The Hurdles

Lessons learned in elementary school extend way beyond reading, writing, and arithmetic...

The Hurdles
By Desiree Glass

Peering out the window, breeze blowing in

Hair flying

Chatting friends by my side, bouncing up and down on the bumpy bus ride

The pleasant ride that screeched to a halt

When what I spied made me jolt

Dotting the school yard like blemishes on a supermodel—

The Hurdles!

Dread threw itself on me and fear grabbed me by the neck

Squeezing tighter than my red uniform tie

Choking out silent screams,

Oh, no! I can’t!  I’m not fast! 

They’ll laugh at me! I’ll trip over—

The Hurdles!

But I had no choice

No one could escape the trials

Or Sister

Towering over us, her black habit blowing like a thunderstorm coming off the coast

Green baton in one hand and stopwatch in the other

Ticking down the seconds till my turn to face—

The Hurdles!

Terror seized my stomach and twisted it

To kingdom come

Breakfast churned and my soul yearned

To slip from my skin and disappear in the dirt like a spring sprinkle

To escape—

The Hurdles!

Get on your mark!

Get set!

Go!

Monique took off faster than BB the bird dog let loose from the chain

Her head bobbing, eyes focused

Fuzzy braids flying, and her feet n’er touching the ground, let alone—

The Hurdles!

A new record and a smile

On Sister’s face, framed with a white un-halo

O Lord, help me—I’m next!  Send out the seraphim!

Save this girl, slow as a terrapin!

Help me get over—

The Hurdles!

Get on your mark!

Get set!

Go!

I took off as fast as my chubby legs would go

Hair flying, eyes on the hay bales

Legs up and over and over and over and over and I made it over—

The Hurdles!

Rainbow Words

By Desiree Glass

The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.—Psalm 145:13

I call it a “brain ingrain”—a repetitive activity to teach a lesson, that is.  I’m not sure what Jacob’s teacher calls it, but she certainly implements it with her pupils.  Her daily homework assignments include a spelling activity designed to ingrain proper spelling of designated words.  Once a week I assist my 7 year-old nephew with his homework.  He can choose from an array of spelling activities, like writing each word three times or writing each word in a sentence.  But most often he chooses rainbow words, in which he must write each word in pencil and then trace it three times using three different colored pencils.  Sometimes he doesn’t feel like doing any of his homework.  I sit next to him.  I encourage him and coax him.  Sometimes I demonstrate the letters.  Other times, when Jacob gets tired and wants to quit, I promise rewards for completion.  Is spending time with me making a difference for Jacob? I wonder.