Wouldn't pick up a pencil. Disruptive. Obnoxious. Laying face down in the middle of the classroom. Mocking. Screaming.
So, I am out. The school board cancelled elementary Spanish. I wasn't fired, the program is gone. No notice, no warning. No position. I have been trying to be professional about it, do the right thing by the kids and have a good time, show them a nice send off. I have been amazing. But tired. And sick. And worried. And stunned. It is a dumb decision. It is. Adding a bunch of non-instructional positions, yet cutting a whole academic program. Part-time bookkeepers that make as much as my whole program costs, weird coordinators, stipends for unnecessary things. Top heavy. Secretarial heavy. Cutting of instructional staff. And a whole program. THE language program. My program.
Warren and I sat on the floor by the bookcase, flipping through National Geographics. I love that magazine. I had brought in a pile that the wonderful former owners of our house had given me. Given me for school. The kids were supposed to be making culture collages, but no one could stop reading them.
"I have never owned a dog" I told Warren, while looking at the volcanoes of Indonesia. I love volcanoes.
Lola was in his lap.
"I'm nervous," I told him "I want to do the right thing. She is going to be a strong dog".
"I think maybe you should get a Lab as your first dog" he informed me, stroking Lola's head.
"Yeah," I answered "I know a Pit bull isn't a starter dog. But I love her. I don't want any dog. I want Lola".
I quizzed him about the dogs at his house. Does he have a fenced yard? Do both of his parents work? Do the dogs stay outside, or in crates?
He answered the questions carefully, and gave me sound advise.
I became the default caretaker of Lola. I wanted to do it. She stayed in my classroom and slept at my house. I knew I wanted her.
Warren started showing up, unexpectedly. His teachers had signed up to host Lola but had to send her away, because Warren couldn't function with her in the room.
He carried her back to me. I began asking him to be my second in command. He is gentle with Lola, knows exactly what to do. He followed every direction I gave him. Get her bed. Grab the leash. She has to pee, don't let her run into the street.
He hovered. I don't know how he got out of his classroom all the time. But he did.
"Listen," I told him, "Lola is mine but I have joint custody right now. I am taking her to the faculty meeting. If she goes home with me instead of her real mom, I'll find you in aftercare so that you can kiss her goodbye".
"Hilary, I am ready for you to fully adopt Lola." Teresa informed me at the end of the faculty meeting. I was so relieved. I was afraid she would change her mind.
I took her down to see Warren. He insisted on knowing where I lived.
"I can't take you out of aftercare, I'll get in trouble" I told him.
"But, I am not sure what else they can do to me..."
We walked outside of the fence and down the street. Warren carried Lola.
"Right there," I told him "that's my house. I am always in the back and Lola will be too. Let's go, I am walking you back".
My phone was buzzing. So happily, my sister was coming over to hang out. She hugged Lola and we opened some beers and went out front. Lola laid on the porch. We talked like crazy, my cute dog, loss of job, all the everything.
I was surprised when I saw Warren walking his mother up my front steps.
"We don't want to bother you...." she began.
"Warren, get up here!" I called.
"Lola is under the porch swing".
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