First Day Promise

First Day Promise

It was my first year to teach in the country.
The school was plain for all to see.
My room was so small and very dusty.
Outside the window was a great oak tree.

The students were happy to be going there.
Their parents came to the open classroom door.
One girl had braids so long and lovely.
Her dress came from a cross town, resale store.

The next youth was in an old wheelchair.
His smile was hard to miss.
He said his name so loud with special pride.
But a missing tooth made it sound like a hiss.

Then came the twins who were giggling.
Their pastel shirts were slightly too big.
Their ‘pa’ would visit me later
When he finished work on a distant oil rig.

In thirty minutes I had ten more brave students.
Their sack lunches were carried like a prize.
One student had his father’s old grey lunchbox.
Keeping safe his mother’s home-made fried pies.

Minutes later a child walked in so slowly.
His golden hair was a tangled mess.
No one could ever try to imagine.
The goodness inside he did possess.

The weather outside showed a change slowly.
The clouds parted to show an awesome rainbow.
The branches on the tree swung from side to side quietly
As each child took a reading book from Mary Jo.

A soft voice came from the boy in the front row.
He stood beside his desk so shy and formally.
He told me that they all wanted some learn’n
I nodded my head to give back my solemn guarantee.