A Letter to My Buddy, Elliot
March 17, 2021, is a day that I will always remember. My coworkers had been exposed to Covid and were told they needed to stay home for the rest of the week. I would be teaching in the classroom with three subs. I knew that drop-offs were hard for you and chose the perfect sub to meet you in the parking lot. You knew her from church (Mrs. Carr), where you would sing your favorite song, "Jesus loves me." You were a trooper and after a few tears settled into the day.
Oh, your drop-offs. You loved your daddy fiercely and wanted to spend all day on the farm as his sidekick. I would carry your little but solid body from the parking lot to the classroom; your friends would help us out by carrying our mittens, your backpack, and my keys. You just needed our walk to get ready for the day; once in the classroom, you would march straight to your cubby.
Due to Covid restrictions, we had breakfast in our classroom. You were at the table next to mine, and I kept looking your way to see how your day was going. You colored a picture for daddy and wrote your name with help.
The rest of the morning was a blur, and had I known it would be the last time I would see you, I would’ve spent extra time loving on you. I do remember you heading straight for the swings outside and you asking for more pushes. Usually we would give one push and have you try to pump, but I do remember giving you more than one push.
You were happy to get picked up by dad, and that was it. I would not see you again. Elliot, if I had one more day, we would play with the trucks on the rug, dig in the dirt at the sand table, and swing. I would give you big pushes on the swing, and at the end of the day, give you the biggest bear hug.
We released orange balloons for you today, orange your favorite color. A good morning from your Preschool Teachers. Good Morning Elliot!
