Dahlia and the teacher didn’t do too much over the next couple of days. They spent a lot of time talking and getting to know each other better. Photos were shared between the two of each others families and past childhoods. Sunday, the two ladies went to church, and their was a church picnic following the service, which both attended. This was a great opportunity for Dahlia to get to meet more people in town.
Monday arrived, and Dahlia woke up extra early. She had not slept that well, from excitement, and was found dressed and in the kitchen preparing breakfast for the two of them. She had scrambled some eggs, and fried some sliced potatoes, and had made a batch of biscuits. When the teacher walked through the kitchen area, coffee was lingering in the air.
They both sat, and the teacher asked her if she wanted her to accompany her for her first day, and Dahlia replied no, with some laughter added. I am not a child, you do not have to take me to school, but thank-you. They both laughed over this. The teacher was just as excited for Dahlia as she was herself. After the table and dishes were cleaned, Dahlia gathered her books, said a quick good-bye, and headed out the door to her first day of her future.
There was much chatter in the commons as people were finishing up last-minute details in the office, and others were telling new-found friends good-bye, and they would catch up with each other at lunch, and others were seen bustling to classes. Excitement filled the air for everyone. Dahlia found her class with no problem, and sat herself in the first row, straight in front of the teacher’s desk. She didn’t want to miss any words that were spoken. Different students waved a hello to her as they recognized her from orientation day, and Dahlia waved and smiled back at them.
The teacher walked in and closed the door behind her. She introduced herself to all the students, and pulled out the book that they would be studying. Dahlia pulled her book also, plus a notebook and her pen and pencil. The class was started and finished before Dahlia knew it. Her morning proceeded the same way with each class, and when lunch time arrived, she and some of the other students that were sitting at her table, all talked about the teachers and how good they were, and what they were going to learn.
After lunch, Dahlia found herself in the big gymnasium. This is where a lot of hands on training was going to be taking place. On all four walls, there was no difference. Big, wide mirrors, clung to the walls, and long bars were attached underneath the mirrors.
Here Dahlia would work and exercise her body. She would learn many steps and she would be returning to this room many times to practice over and over. Before, she knew it, homework was in her bag and she was on her way home. The day had flown by, and Dahlia knew in her heart, that she was going to love going to this school. It had so much to offer and there were so many things to learn.
When she arrived home, the house was quiet. She had her own key, so she let herself in, and fell into the lap of the couch, threw her shoes off, and sat back and rested. The excitement of the day, had caused her to be sleepy, and before she realized it, her eyes drifted slowly shut, and she was found napping when the teacher came through the door. The teacher walked past her softly, as she didn’t want to awaken her. She knew that Dahlia had went through a big day and must be exhausted.
The smell of pork chops drifted through Dahlia’s senses and she woke up and yawned, and stood up stretched, and made her way into the kitchen to help with supper. The talk between them was mainly about her first day at school, and the teacher smiled as she saw the glow come from her eyes as she talked.
Dahlia got the hand masher and mashed the potatoes, and the teacher placed the meat and boiled corn on each of their plates. After holding hands and saying grace, they both ate with little words being exchanged. After dinner was finished, once again, the dishes were done, and the table was cleared. Dahlia went to her bag and got out her books and homework, and made herself comfortable at the kitchen table to start her homework.
She had been steadily studying, when her head began to ache a little. She stopped reading and rubbed the top of her head and rubbed her neck also. She got up from the table and went over and got a cool drink of water, and then returned to her studies. As she was reading, the words became blurry. She thought to herself, that this must be straining her eyes, and laid the books to the side, decided to take a small break.
She found the teacher outdoors on the porch swing. A basket of fresh flowers was sitting at her feet. Her hands had shades of dark on them from where she had been weeding her flower beds. She patted the seat next to her, motioning for Dahlia to sit down. They sat in silence and swung, taking in the chipper from the birds, and watching the cumulus clouds drift by.
Dahlia broke the silence by telling the teacher of her blurring vision, and the teacher explained what strain could be placed on the eyes from constant studying with no break.
The sun had started to set, and both ladies stood up from the swing, and walked back into the house, the teacher walked towards her own bedroom, and Dahlia walked back to the kitchen, and sat down to take up with her studies once again.
Who I am 