On Their Way

When I was 6 years old, my dad would wake me up at the same time every morning for school. I would brush my teeth, sometimes my hair, and head down stairs for breakfast. Normally he would make me a toaster strudel or pop - tart because those were my absolute  favorite. He would drop me off in the carpool line and I would head up the stairs to my classroom. I would wait with my friends before the bell would ring playing a game before the day began. 

In another country, a 6 year old little girl wakes up, probably to the sound of a rooster. Has a tortilla filled with eggs for breakfast. Then walks to school with her older brother who is 10. While on a dirt road, cars and carts pass her left and right. The dust gets in her eye so she stops, winks a few times, and continues on her way. She passes a few stray dogs who bark, but she shows no reaction. There are no trees for shade, so she wipes the sweat from her forehead with the bottom of her shirt and then releases her grip. 

When she arrives at the school gate, the principle makes her wait outside because the police are "on their way".

34 minutes pass and the police arrive on site. They enter the gated school yard area, and pull their cart to the backside of the building. They escort a returning aggressive homeless man off the premises, he sits in the back of the golf cart and they then speed away. 

The little girl may now enter the school yard with her classmates and teachers because the scene is now safe.  Her and her brother can now begin their day of summer learning with the teachers from UNCW.