Everyday after school, I walk down the blue carpeted stairs to the gym. Once I reach the bottom of the stairs, I am greeted with a wave of screaming children and toddlers. A blanket of belonging builds around as one of my Extended Care friends say, “Hi.” As soon as I walk into the chaotic Extended Care environment, I set my belongings down next to the coveted back table, reserved for “mature” and “responsible” middle schoolers (just the 6th, 7th, and 8th). At an instant I ask, “What’s for snack?” “Goldfish,” or “Carrots,” are usually a common answer. Sometimes I don’t even have to ask, just by looking at what they’re eating, I decide if I really want it or not. Usually, I find my friends at the table ransacking my lunch pail for leftover snacks and fruit because they don’t like the snack provided or they just aren’t feeling it (I don’t really care though). Finally, I plan my rigorous journey through the world of homework, joined with comedic banter from my fellow table mates.
We usually share tidbits of information about the day or deep philosophical thoughts about the deeper meaning of life and what not, or we talk about really idiotic craziness to either share some laughs or have someone almost die by suffocating from laughing way too hard (it’s been more of that lately). Then I haul the day’s homework onto the table setting high hopes and expectations for myself, like finish all this homework right here in front of you so that you can have a free night of relaxation. Soon the questions start bouncing off of each other like “What’d you get for number nine?” or “What’s the answer?” or whatever. That’s one upside to extended care, you can do your homework with your classmates to compare work and such.
At this point, some people leave to do homework on the computers or go upstairs to blow off steam. But the ones who do stay either talk and joke around, blow off steam inside the gym playing volleyball (or something), or play M.A.S.H and card games. Sometimes, if the kindergarten teacher has extra treats or there aren’t a lot of people there, we can get second snack (from the extended care teachers) or free food (or cupcakes) from the kindergarten teacher. Ahhhh, snack time is the best (especially if rice krispies and hawaiian buns are involved.) Sometimes I get so caught up in the moment of the lightness of a joke that I never finish my homework. Otherwise, I usually am a productive and responsible person who gets all of her homework done in one sitting (usually).
At times when I find myself unoccupied with anything I wander into the Extended Care room, grab a book to read, and some yarn to finger-knit with. It’s that or wandering into the room to grab cards or mancala to play with friends. Or, I wander into the Extended Care room to grab snack because I don’t want to be starving by the time dinner rolls around when my parent picks me up (usually my mom). Then after aimlessly staring into the oblivion, (not literally don’t worry) my swirling thoughts are interrupted with, “Come on, it’s time to go.” I look up to the figure above me and it’s my sister here to drag me out of here. I stand up and say, “Okay. I just need to clean up.” I stand onto my feet, gather up my belongings and wait for my mom and sister to take me home and continue life there.