My hearing doesn't seem to work so well. (It's all the loud chanting in September.)

The teachers were shouting “Halleluiah” on Friday when the sun finally came out and we were able to have recess. If you haven’t been stuck inside a classroom in the second week of school with 20 five-year olds who NEED TO RUN, then you haven’t lived. For realz.

The four teachers were walking the perimeter of the playground as children ran and laughed and hooted and hollered. There are about 80 children this year and while some of them are siblings on ones we’ve had in class, many are new to our school. We love to spend time at recess getting to know the children in the other classrooms, and encouraging the children to befriend other children in the other kindergarten rooms. (We're one big happy family.)

I was walking with Ms. Perky when one of her darlings ran up to us out of breath. He wanted to know how much recess time was left, and she told him. (Not enough) She called him Will, and I thought he looked vaguely familiar.

“Will, Wait!” I shouted, and he came running back with a smile. “You look just like someone I know! What’s your last name?”

“Yuhm!” he shouted, and ran away.

I watched him run, and turned to Ms. Perky. “Gee, that doesn’t sound familiar.”

She looked at me and laughed. “Seriously? Vodka. His name is Will. Yum. WILLIAM. And you call me a rookie.”

Well played, Ms. Perky. Well played.