What a difference...

For reasons I can't disclose, we haven't had Marcus this week so far.

It's amazing. We're not out of ratio, one of us watching him and the other one watching the other 20 something kids. That's not how it's supposed to work, of course, but due to his high maintenance, that's what happens.

We may have him back on Thursday, not sure yet. But there should be an improvement in his behavior, also for reasons I can't disclose.

But the kids are getting along really well. No one is deliberately trying to go around and make everyone else mad. I've used this one before, but he's really like a little Johnny Appleseed, only he's sowing seeds of discontent. He goes from group to group, working to piss people off.

It got old on day two.

It's now week four of summer and everyone is fed up. Even several of the children are fed up. And every day that he's not with us, someone mentions how nice it is not to have him there. One of the kids, I mean.

Obviously I agree internally while trying to remain non-committal on the outside. If I agreed with a child that I really don't like having Marcus around and that yes, he is rude, obnoxious and mean, how would that child ever be sure that I'm not saying bad things about him behind his back? So I shift the focus of the conversation and we're not talking badly about Marcus.

That's not the only really great thing about this week, though. (Yeah, I know it's only Tuesday.) Do you remember May? I wrote more about her here too. Well, she's back. And although she's mostly non verbal, she does talk. And when I saw her this afternoon, I was really happy to see her. I walked over to her and put an arm across her shoulders.

"May! It's wonderful to see you! I'm so glad you came back!"

I got a huge hug. And a big smile. I sat with her at the table (all the kids were eating lunch) and she kept reaching out one hand and touching my arm. And smiling.

Later, I walked up to her sitting on a rug with dolls around her. There was another girl there. I said, "May, how old are you now?"
"Twelve." she said. "I am twelve years old."
"I can't believe it! You're very grown up, aren't you? You were just a little girl when I met you!"
More smiles. And Ruby*, who was sitting there, stared at May, open-mouthed.
"May talks? I didn't think she knew how to talk!!"
"Sure she does," I said. "She just doesn't always have a lot to say."
And May nodded and smiled her bright smile. "I talk." she said.

When her mother came to get her this afternoon I said hello. She opened her arms and threw them around my neck and said, "May couldn't WAIT to come back! She has been talking about you for two months!"

And that? That's why I love my job. I am doing something important. I'm doing it pretty well. Ask May.