A Revelation on the Bleachers 

A Revelation on the Bleachers

A day like any other ... basic language, hard science, what is "equal"? ... But today had a special twist, it was homecoming week and today was their BIG pep rally. 2 1/2 hours devoted to pep and rallying. There was the band, cheerleaders, grades 6 - 12 and all the teachers. There were games, karaoke performances and a dance ... she interpreted the best she could but his attention wasn't on her, it was on the motions all around them. The frenzied realization of the seniors that this was their LAST homecoming and they needed to make it the best, the thrilling realization by the 6th graders that this was just their first, not realizing that their last would hit them quicker than they expected and the frightening realization by some of the teachers that this might be their last as well and perhaps the music was a bit too loud ...
And as she sat there, during a rendition of "Elvira" by a group of well intentioned male staff members, it dawned on her - why she hated this job, why it felt empty everyday as she closed her computer; why she cried reading about her old life's homecoming and how they smashed their worthy opponent. She realized she missed the comradery, the lunch outings, the "water - cooler" chats ... she missed having HER kids and HER classroom and HER volleyball team to introduce and HER coaches to be proud of. There was nobody to share the excitement with because there was not another one of her to share it with. Other teachers, yes, but they had each other. She was a mist that floated in once or twice a week, full of answers to the questions they didn't even know they had. She took away the one they just didn't have a clue what to do with for at least 30 minutes and gave them a break. Then, as quietly and softly as she had arrived at one location, she would leave, on to the next puzzle and problem and question that had to be answered.
The realization hit her fast and hard and brought tears to her eyes. Sitting there, on bleachers that she had once sat on as that excited 6th grader, as that frenzied senior and now, as the frightened teacher - wondering exactly what the hell the future held.