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Slice of Life Story Challenge (SOLSC).
All participants are writing about one moment, one part of their day, every day of March 2017.
A big thank you to Two Writing Teachers for providing this unique opportunity
for teacher-writers to share and reflect.
"Do you know your pants are ripped?"
I hear Ms. Wright, my Teaching Assistant, talking, but I keep moving because there is no way she is talking to me.
Right?
"Ms. Ingram, do you know your pants are ripped?"
"Wha-a-a-at?" I stop and look at her. "Me? My pants are ripped?"
"Yes, in the back."
"Oh no they are not!" I insist.
I mean really, it is the middle of centers and the children are playing, I have a small group to lead...I have a meeting to go to after lunch and I am meeting friends at a restaurant right after school, so, seriously, this is not happening, and besides, this has never happened before, I don't have extra clothes at school, and therefore, seriously, this is not happening.
Ms. Wright is giggling. "Ms. Ingram, truly, your pants are ripped."
"Well, is it just a little bit ripped? No big deal?"
"Ah, no."
I reach behind and oh my goodness I can feel my underwear. The entire backside has split. What is happening?! How can this be?! What underwear am I wearing?! Is this really happening?! I shriek, "What!?! No! This can't be! What am I supposed to do?!" My mind is racing: Wasn't I just talking to Mr. Jones in the doorway and didn't I turn around to get those papers? Holy smokes. What did he see? What does he know that he doesn't want to admit he knows? This is humiliating! I shriek, "I cannot have ripped pants!" and I shimmy backwards toward my cubby.
Several children say, "Let me see, Ms. Ingram!"
Ms. Wright and Ms. Head start to problem-solve for me - "Didn't you wear a scarf? Wrap the scarf around like a sarong - you'll look glamorous!" Ms. Head grabs the scarf - "See, here, put it on, let's see!"
For the rest of the day, there I was - dressed in a makeshift sarong around my jeans. I even went to dinner with it on. Do you know that no one - and I mean, NO ONE - noticed or commented on this new style of mine?
Epilogue:
This REALLY happened, this past December. I keep an extra pair of pants at school at all times now.
