First Day of School

"Baba, baba can I go to dada's school today with you? I want to see, said my little daughter who is going to be four years old in October.

"Why do you want to see dada's school? You have to go to Daycare with mom. Next year you will turn five, then it will be your time to go to school in Kindergarten", I bounced her on my solder and pinched her cheek.

"Koipani laadainan malai'. Nobody wants to take me", she twists her snout and made her face sad.

"Listen honey, today is dada's first day in a new school. I have to take him in and show the classroom. And also I have to introduce with his teacher. If you go with me,it will be late", I tried to persuade her.

"Baba dada will be shy in the school today".

"How did you know that?"

"Dada told mom yesterday when we were going to sleep."

"No, he will not. Its okay to be a little shy on the first day. But I believe he will be okay". 

I looked at Divyash who was listening our conversation. He looked little nervous. 

"Divyash! are you excited to go to new school, make new friends, having new teachers. Believe me it will a lot fun," I gave him a soft pat on his back.

Mom was cooking lunch for him. She was running in the kitchen  to bed room and, back and forth. I knew why she did that because she has to make Divyash ready with his favourite clothing, make shreya ready to daycare, prepare lunch, feed them and finally be ready for the job that starts at 9AM.

"Divyash, be ready for the school. I will take a quick shower and drive you off the school. From tomorrow you can take the bus," I gently rubbed his head and went to the washroom.

Divyash was wearing his new shoes which he bought on our last shopping. It has lights on the sole and he was stamping on the floor. 

" I don't have the boots like dada's. Nobody buys for me,"koi pani kindinnan", she still whining.

" My little sweet heart, this is only for baby. You are a big girl. You have your new pair of shoes. You must be happy."

" No, dada is not a baby. Dada le naya shoes paachha" he has got the new shoes" she repeated.

Thats okay sweetie. He is your lovely brother. 

She walked to the kitchen with her mom.

I changed the pant and put on a hoodie. It was cold outside. 

"Divyash, are you ready? Did you put your lunch box in the backpack? Where are your indoor shoes? Hurry up!" I kept reminding him while putting shoes on.

"Here are his indoor shoes. I have written name in it. He may need more stuffs to be taken to school. Don't forget to ask", my wife briefed me before we come out of the door. 

"Bye! Dada, bye baba!" Shreya was standing by the door.

"Don't forget to bring dada to daycare after school", she commanded.

"Hus, hus, bye now", I closed the door and we ran down the hallway.

We rode on the car and headed to the Macdugall  Public School located 107-109 Ave. There was a construction going on near the south entrance. I parked a far way and walked to the school. 

Divyash was looking around the big building and trying to remember the things from his memory although he was never been there before. However, he had been to the grounds of purple park. He was admitted to a Duck in Day Care for a few days when we first came in Canada in 2014.

As we entered the building, I went to the reception with Divyash to get information about the classroom. The lady at the reception who looked like Philipino told me that the students name and classroom are posted on the wall outside. Then we came out and checked the list. 

There was a teachers name and classroom on the top and the name of the students below it.

In the grade -2 list I found Divyash's name listed on classroom #103. Teacher's name was Cathy something which I totally forgot when we came outside.

"A young white nice looking lady approached me and said 'hi'!

I greeted her back and introduced Divyash who said hello to her and told his name in her request.

Then she took us to the west side of the building where other kids were standing on queue and introduced a teacher named Cathy. 

She was elderly female with smily face. She briefly introduced with myself and Divyash. This time Divyash was little nervous. 

I told her that it was a first day in a  new school so that he looked nervous. 

He will be okay.

In our conversation, I also informed that he was in St Cathrine School for Kindergarten and Grade-1.

Then I said "bye" to Divyash and came back home. 

In the mean time, Shreya was standing  at the door with her mom to go to daycare.

" Baba, was Divyash shy in the school?"she asked immediately. 

"No" he was not." I sounded little hard.

" don't forget to bring him to daycare, okay!" She commanded.

Then I hugged her and said "bye". Then she left for daycare with mom.

At 03:00PM I went to the school to pick up Divyash. I waited about 15 minutes outside of his classroom. About 03:20 PM he came out of the class with a big smile.

As we were exiting the building, he told, " baba, I made a friend today. We played together. In this school they have three recessions... you know baba there used to be only two recessions in St Catherine school," he was briefing me.

While coming back home, we picked up Shreya from the Daycare. Divyash was telling her how one of the students chewed the eraser and left on the floor. They were sharing stuffs and playing together in their room while I was preparing snacks for them.

September-4, 2018