"I've known her my whole life." I glanced back to see one of the ghosts of Christmas past. I taught both of her older sisters at my old school and then they moved to the district where I work now. I was flattered that she thought of me, remembered me.
"You are WALKING from school to the Center?" Muslimo asked me, incredulous.
"Yeah, it's only like, a mile."
"But what if you get run over by the train?!" she howled.
"Muslimo, I look both ways before I cross the tracks."
"What if it comes up really fast?"
"Muslimo...."
"What about, about....you're going to pass Trinity Walk?"
I averted my eyes. Trinity Walk. The apartments where the girl was murdered. It was still in their heads, as if the location was what was to be feared.
"I don't go that way." I answered quietly.
A theatrical group showed up at the Center one day after school. They wanted to do an anti-bullying play. Sly smiles spread across all of the teachers faces.
"Oh, wow, it will last more than an hour....oh so, um, we just watch them entertain the kids and we sit back and get paid....."
Broad smiles spread across our faces.
I looked at the actors. White do-gooders. This ought to be good. But as the play began, it was more nuanced than I expected. Creative. And the actors generally seemed thoughtful, it was an original take on bullying. One of the women walked on her hands and slowly flipped over as they mimicked kids walking in a circle. Somehow it didn't look like showing off, it was amazing and I envied her strength and grace. I like watching people do something they enjoy. And I scolded myself for being condescending.
When the play ended, the actors did a little question and answer session with the kids, trying to make sure they understood the play.
"Why did Polly bully Josh?" they asked.
"Because he's WEAK!" a number of kids called out. I saw the look pass over the actors faces.
"He's a nerd!" a third grader called out, wrinkling her nose. I felt disgusted.
"What do you do if someone tries to bully you?"
"I hit them." Shanika answered definitively.
Other kids nodded.
"I get my brothers!"
The actors kept trying to get the kids to look at the situation a different way and at times, the kids played along. But we all knew the first answers were the real answers. I felt for the actors.
After, the third grade boys stared wide eyed and dazzled as the athletic woman moved to an easier subject, showing them jumps and twists and flips that she was able to do effortlessly. Their faces were filled with pure wonder.
Suddenly, one of them jumped straight up and did a full backflip himself, flying a few feet in the air and gliding in a full circle, then landing squarely on the carpet on both feet.
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