Miss Danielle,

Well my days of volunteering have landed me a regular position at Charlestown Elementary on Mon, Wed, and Fri for an hour each time.

Monday was my first trek back to a school in which I was extremly fond of in my childhood years, I was so excited for the new bell, repainted Charlestown School, and a newly assembled play ground out in front. I just wish I could have run onto the playground, and jumped around. But in a suddeen realization, someone wouldn't understand the nostalgia in every slide, I decided to withdraw myself from it, and instead turned straight into the school.

It was different having to sign in, gave me a feeling of adulthood, and resposibility...also the occasional greetings from passing teachers new, and old were interesting. In mid walk up the corridor, a line of 20 or so children stop at the foot of the "hill" (anyone that went to Ctown will understand) in the corridor going towards the office to regroup into a silent, straight line, and after a minute or so of waiting for a nod from their teacher, proceeded to advance. I remember so long ago, having to do the same procedure, but I never understood then why it was so important, because the undignified feeling of being a dog, really never made me feel good.

In the beginning, I felt like I was accepted, but after awhile, children began calling out to me in a "hey" fashion, later using my name. The teacher, Mrs. Hamilton introduced me as Miss Danielle, their helper. First question I recieved was this: "Miss Danielle, what happened to your hair?" I don't think I've laughed so hard in my chest without showing laughter in a long time. I simply smiled and asked the young boy what happened to my hair. (Those of you who don't regularly see me, my hair has been transformed into a shrilly mess of knots, and small premature dreds, again.)

As for Tuesday, it was a mess of chopped vegetables. Stone soup day!! Everyone was having grave troubles with the cutting of potatoes, carrots, and squash with the stupid plastic forks they think first grade children can cut things with, but hardly work without strengh. I worked with almost every child by the end of the day. Many asked me if I knew their names, and a few I can remember: Payton, Landon, Meghan, Leah, Brooke(who wouldn't except my help until she cut herself with the knife), and Sarah. As everyone told me what they were doing today, and the following soup. They showed me the pilgrim hats they made, and showed me the stone they were going to put into the pot!! I remember stone soup, and eating it out of shells, dressing up, and making my grandmother this figure of a girl and boy pilgrim out of egg cartons. I told my story, and everyone had to agree that cornbread was their favorite part too!!

Signed with strewn blood, and black rose petals

D. Cross