She's baa-aack. Jessica Watson is back at our elementary school. For 3 months.
It seemed longer ago than last September that I first met the then 9 year old, pint-sized Australian blonde, whose father referred to me as a "Negro" and whose mother owned a horse of a questionably peculiar name.
A couple of teachers had informed me prior that she would be returning at the end of April, but the time came so fast.
When I got to school this morning, immediately the principal quickly came up to me, before I got into the staffroom even, and said "Jessica's here! Please come into my office." I took a second to get my hat off and rest my bag.
I went into the principal's room, and there she was, little Jessica, now in the 5th grade, along with some Japanese lady who I presumed was escorting her.
"Hi Jessica, welcome back!," I politely offered.
"Hi," she coyly replied. She seemed much more shy than when I first met her.
I chatted with her a bit and shared my greetings. Everyone else just stood by smiling while we conversed in English. I felt like some sort of English ambassador. The lady escorting her handed me a folded piece of paper. "This is from Ian," she said. It was a handwritten letter to me from Jessica's father.
I read the letter silently to myself. In it, Mr. Watson expressed that he would like for Jessica to be able to come discuss any school matters, if any, with me, since I would be the only person with whom she could communicate with in English. So, Massuh Watson wants the Negro-boy to tend ta lil Miss Jessica, now does he? OK suh-boss! (j/k)
No really, it's no problemo. I relayed to Jessica that it would be OK for her to come to me anytime at school if she needed. Wow, though.--10 years old in a foreign country where you can't speak the language? Good luck to her! ..Then again, that could be a dream for a kid--she won't have to do any homework because she can't read or write any of the assignments. Wow, cakewalk for her!
