Running with Scissors

Let's talk about my job.

I am a group leader for the after school program at Academy Endeavour Elementary. I found the job on Craigslist, and I convinced myself that it was a teacher's assistant position.

Don't trust Craigslist.

Or yourself.

The only question I was asked in my interview was, "How would you discipline a child?" I can't remember my answer. They had me fill out a tax form and sent me to the school the same afternoon.

I walked into the modular, expecting desks and maps on the wall. There was a table with six chairs, Barbie dolls on the shelf, and a big plastic tub of Hot Wheels in the corner.

My initial impressions of my coworkers were as follows: the man wishes he had a better job. the girl younger than me knows what she's doing, but I probably wouldn't be friends with her. The older woman has a wide-eyed, clueless look.

The kids' age range spans from 4 to 11.

Within the first few days, I'm wordlessly assigned the post of "Craft Girl." The others insist that they aren't crafty.

Clothespin Turkeys. Pumpkin Play Dough. Christmas Chains. Handprint Rudolphs. Paper Poinsettias.

3 hours seems like a long time.

But.

"Miss Meredith!!"

Friendship with the fifth grade girls.

Steadily built rapport with the coworkers.

Yarn club.

Hugs from first-grade John.

"We love you here. I've been talking you up at headquarters."

And when the answer to Hangman is "We love Miss Meredith" ...

Maybe I don't want to leave.