Similarities and Differences

Nervous

Tuesday, August 22

School officially starts tomorrow for me, but Ava doesn't start until Thursday. Whitney has been gracious enough to watch her all week. I haven't decided if Ava getting close to Whitney is a bad thing yet.

I had to go into school today just to get work done. I have the next couple weeks planned out as far as lessons go though. I have twice as many students than last year because at my old school, English was a block class, which meant it was two periods everyday instead of one. The curriculum here is completely different, too. In certain ways, it's easier, but there's not as much freedom with it.

When I was done with everything that I needed to get done, I swung by Whitney's place to pick up Ava because this afternoon was her meet and greet with her new teacher, Mrs. LeVone.

"Are you excited?" I asked Ava on the way to her new school.

"I don't know. I'm kind of nervous." Her voice was shyer than normal.

"I understand that."

"Were you nervous about going to school when you were a kid?"

"Ava, I was nervous about going back this year." I glanced at her.

"Why?"

"Because I had never worked here before."

"Are adults nice to new people?"

I thought about my last few days at school. Jen, my aunt and principal, was not nice. The teachers on my team aren't too bad, I guess. I shrugged a little. "Not always, but I think I'm with good people here." Actually, it's too early too tell.

"What if I can't make any friends?"

"Well, all you need is one friend."

"What if I can't do that?"

"Ava, you'll be okay. I promise."

Why did I make a promise that I can't actually keep?

When we arrived at the school, I walked Ava to her classroom. This school was a lot nicer than her last elementary school. Okay, that's not saying much.

Her teacher, smiled when we walked in. There were no other kids in the classroom at the time. We had gotten there pretty late. 

"Hi!" the teacher exclaimed. "What's your name?"

"Ava," Ava said shyly, leaning against me a bit.

"Ava, I'm Mrs. LeVone." Mrs. LeVone gave Ava her hand, and Ava shook it firmly because I taught her to do that. "You have a good grip."

I smiled a little as LeVone looked at me. "And you're Dad?" 

I shook my head. "No, I'm her uncle, but I have custody. I'm Steven Easton."

LeVone nodded, probably not knowing what to say to that. "Ava, do you want to put your school supplies in your desk?" 

Ava nodded a little. "Okay." She looked at her teacher. "Where is my desk?"

LeVone looked around and when she found the desk, she pointed to the right desk. "Right there, sweetheart."

LeVone walked back to me and asked quietly, "May I ask what happened to her parents?"

I looked at Ava. Ava knows her mom robbed a bank, but doesn't know her mom killed someone. "Her mom is in prison."

"Oh," LeVone said quietly. "I saw on the records that you guys just moved up here from Alabama."

"Yeah."

"Why did you guys move up here?" 

"I am a middle school teacher in..." I said the name of the town, but y'all don't need to know what town I work in.

"Oh, cool, how do you like Iowa?"

"It's all right. It's different."

"How so?"

I gave her a weak smile. "We lived in a really small town, so coming here is a lot different." 

I liked the people better in Alabama because at least I knew them, and I had some friends.

"How does Ava like it so far?"

I looked at her as she was putting her school supplies into her desk. Ava knew we were having an "adult conversation", but I'm sure she was listening to every word.

"I think we just need to start school up, and then see how that goes."

"Well, I'm sure she'll do fine." She paused, and looked at me. "Are there any academic concerns?"

I wanted to beg this teacher to put Ava next to the nicest kid in the class, but I didn't know how.

I shrugged a little. "I think she'll do fine. She loves to read."

"What kind of books does she like?"

"Everything."

"Oh, nice."

"Do you read to her ever?"

I laughed a little. "No, when she's plays school, she reads to me. I'm an English teacher, but I would argue that she's better at reading out loud than me." I smirked. "I'm not as expressive, according to Ava."

"It's true!" Ava joined in. 

LeVone and I both laughed.

"I know. Don't remind me," I told her, jokingly.

"Do you wanna be a teacher, Ava?"

"Yeah, I do." 

"That's awesome. Do you know what grade you wanna teach?"

"I don't know yet," Ava replied. "Probably elementary, but since he's a middle school teacher, I might wanna do that." Ava looked at me.

"Well, you've got a little time to think about your life plans," LeVone reasoned.

"I know."

LeVone gave me her email, and told me that if I need anything that I just needed to let her know. I told her the same.