triage

Sunrise before the commute. It's because of mercury, one of my coworkers tells me in the staff room. It's in retrograde? Something like that. I saw it on social media. That's why the kids are acting like this. Full moon's tomorrow, a different coworker says a week later. Another teacher shakes her head. I don't …

Three Moments (Part II)

  One I am sitting at the check-in desk waiting for weekend arrivals. It is early in the fall season, and I'm still adjusting to the shift. Cabins in place of tents, refrigerators in place of bear canisters, paperwork and formalities in place of primal summer wildness. I am sad to see summer go. Even …

Three Moments

One I have a group of eight students. It is their first week of school. We're going to do some get-to-know-you games, I say. To start, let's go around the circle and say our name and favorite holiday. You can go first. I gesture to my left. The boy shakes his head as he looks up at me. …

Wild Child(ren)

      "What's this tree's name? C'mon, we just went over it." I point to a slender tree with gray bark peeling off like wallpaper. The kids look at it uncertainly.        "I know it!" A girl exclaims, tugging on her braid. Her eyes widen in revelation. "A shaggy hickey!"     …

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