Hello friends, family, and strangers (I flatter myself)! I am a recently-graduated girl finding my way in the "real world" (apparently, I've been floating around the fake world for the past two decades). Many of my friends' "real world"s consist of cubicles, nine-to-fives, marriage, babies, and other such grown-up things. My real world looks a little different. Yes, I still get up and go to work every morning, same as they do. But instead of battling fax machines, computer programs, disgruntled spouses and dirty diapers, I arm myself against a legion of 14-year-old boys. Well, 83 of them to be exact. You see, I teach 8th-grade boys' Science in an inner-city, high-poverty school. What it is not: glamorous, prestigious, boring. What it is: humorous, heartbreaking, and the most challenging thing I will ever do.

The stories I tell and the people I describe are real; you can't make this stuff up. If you are new to my blog, I hope you'll start at the beginning and fall in love with its characters, just as I have.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

lunch break?

I'm starting off this post with a word on lunch breaks. For most of the working world, "lunch break" means about an hour off the clock to go pick up some food. Have some adult conversation. Maybe squeeze in a quick errand.

If you are a teacher, "lunch break" is a break from teaching only. Babysitting continues as you herd children through lines, yell at kids to sit down in between bites, and supervise table clean-up. I'm not trying to tell you my job is a whole lot worse than yours (but it is); in fact, I'm sure the conversations I engage in are way more stimulating than most. Here is a sample to whet your appetite this lovely Thursday evening.

Kenneth is a H.U.G.E. nerd. First of all, he's a young black kid whose name is 'Kenneth.' Secondly, he comes from a military family, so he has a certain...stiffness about him. Thirdly, his vocabulary belongs to an older generation, leading me to believe he's around adults much more than kids his own age. He is CONSTANTLY irritated at something or someone, and he's very vocal about it.

Today at lunch I was sitting next to Essa aka the coolest kid in school (track star, football star, ladies' man, and general badass. but not really.) and across from Kenneth. I was asking Essa about his Valentine's Day plans.

"Why you worried about ME on Valentine's day? I'm Essa. WhatCHU gon' be doing dat day?"

"Welll...I'm not sure yet but I'm going to look great wherever I go because I just acquired a FRESH new Nike hat!" I pulled his confiscated toboggan out of my jacket and put it on my head.

"Chillllll, Ms. M!"

Kenneth suddenly piped in from across the table. "My girlfriend said she wanted something shiny and sparkly for Valentine's Day."

Essa, who rarely interacts with Kenneth, burst out laughing. "OH OKAY, KENNETH! I SEE YOU BRUH! Kenneth be pullin' da FEMALES all DAY!" I tried not to giggle.

Kenneth ignored Essa and continued talking to me. "I'm not sure what to get her."

"Well you know she means jewelry, don't you?" I offered.

"Yeah. And she also said she had a big surprise for ME when I get home that day!"

I tried not to read into this statement, but my face must have revealed something, because Kenneth immediately clarified.

"Well not like sex or anything. Her dad said he'd rip my skeleton out of my body if I tried anything funny."

I spewed my water across the table. Essa threw his head back. "Bruh already skinny! Bruh can't be losin' no skeleton!"

Annnnnd that about sums up lunch for me today.
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