I'm not crying, you're crying

 Yesterday one of my students proudly said, "I did it!" when she walked in the door.

I said, "Great!  What did you do?"

She looked confused, I felt confused.  She took off her jacket and showed me she was wearing red from head to toe.  Several other students showed me they were wearing red.  One boy, who acts too cool for everyone in the room, was wearing red.  

Finally one of them explained to me.  "Our parents got a text that we should wear red today because it is your favorite color."

It was so sweet!  I picked sticks for their brain bins, which is what we do first thing in the morning and I had a quavering voice, trying not to cry.  For one thing, they don't need to see me crying first thing in the morning and for another thing, I was overwhelmed by the earnestness of them showing each other their red.  "I don't have a red shirt, but see, I have red on my shoes."

I had a visibly pale student who moaned, "I don't feel well."

A boy said, "I don't feel so good."

A girl was coughing and sneezing.

Someone picked their nose.

I went to my desk and pulled out a mask.  I was not, for the record, feeling nostalgic for COVID, I just got the results of my WBC count and let's just say it is not good.  I feel like a sitting duck.

I had purchased a big package of masks for me from Amazon, but a mother brought in some kid masks, leftover from COVID.  Several of my students wanted to wear one.  I said, "You don't have to wear one, but I have these if you want."

They lined up.

Most of them didn't last the day in a mask (and I don't blame them) and I don't expect them to wear masks, but I was touched by their solidarity.

I went into the faculty room at lunch time, still wearing my mask and the conversation halted and people gave me sad smiles.  Ugh.  I told myself that they'll get used to me wearing a mask.  So will I.  

In the afternoon, I saw Camie in the work room.  I said, "Did you text parents about wearing red?"  She admitted she had and I hugged her.  

She said, "Don't cry and don't make me cry."

I went through the day, feeling better than the previous day, still feeling tired.  I decided to preserve my energy rather than attempt a walk with Kim.  I actually walk a lot at school.  

I had a package on the doorstep.

It was from Amazon, and it was Takis!  Jill read my blog and had them sent.

Then I did cry.  (No third graders were here to give me a side eye.)  

I texted her my thanks and she replied:

My students will be over the moon.  I'm over the moon.  How did I get so lucky to be in a world with such amazingly kind people?!?

I love my village.