Baartock

by Laura Dent Crane

  Chapter 3

  "Now, let's get you into class," said Mrs. Jackson. They went to thelast door on the right side of the hall, and Mrs. Jackson lookedthrough a little window in the door.

  "Is it recess time already? The class must be outside." She opened thedoor and they went into the classroom. It was a bright cheerful room,with windows all along one wall and chairs pulled up around low tables.

  "This will be your classroom," Mrs. Jackson said. They walked to adoor in the back of the classroom and went outside.

  "Let's see if we can find them. They should be on the playground.That's around this way." Hand in hand, they went around to the back ofthe school building.

  There was the playground. And the class. So many humans. Baartock hadnever seen that many humans. They were swinging, racing around,climbing, playing, and just standing. They were laughing and yellingand screaming. They were all having fun. Baartock was so interested,that he didn't see the woman coming over to them.

  "Baartock, this is your teacher, Mrs. Stogbuchner," said Mrs. Jackson."Mrs. Stogbuchner, this is Baartock. This is his first day, isn't itBaartock?"

  "First day," said Baartock, still looking at the children.

  "Nice to have you in my class, Baartock," said Mrs. Stogbuchner. "I'msure you will enjoy it here."

  "I'll come see that you get on the right bus to get home, Baartock,"said Mrs. Jackson. "Why don't you go play. But, please behaveyourself. I want to talk to Mrs. Stogbuchner for a moment."

  Baartock started walking over to where the children were playing. Hewas thinking so many different things. It was his first day and heshould be scaring people, and here were humans to scare. But there werejust so many of them, all running and laughing and playing. Nobody waspaying any attention to him. They weren't even looking at him.Baartock couldn't think of any way to scare anybody. This was all sonew, and not the way it was supposed to be. He was suddenly scared. Hedidn't know what to do.

  Baartock had been slowly walking by the fence that went around theplayground. When he got to the jungle gym, he stopped and watched thethree boys who were climbing on it. He wasn't quite sure why they wereclimbing and chasing each other, but they seemed to be having fun.Suddenly, Baartock jumped up on the bars and climbed up to the top. Itwas like climbing a tree, but it was different, too. He was justsitting there, looking around, when one of the boys, the one with redhair, climbed up beside him.

  "Hi. I'm Jason. Are you new?"

  "No, I'm Baartock," he said. He wouldn't want a dumb name like 'New'.

  All the other children were about the same size as Baartock, but Jasonwas even bigger. He was trying to think what to say to this red hairedboy.

  Then Jason started to climb down again. When he was just a little waydown, he called, "Try to catch me, Baartock!"

  Baartock knew what to do. He started climbing down, chasing Jason asfast as he could. By now, Jason was on the ground, running past theswings. When Baartock got down, he started running. He ran past theswings, past the slide. He was catching up to Jason, he had almostcaught him, when a there was a whistle and Jason stopped. Baartockcrashed into him and they both fell down. Jason got on his feet rightaway.

  "We've got to go in now," he said as he pulled Baartock to his feet."We have to go line up. Come on."

  Baartock didn't understand what they were going to do, but he walkedalong with Jason. As they walked over to where Mrs. Stogbuchner wasstanding, Baartock said, "I caught you."

  "I can run faster," answered Jason. "Next time you won't."

  Mrs. Stogbuchner again blew her whistle. "Recess is over. Time to goinside," she called. Then she saw Baartock and Jason. "Making friendsalready, Baartock? Jason, please let Baartock sit next to you and helphim along today."

  "Yes, Mrs. Stogbuchner," said Jason.

  "Everybody settle down," called Mrs. Stogbuchner as she walked past thechildren, who were lining up.

  "I'm supposed to be first today, right, Mrs. Stogbuchner?" called a boyfrom the front of the line.

  "All right, Jimmy," she answered.

  "There. I told you so," Jimmy said loudly to the girl standing next tohim.

  "Don't start a fight about it, Jimmy," said Mrs. Stogbuchner, who wasnow at the back of the line. "Let's walk inside quietly. No running!"she called, as Jimmy started rushing off.

  In just a few minutes, Baartock found himself sitting right next toJason, at one of the low tables in the classroom. Mrs. Stogbuchner,standing in front of the classroom was saying, "We have someone new inclass." Everybody was looking around. "Baartock, please stand up. Thisis his first day."

  Baartock stood up, but he was embarrassed. Now everybody knew this washis first day, he'd never be able to scare anybody. He was stillstanding, when Mrs. Stogbuchner said, "You may sit down now, Baartock."

  Jason reached up and pulled Baartock back onto his chair. A couple ofchildren at the next table were giggling, and several others werewhispering something and pointing at him. Baartock felt uncomfortable.He wasn't really too interested in the papers that were passed around.But he got interested in making the marks on the paper, when Jasonhelped him color the worksheet. There were so many bright colors. Hegot so interested in coloring that he didn't pay any attention toanything else. It didn't seem very long before Mrs. Stogbuchner said,"It's time to get everything put away now."

  Jason whispered to him, "Where do you live?"

  "That way," said Baartock, pointing. That was the way a troll wouldgive directions. Just point in the direction you were supposed to go,and then walk until you got there. In spite of everything that hadhappened today, he knew just exactly where his home was. He had beenso busy, he hadn't thought about it until now. "Want to go home," he said.

  "We all get to go home in just a few minutes, Baartock," said Mrs.Stogbuchner, who had been walking around making sure that everythingwas put away. "Everybody sits down quietly and waits for the bell."

  Baartock started to ask Jason, "What's bell?" But he only got to say"What's . . .."

  Mrs. Stogbuchner was still standing behind him. "Baartock, in thisclassroom, 'wait quietly' means 'no talking'."

  Mrs. Jackson came into the classroom and walked over to them. "Mrs.Stogbuchner, if you're finished with Baartock for today, I'd like himto come to the office now."

  "Yes. We're all through. Baartock, please go with Mrs. Jackson, andwe'll see you tomorrow."

  When they got into the hall, Mrs. Jackson said, "Baartock, we couldn'tfind your file, and I do need to talk to your mother. Instead of ridingon the school bus, I'm going to drive you home."

  "Go home now?" asked Baartock quietly. He remembered how angry thisperson could sound.

  "Yes. I'm going to drive you home." Just then the bell rang, andBaartock jumped three feet in the air.