by Phillip Done
If I have taught them these things, then I do not care if they forget when the Pilgrims sailed to the New World or how to spell spaghetti.
The Last Day of School
For weeks I have been wishing that I could fast-forward to the last day of school. But now that it is the last day, I don’t want them to leave.
It’s never easy for me to let my little birds go. I know the names of all their pets. I was the first one to sign their casts. I know that Joey’s dad is not living at home anymore. I know how much they grew on the wall chart.
We mourned together over cats that did not look before crossing the street. We graduated from wide-ruled to college-ruled paper together. We have become a family.
Parents have eighteen years to get ready to send their kids out of the nest. Teachers only get ten months.
The bulletin boards are empty now. The wire hanging across the ceiling is bare too, except for a couple of clothespins that used to hold their artwork. My desk is covered with gift bags full of coffee and mugs and candy and homemade cards. Jenny knitted me a set of coasters.
After they cleaned out their desks and put everything into their cubbies, we began our party. The kids passed out popcorn and pretzels and snack mix. Mrs. Stewart and Mrs. Turner walked around pouring juice. I sat at my desk and watched them talk and laugh and spill popcorn and pretzels and snack mix on the floor.
Then Mrs. Stewart made an announcement and Melanie brought me a present from the class. Everyone got up and stood around me. They leaned in as I unwrapped it.
“I know what it is,” said Stephen.
“Don’t tell!” screamed Emily.
“Wow,” I said, taking it out of the box. I read the cover. “Mr. Done’s Memory Book. It’s beautiful. When did you make it?”
“When you were absent,” said Natalie. “Mrs. Stewart came in and did it.”
I pretended to be shocked.
“Why, you sneaky little kids,” I said.
They laughed.
I thumbed through the pages.
Anthony had written, “Dear Mr. Done, I will miss you. I liked your funny stories.” And he had drawn a picture of me with a giant coffee mug.
“Do I look like that?” I asked.
“Yeah!” they all screamed.
“Thanks a lot.”
Tomoya had written, “Dear Mr. Done, thank you for teaching me English. It is much bigger now.”
I smiled. “Thank you, Tomoya,” I said. “Your English is so good now.”
After thanking them all, I asked them to take their seats for the last time. Then, ten minutes before the bell, I began my final speech of the year.
“Boys and girls,” I said, “it’s been a great year …” My voice started to crack. “And now,” I continued, “it is time for you to go to fourth grade. You’ve worked hard. You’re ready. Peter, what is eight times seven?”
“Fifty-six!” he shouted.
“Good. Now remember, everyone, be kind to one another. Remember to do your homework. Remember to put your name on your papers. Remember to feed the bunny rabbit. Natalie, how many es in sincerely?” I asked.
“Two,” she said.
“Good.” I took a deep breath and continued, “Now, I want you all to come back and visit your old third grade teacher sometime. Teachers like it when their kids come back to visit. OK?”
“OK,” everyone said in unison.
I wiped my eyes.
“OK, troops, let’s get ready to go.”
Then they all stood up. Without speaking, all thirty-two lined up for hugs. I bit my lip as I tousled hair and patted heads good-bye. Natalie cried. So did Stephen. Emily handed me a coloring book page she had colored last night. Ronny would not let go.
“Now, now, Ronny. You can’t miss the bus.”
“OK,” he said. “Bye, Mr. Done.”
“Bye, Tiger.”
He let go and ran out the door.
“Hey, Ronny!” I shouted.
He turned around. “Yeah?”
“Don’t forget your backpack,” I said.
He smiled. “Oh, yeah.”
He ran back, grabbed it, and hurried out the door.
When they were all gone, I picked up a juice box from under Katie’s desk, loaded my good-bye presents into a shopping bag, took down the world map, and stacked the chairs. Then I erased the “1 Day Left” on the corner of the whiteboard, closed the piano lid, took one last look around the room, turned off the lights, and locked the door.
About the Author
Phillip Done is the recipient of the Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation Distinguished Teacher Award. Nominated for the Disney Teacher of the Year Award, he has taught elementary school for twenty years. He lives in Mountain View, California.