AsA ~ The Toonerville Collector
by ASA SPARKS
We were all something else and full of ourselves. The monthly in-service for administrators morning session had finished, and we were waiting in the hall of Westside School for permission to enter the library where our lunch of Chicken Cordon Bleu was to be served with other goodies. Rest assured that none of the foods were commodities foods beyond the flour used to make the homemade yeast rolls.
The morning had gone well, and we had learned a whole bunch. The Superintendent had made his usual comments about those fools at the State Department. The Guest Lecturer had told his best first day jokes for the two-day training. In another hour we would go back for interactive work designed to keep us awake until 3:00.
Suddenly, the door to the first grade room across from the library opened, and a girl rushed out and closed the door behind her. Confronted with 40 pairs of kneecaps staring right at her, I saw her smiling expression change to one of great fright.
In my mind's eye, I could see the events just before that door opened. Mrs. Jones, the first grade teacher, had called Suzy up to her desk to take a note to the office. Suzy was delighted. She was the chosen one. The teacher had picked her out of all the others to carry a note to the office. Mrs. Jones's last instruction was, "Don't run in the hall, Suzy!"
She walked quickly to the door ready to close it behind her. Then she could skip/run all the way to the office and back. She would buy enough time to look into her best friend's room if the door were open to see what they were doing. Then she opened the door . . .
The forty or so of us admired each others' new frocks or ties bought just to be right at the top of fashion for this important monthly date. Next month we would be in the latest finery once again. Married lovers cast tender glances at each other: Byron, Sam, Jim, Diane, Jill, and Pat. Unfortunately, none of their spouses were present. The good ol’ boys were sharing their latest administrative concern over who would win the ballgames Friday night. The good ol' gals were sharing their latest administrative concern, "I got this for half-price at Cricket-by-the-Creek." Randall was down the hall flirting with one of the fifth grade teachers. Ron was off dictating to his staff. Basically, we were just chitting and chatting and waiting.
Out of that group, there was one principal I especially admired. Nell had a middle school with 1200 students. Whenever I visited in her building, she stopped or spoke to every student who crossed our path. She knew each one by name, interests and problems.
Only two of us noticed Suzy with the frightened eyes. After all, we were on top of things; in charge of education; concerned about children. I was way down the hall, and Nell was by the door.
Despite her new dress (and Nell was never a slouch at finding elegant finery), Nell knelt down on the floor until she was at eye level with the frightened child. She put her arm around her, comforted her, and emotionally cleared the way for Suzy to continue with her appointed errand.
Knees on automatic pilot moved out of the way as she threaded through the crowd while important education issues continued to be discussed. Suzy moved confidently down the hall and did not skip/run until she turned the comer.
When Suzy returned, Nell was watching. Their eyes met, Suzy took a deep breath and negotiated her way through the crowd again while keeping locked on Nell's guiding light.
And so it is with life, we skip up to each new door in anticipation, never knowing whether joy or fear will be on the other side--and never knowing if someone will be there to calm the fear in our eyes.
Asa with granddaughters Lyndsie and Emily
~~All about AsA of Montgomery, Alabama~~
“My full name is Asa Sparks, but I am known primarily as AsA all over the State of Alabamer. Until I retired, I worked and traveled for the Alabama State Department of Education. Prior to that I worked with delinquents kids--of whom I was chiefest.
“I have been fortunate to have written several trade books. Hope For The Frogs (oop) was the most popular. Many assumed I liked frogs. I don't. Give me princes and princesses every time. The only other book of mine currently in print is The Two-Minute Lover.
“I am singular and have three wonderful children who all live in the South, but not as deeply south as I. They have provided 8 genius grandchildren for me to dote on in my dotage.”
Readers may write Asa at asasparks
Visit Asa's Toonerville site by clicking this link: TOONERVILLE
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