matter?"

"Ahlsmar," Came the muffled reply from her skirts.

Harrison's Mum gently pried her son's arms from around her waist and squatted down to meet his gaze.

"Say that again, honey?" She asked.

"I lost my star," Harrison gasped between sobs. His lip quivered uncontrollably, and his eyes swam with tears.

"How did that happen?"

"I was balancing on my chair," Harrison began, "And I tried to show Leo and Mitch but Mirs. Bolter heard us and she asked what was going on and then she asked me if I had been paying attention, and I hadn't and then she made me take off my star!"

"Well, that sounds like a good lesson, doesn't it?" Harrison's mum said gently. "Maybe that will teach you not to swing on your chair anymore and to listen to Mrs. Bolter when she's talking, hey?"

Harrison nodded sadly and added, "And Leo said that he heard of someone who lost their star and never got it back! What if I never get it back?"

"I'm sure you will. Oh, come here, darlin'."

Harrison's mum pulled him in close and wrapped her arms around him tightly until Harrison's sobs began to subside. He buried his face in the crook of her neck.

"There, there, mate," she said soothingly. "It'll be alright. You'll feel better soon."

Then she patted Harrison on the back, and he pulled away.

"You alright there, Harrison?" Said Mitchell's mum as they walked past.

Harrison's mum straightened and said, "Yeah, Sarah he's fine!" Then behind her hand with a dramatic whisper, she said, "Kindergarten woes."

Mitchell's mum nodded and walked away with a smile.

"Let's go home, hey?" Harrison's mum said, turning to Harrison.

Harrison slipped his hand into his mum's and followed her out the school gates, feeling much better after a hug from his mum.

After all, what kid doesn't?