return

"Look at how big my bag is," a little second grade boy stands at my classroom door on Monday morning, turns his back to show a tightly stuffed schoolbag that covers more than his back. 

He is the first child to arrive at school after a week of holidays and almost two moths of distance learning. He has arrived before most teachers and his own classroom next to my room is still closed. I haven't taken off my jacket, yet. 

"Good morning, F. It's good to see you," I smile to him. 

"You should try it. Really. It' so heavy," he takes off his bag and looks at me with his dark big eyes.

I go and lift his bag, "Yes, you had a lot to carry." 

"I brought back all my books, I-Pad, journals and materials that I took home for distance learning. It was difficult to pack the bag. It's so heavy," he repeats, picks up his bag, waves to me and walks off. 

I look at my large bag on the classroom floor. It's filled with books and journals I took home before we went on distance learning. It's so heavy.  

Oh, how good it's to be back at school.