Rites of Passage

When we began gathering school supplies Paul told me that as a fourth grader he'd need a rolling backpack to hold the heavier books that this higher grade received. I'd noticed that the older kids had rolling backpacks, but when I looked at the supply list the school gave out, it clearly said "no rolling backpacks." Paul was quite disappointed as he'd been looking forward to the sign of rank that a rolling backpack conveyed.

Last night he announced the exciting news: "We CAN have rolling backpacks! Someone made a mistake on the supply list." So after homework was done, off we went off in search of the coveted rolling backpack. Only a few remained after the back-to-school stampede, but one was all we needed and with just a bit of work we found a big blue Jansport which was just the ticket. Paul had a great time moving everything into it and generally getting ready to show it off at school today. I'm told by staff at Paul's school that not just Paul but all the fourth graders seem so big now.

Meanwhile, last year's fourth graders were facing day two at the Middle School. Rather than being the top dogs, they are the little fifth graders at school with sixth to eighth graders. Although the school is the same, the building, teachers, and daily routine are different. On their first day in this new environment their rolling backpacks merged with those of the upper classes, losing their former sign of rank. Nervous and shy and trying to mask their anxiety, the fifth graders seemed so small next to the older kids.

Some rites of passage are more fun than others.