First Days, Busses and Uniforms

Amalia had been talking about taking the bus to school with her sister for a whole year. She went to the bus stop and watched her sister depart and she waved and came back home. Over the summer too, she was saying that she was going to the "big school" with her sister this year. And so it was time. 

Last May she had said her goodbyes to her old school, a wonderful little place nestled in a residential area close to where we live. It was from there to the "big school" that she went to visit. On the day we took her to have her "screening", she kept asking why we brought her to the hospital. Daddy kept having to explain that "no, this isn't a hospital, it's your new school". 

So the time came and uniforms were purchased, the day arrived and she was happy as can be!  The day before she had announced that she wasn't going to wear a uniform, and mommy and daddy had prepared for the fight. But when the moment came, and she saw her sister pull out her uniform from the dresser, she followed suit with no qualms at all. 

We walked out to the entrance and, as we walked, other children roughly the same size joined us. All in all there are nine of them, forming a small legion as we prepared to board the bus. Just as the boarding was about to begin, several little cuties realized that this was real. There was no walking back after the bus pulled away this time around. One mother started crying despite her daughter smiling broadly. Our girl began to wail and cry saying "I don't like the bus. I don't like the bus", but on the bus we took her. Irini was happy and tried to calm her down. Amalia would have none of it. Others joined in. As the bus pulled out, there was a mess of parents wiping tears away while inside there was a scattering of screaming children, including our little girl.

The next day arrived much as the first had, with perhaps a bit less anticipation. We walked out and joined the masses. Parents ready for the emotional over-charged moment, but there was none. All of the little ones who the day before had moved the heavens to stay behind, happily boarded the same bus and waved bye-bye. Amalia did too. 

As the bus pulled away and the parents turned around to go back home, one was heard saying "amazing what a difference one day makes". A new era has begun!