The StoryTime Series: The 2nd Grade Ballerina Princess

My elementary school was way across town and I took two buses to get there. Most of the students I road the bus with lived in the same area but we didn't all go to the same school. The first bus took us from our neighborhood to the transfer location and then the second bus dropped us off directly at our schools.

When I was in the second grade, the day before the Halloween carnival, my bus friends and I discussed how excited we were to wear our Halloween costumes the next day. I couldn't wait to debut my Princess-Ballerina-Neverending-Story costume because I absolutely felt magical wearing it and loved my head jewelry. My school's carnival was an hour or so after school and my mom planned to meet me there after she got off work.

On Halloween carnival day, I got on the bus in full costume - pink leotard, head jewelry, tights and ballet slippers. All of the kids were also in their costumes. We marveled at each other, ate some Halloween candy and then parted ways at the transfer station. On the second bus, I noticed very quickly that none of the other kids going to my school were in costume. A few of them laughed at me and asked me why I was wearing my costume. I innocently answered that it was for the carnival. They told me that they planned to change after school and apparently, I was the only one who failed to get that memo.

When I arrived at school, I was overwhelmed at the plethora of normally dressed students and at this point, I started hyperventilating. When I got to class, all of the kids stared at me and I started crying because NONE OF THEM WERE WEARING HALLOWEEN COSTUMES. Not even my brother wore a costume - but I think at that time he wore the same jean sweater or poncho every day so it wasn't a big deal that he wasn't in costume because he was always in costume by default (Hee hee Naj).

My teacher Mrs. Hill took me to the office and they called my mom. I begged her to bring me some clothes but she couldn't because she was at work. I cried and cried because I felt so embarrassed but I could hear in her voice that this was beyond her control. Mrs. Hill lead me back to the classroom and stood with me in front of the class. She explained to them that I wore my costume early in preparation for the carnival and that I was the Princess of the Day. I remember her saying something like "Doesn't Shaharoh look so beautiful in her costume? Please make her feel special today because she looks so lovely." With those words, she transformed my fate that day and all of the kids treated me so nicely and complimented my costume for the rest of the day. At recess, we even played make-believe games where I was the princess and they were my loyal subjects. It really was magical.

Later that afternoon, my mom came to the school to attend the carnival. We had so much fun and I completely forgot about how I'd worn my costume the whole day. With this memory - I will always remember how that feeling of embarrassment transformed into warmth, acceptance, adoration and welcoming.

Mrs. Rojean Hill passed away some years ago and I never got the chance to thank her for how she saved me that day. I was in her class for second and fourth grade and she was one of the most compassionate teachers I ever had. I will never forget how she was my knight in shining armor shielding me and carefully protecting my little self's heart. Such a human, such a hero.

Happy Halloween Weekend Anomalies.

Magically - The 2nd Grade Ballerina Princess Neverending Story Moonchild