First day of school

With Americano in hand I receive a weixin from Yang that they are here which means they are close. I see the Mercedes pull up and notice Aidan in the front seat -- airbag child warning long ignored -- looking nervous. I walk up to him and say hello as Elisa bounces out of the car followed by Lydia. Elisa is ebullient. Lydia smiles. Elisa walks up and gives me a hug as Lydia stands next to me. I walk them the half block to the school entrance and they turn inside, past the four guards. They do not look back.

Yang has inched the Mercedes up to the gate and I climb into the back seat. Aidan is destined for middle school. I ask him if he is nervous and he says yes. I mentioned to him on Saturday that last year he was part of the eldest kids in school and this year he will be part of the youngest kids. He repeats that to me which makes me wonder if it was something I should have said. Seems like something my dad would have said with delivery differences.

Aidan’s middle school is maybe 1.5 miles away and we navigate there. I know exactly where it is because it is just down the block from my favorite craft brew pub. Traffic is bad as the road turns into an alley but not a hutong so Aidan and get out of the car and walk the half block. It is 7:30am and the guard at Aidan’s school won’t let Aidan in without papers and his new teacher is having breakfast. I wish Aidan luck and make my way to the subway stop and work.

Aidan’s hair is long which leads to some folks here thinking he is a girl and they think it’s funny when they find out he’s actually a boy. Even educated folks stereotype this way sometime which makes me want to knee them and then ask if they are a boy. His new school has a policy that boys hair must be cut above the airs and Aidan’s new teacher tells him that the rule only applies to boys. Aidan tells the teacher that he is a boy. Oh, says the teacher.

(postscript - after two days aidan is really enjoying middle school. says there is a lot more relaxed)