“You always look good, Mom,” Johnny said as he poured the milk onto his cereal.

She paused momentarily amidst her morning tasks and looked at him with admiration, “You’re such a good son, Johnny. You help me with the shopping and the cleaner; you even do the laundry when it piles up. You are every mother’s dream.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Johnny mumbled. He put the milk down, took a deep breath, and said, “We’re putting on a play for the school this term, and I’ll have to stay after school for rehearsals. Do you think you could manage to do those jobs for a while? I have a big role, and I need to stay in school for the rehearsals,” he said, following her moves, trying to anticipate his mother’s reactions.

“Sorry, Honey, I can’t afford it. We need the money for my overtime, and you must help me with the groceries. Plays are for children who can afford it. I can’t do it alone, and you know it.” Her hands started trembling, and her breath became rapid. “I wish I could say I could spare you, Johnny, but I need your help. I’m sure the teacher can find someone else for that role. I can’t,” she said as she sat next to him, looking a bit absent mind. “Since your father got his promotion, he’s busier too, so you’re the only person I can rely on,” she continued, “We need the extra money your father brings home, but you have a vital role in this household. I’m sure the teacher can understand.”

“What about if I stayed for rehearsals twice a week?” pleaded Johnny, “Is that ok?”

“Maybe once a week,” his mother replied, “I rely on your help, Johnny. I’m sorry. This matter is closed. If you want, ask your teacher to call me. I can explain. I have to leave now for work. Please don’t forget to start the machine after you put your dishes in. Bye, Honey.” She kissed him on his forehead, her mind occupied with work, and left.

Johnny stayed sitting at the kitchen table. When he heard the door close and the car pulling out of the driveway, he thought his dream of acting in the play was over. He yearned to play the leading role in The Little Prince and knew he could do it. Johnny felt like the little prince, alone in the galaxy, figuring things out, meeting other beings, some helpful, some scary. How could he change his mother’s mind? He must play that role! Ms. Williams, his teacher, said his voice was loud enough to wake the dead. He never heard that expression before. Johnny put the dishes in the dishwasher and pushed start. When he returned home, he would put everything away. His mother liked that. Johnny put the ticket for the dry cleaner in his pocket and hurried off to wait for the bus. It was getting late, and he didn’t like being alone in the house anyway. It felt so empty without his parents.

“Hi, Mrs. Johns,” Johnny smiled at the bus driver as he climbed aboard the bus. He scanned the bus for Betty, and his face brightened as he saw her waving at him, gesturing at the space beside her.

“Hi, Betty,” he said as he squeezed beside her, “did you read The Little Prince? What character would you like to play?” He scanned her face and thought that if it were up to him, he would give her the role of the rose. She was forthcoming and spoke her mind, and secretly he loved her.

“I want to be the fox,” said Betty enthusiastically, “he’s so wise and helpful to the little prince. The book wouldn’t be the same without him, But I’ll gladly take any role in the play. My mom read it when she was a kid. She said she didn’t like it at first because there weren’t any girls in it,” Betty laughed, “but then when she reread it, she realized any character could be a girl, even the little prince because the whole story reflects what we feel and how we think. My mom can be very wise sometimes.”

“I wish my mom were more like that,” said Johnny, “I bet she never even read The Little Prince. She doesn’t want me to take a big role in the play because she needs my help with shopping and chores and doesn’t want me to stay in school after hours. But I want to play the little prince. Maybe Ms. Williams can talk to her or something,” he shrugged.

“We can always send Metta to your mom,” suggested Betty.

“What is Metta?” asked Johnny.

“Metta is a word for sending love to somebody. I learned from Ms. Williams when she taught me the Anapana breathing technique.” said Betty, “It’s very cool. You close your eyes and send good thoughts to people you want to help, wishing them happiness and good health. Here, like this.” Betty closed her eyes and sat quietly for a moment.

“I wish Ms. Williams taught me Anapana,” said Johnny, “I can see how you, Chuck, and Vivi changed after that training. Do you think she could teach me that?” he asked Betty eagerly.

“I’m sure she would. Maybe we could all ask her after the first period. Then we could meditate together!” she grinned as if it had already happened.

“Anapana is a meditation? I thought it was only a breathing technique,” said Johnny.

“It is,” said Betty, “but through the breathing, you meditate. Meditation can be about focusing on the breath, and this is what we do when we practice Anapana. It’s difficult to explain. Ms. Williams will do it best.” she smiled reassuringly and prepared to get off the bus.

Johnny let her go before him, the way he saw his father treat his mother. He thought it was a nice gesture.

In their home classroom, each took their seat. Betty noticed Vivi, her best friend, was already there checking her copy of The Little Prince.

“Hi, Vivi,” said Betty, “did you choose what character you’d like to play?” She sat and took out her copy, “I want to be the fox, but I don’t mind. I’ll let Ms. Williams choose for me.”

“I want to be the lamplighter,” said Vivi, “He lights a street lamp every night and puts it out in the morning. It sounds like a fun thing to do and useful, too, right?” She looked at Betty for reassurance.

Betty didn’t remember the lamplighter much and wanted to agree with Vivi, but then Ms. Williams entered the room.

“Morning, everyone! I see that many of you are getting excited about The Little Prince show already, and that’s great news because the more excited we are about the story, the better the chances that the school will like it when we present it. Who wants to summarize the story for us?” She scanned the room and stopped on Cindy, a girl who usually didn’t say much, and now raised her hand.
The story is about a kid who never grows up but keeps exploring the world around him and in his imagination.

“That’s good, Cindy. I like your answer. Who else wants to add to what Cindy told us, or maybe something completely different?” The teacher was delighted by the many hands raised around the classroom. “Yes, Josh?” Josh was one of the geeks. He was into Science Fiction.

Josh pushed his glasses up his nose, “The Little Prince is an Intergalactic traveler who wants to explore what is beyond his planet. He looks little, but actually, he’s millions of years old. It doesn’t say it, but anybody could see it’s true. He’s like Doctor Who.”

“Thanks, Josh,” said Ms. Williams, “That’s a different way of seeing it. Anybody else?” Betty hesitantly raised her hand, “Yes, Betty?”

“My mother,” said Betty, “told me that when she read the book, she thought all the characters were part of her – some parts my mom liked and some she didn’t. All were part of one person, probably the one who wrote the book.” She saw Johnny nodding in approval and relaxed a bit.

“That’s another way of seeing it, isn’t it?” said Ms. Williams, “One story, many interpretations. That makes sense. We all experience what we see and what we read differently. When I read the book for the first time, and believe me, I reread it many times later; I wanted to be The Little Prince, experience what he experienced, and meet the characters he met. This year I have the privilege of doing it with you as a play for the end of the term for the whole school. Isn’t it exciting?” Many of the children nodded. Others sat indifferent to what was going on. They were traveling through their galaxies. I wrote a short play based on the book since we had little time to prepare. It doesn’t have all the characters in it, but there is room for all of you to participate.”

“Vivi, please give a copy to each student; thanks,” she said, handing copies of the play to Vivi. “You’ll see five main characters: The Little Prince, the Rose, the Fox, the King, the Snake, and the Pilot. We need five students to play those roles. The rest will support the roles of flowers and other elements in the story. Let’s see if we have volunteers. Who wants to be the king?”

Michael raised his hand. “Yes, Michael,” said Ms. Williams, “Why do you want to play the king role?”

“Because I feel like a king already,” grinned Michael, “I’m a quarterback. I speak up when I have something to say. I’m strong, and I feel comfortable ordering people around.” Everyone laughed and nodded.

“Excellent,” said Ms. Williams, “Who wants to be the rose?”

Tommy raised his hand, “Tommy?” Ms. Williams was confused since she expected a girl to choose this role, “Why do you want to play the rose?”

“Because roses are my favorite flower,” said Tommy, “my mom says I remind her of my aunt Rosie, her younger sister who died before I was born. I love The Little Prince, and I get easily sick. I feel like laughing right now,” he added and started imitating a cough to everybody’s amusement.

“Those are all great reasons, Tommy,” said Ms. Williams, “but don’t get sick only to get the role. It’s already yours. What about the snake? Who wants that role?”

Chuck raised his hand.

“Yes, Chucky, I see your hand. Why do you want to play the snake?” Ms. Williams was in awe of how transparent and courageous her students were.

Chuck replied, “Because I want to control my life more.”

“And the life of others,” Michael added, looking at Chuck with newly gained appreciation.

Chuck looked back at him but said nothing.

“Done!” Ms Williams said. “The Fox? Who is going to be our little friendly fox?”

“I’d like to be the fox,” said Betty, “because I can see him in my heart. In my bedroom, I have his quote laminated across my bed – ‘It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.'” Her eyes were bright, and her voice was crystal clear.

“I’m impressed,” said Ms. Williams, “What made you pick this particular quote, Betty? There are so many insights packed in this little book.”

“I don’t know,” said Betty, “Maybe, because too often I pay attention to what is visible and forget the importance of what is invisible.”

Ms. Williams nodded, “I know what you mean, Betty. You’re not alone in that behavior. I should have it hanging over my bed too! You know what? You just gave me an idea. From now until the end of the term, whenever someone comes across a quote that speaks to their heart, hand it to me, and I’ll post it on one of the walls. I bet we’ll learn a lot from each other. Betty, I invite you to be the first to post a quote. Ok?”

“Yes, Ms. Williams,” said Betty, “I’ll be happy to do it.”

“Ok, let’s move on. Who’d like to be the Little Prince?”

Johnny’s hand shot right up as when he wanted something with all his heart.

Ms. Williams smiled, “Yes, Johnny. Why would you like to play the little prince?”

“Because he’s awesome, Ms. Williams. I like how he thinks and befriends everybody and learns from any situation. He’s smart and kind. I want to be like him.” Johnny said in one breath, stealing glimpses at Betty. He was wondering what she thought.

“That’s wonderful, Johnny,” Ms. Williams said, “Can you stay after hours to work with me on the flow between one scene and another? Since the little prince is the only role always present on the stage, it needs more work.”

“I’m sorry, Ms. Williams,” Johnny blurted in frustration, “my mother needs me to help her with chores and shopping after school.”

Jamie said, “I could stay after hours, Ms. Williams. I want to play The Little Prince. I like to perform and participate in other plays in the leading role. Could I play the part instead of Johnny?” She looked eager to take on the role of the Little Prince.

Ms. Williams said, “This is a good example of prioritizing our choice. Both Jamie and Johnny want to act as The Little Prince. Could you think of a solution that could help Johnny with his demands at home and include Jamie’s desire to play the leading role? Does anyone have a suggestion that will satisfy them both?”

Vivi raised her hand. “Yes, Vivi?” asked Ms. Williams.

Vivi said, “At the start of the year, we read there would be two performances, one during school hours and one in the evening for our families. I suggest Johnny performs the play for the kids in school, and. Jamie plays for the one in the evening.”

“That’s a great idea, Vivi, but it still doesn’t relate to the practice for the role itself.” said Ms. Williams, “Anybody with a solution for that conflict?”

Jamie said, “I’ll be happy to meet with Johnny virtually and fill him in on what I’ve learned for the role. I know Johnny likes to help other students. This time I’ll help him instead.”

A deep silence of gratitude followed Jamie’s words. Ms. Williams said, “Thank you, Jamie. That was very generous of you. Johnny, could you meet with Jamie on Zoom and get the information for the role?”

“Sure, Ms. Williams. Thank you, Jamie. It could be fun to work together on the same role. We could bring different ideas. If my mother didn’t restrict me, I would have missed this opportunity!” They all laughed at the solution to what seemed previously a tense situation.

During the lunch break, when Vivi, Betty, Chuck, and Johnny got together in their usual spot to share their meal, as was their custom, Johnny said, “Thank you, Vivi, for coming to such a creative solution about The Little Prince role. I thought it was either Jamie or myself; it couldn’t be both.”

Vivi said, “I started having this thinking after practicing Anapana. Suddenly, not everything had to be one way or another. After a pause, there comes a solution that includes both options. I love practicing Anapana. It allows me to think in ways I never thought before.”

Betty and Chuck nodded in agreement.

Johnny said, “I told Betty on the bus this morning that I wanted to learn that technique too. Maybe it could help me with my mother. She asks me to help her shop and bring things from the dry cleaner. I want to be with you, not alone in the house until she returns from work. The house is so big and empty when I’m alone.” Johnny shivered when he thought of opening the door to an empty house. It never felt comfortable.

Betty said, “Today, my mom stays later at school. She has some meetings with the other teachers. If you want, I could go to the cleaners and shop together. It could be fun.” She smiled at Johnny.

“That would be great, Betty, but that’s only a solution for today. What gets me,” said Johnny, “I feel she asks too much of me. Maybe with the Anapana technique, I won’t get so upset.”

Betty nodded understandingly and added, “Anapana helps me with my mother. Sometimes when she tells me to do stuff, I like her asking for my help. I imagine she trusts me enough, even if it is to put the dishes in the dishwasher, and then I feel good about it. I think Anapana could help you with your mother, Johnny. You could stop finding reasons to be angry with her.”

Chuck said, “There’s Ms. Williams. Why don’t we approach her and ask her to teach Johnny Anapana. There’s strength in numbers!” They had finished eating, so they all walked toward her.

Ms. Williams noticed them coming and greeted them, “Hi, you look as if you want something. What is it?” She asked gently.

Betty said, “We’d like you to teach Johnny the Anapana meditation technique. We all hang out a lot, and he sees good changes in all of us.” Betty made room for Johnny to speak for himself.

“Yes, Ms. Williams,” said Johnny, “These are my best friends, and they’ve changed for the better since you taught them. When Mike opens his mouth, Chuck doesn’t change colors; Vivi is calmer, and Betty is even more exceptional.” The kids gave high five to each other, and Ms. Williams laughed.

“Sure, Johnny, with such high recommendations, I’ll gladly teach you the technique. My office is too small for all of you, why don’t you stay in the classroom after the last period, and you’ll learn it there. Nobody will bother us.”

“Thanks, Ms. Williams,” said Johnny, “We’ll be there,” and they ran back to the yard for a few more minutes of sunshine before the end of the break.

When the last of the other students left the classroom, the four friends got some chairs and sat in a circle close to the front of the room. Ms. Williams saw their collaboration with appreciation and joined them.

“Ok, Johnny,” she smiled at him, “before I teach you the Anapana technique, we have to go through something else. It’s called the Five Promises. Anapana is part of a framework, a way of thinking and behaving. It’s not an action that stays by itself. For the Anapana technique to work, you must promise to behave in a certain way. Here is a sheet that specifies those promises.” She handed the sheet with the Five Promises to the four students. “Let’s go in a circle; each one reads one promise. I’ll be the last one. Vivi, please start.”

Vivi read the first promise, “I promise to treat all beings kindly and not kill or harm them in any way.”

Betty continued, “I promise to take only what is given to me and not take anything which belongs to others without permission.”

Johnny read the next one, “I promise to treat other boys and girls like brothers or sisters or best friends.”

Chuck read, “I promise to speak truthfully, kindly, and gently and not to tell lies or to say hurtful things to anybody or about anybody.”

Ms. Williams concluded the reading by saying, “I promise not to take alcohol, drugs, or intoxicants but to keep my mind clear. Can you try your best to keep these promises, Johnny?”

“They sound good in theory, but if I wanted to keep them as part of my life and not forget them the moment I stopped reading them, I think it could help me if I had an example of what they meant,” Johnny said, and his friends nodded in agreement.

“That’s a great idea, Johnny. Why don’t each of us rereads the promise they got and gives an example.” Ms. Williams looked to her right, “Why don’t you start, Vivi, with the first promise?”

“‘I promise to treat all beings kindly and not kill or harm them in any way.’ I love eating steak. I could have eaten it every day and never got tired of it. But once I started practicing Anapana, I became vegetarian. I didn’t want a cow to die just because I enjoyed eating her.” Vivi grinned and added, “There is enough food to eat without the need to kill anyone.” She looked at Betty, sitting to her right, to continue.

“‘I promise to take only what is given to me and not take anything which belongs to others without permission.’ I used to play with my mother’s makeup without her permission.” Betty blushed. “Now, whenever I want to use anything that is not mine, I ask permission first.” She smiled at Johnny to read next.

Johnny read, “‘I promise to treat other boys and girls like brothers or sisters or best friends.’ When Jamie said she wanted to be The Little Prince, I panicked. I felt it was either her or me.” Johnny grinned and continued, “ From now on, I’ll try to hear what my friends say as if they include me, and there is room for all of us to play together.” He then turned to Chuck.

“I promise to speak truthfully, kindly, and gently and not to tell lies or to say hurtful things to anybody or about anybody.’ I used to feel defensive when Mike said something rude to me. When I hear him, I realize it doesn’t need to affect me. He must be in pain to say something rude; otherwise, he would be kind to me. I hear him, but I don’t get hurt. I don’t take it as if it was about me. What he says are his thoughts unless I turn them into mine.” Chuck looked to his right, “It’s your turn now, Ms. Williams.”

“I promise not to take alcohol, drugs, or intoxicants but to keep my mind clear.’ I used to have a drink when I came home after work. It used to calm me down after the stress of the day. I meditate for a few minutes instead, which does the trick. Great job, everyone,” she added, “Can you reread all Five Promises, Johnny?”

Johnny read, “I promise to try to treat all beings kindly and not kill them or harm them in any way. I promise to take only what is given to me and not take anything which belongs to others without permission. I promise to treat other boys and girls like brothers or sisters or best friends. I promise to speak truthfully, kindly, and gently and not to tell lies or to say hurtful things to anybody or about anybody. I promise not to take alcohol, drugs, or intoxicants but to keep my mind clear.”

“Thank you, Johnny,” said Ms. Williams, “Can you try your best to keep these promises?”

Johnny nodded affirmingly, “Yes, I can, and I will.”

“Great,” said Ms. Williams, “Now we’ll move to learn the Anapana Technique. Please, all of you, close your eyes and breathe through your nose. Feel the air coming inside the nostrils, and feel it come out of your nostrils. Just follow your breath. If you breathe in short breaths, let it be that way. If you breathe long breaths, don’t change anything. Only observe it the way it is. If you breathe through your right nostril or your left nostril, observe it. Let’s do it for a moment.” They all closed their eyes and started breathing through their nose.

“Now,” continued Ms. Williams, “focus on the air coming out of your nostrils. Feel the air touching the part between your nose and your upper lip. If you can’t feel the air touching your upper lip, you may feel the air coming out of your nostril as you breathe. Let’s practice this for a moment.” They all sat quietly, observing their breath.

“Excellent,” said Ms. Williams, “Keep breathing in, breathing out, and when you notice that you start thinking about something else, acknowledge it and bring your focus back to your breath without judgment. Just smile in your heart, observing your mind going places, and bring it back to your breath. Let’s do this for a moment or two.”

After a few minutes, Ms. Williams said softly, “Ok, you can open your eyes now. Any questions?”

“Ms. Williams,” said Johnny, “This feels wonderful, but I feel selfish working only on myself. How can I help my mother to relax? She is so tense, and it makes me that way too.”

“That’s an excellent question, Johnny,” said Ms. Williams, “Unfortunately, we can’t change anyone else but ourselves, no matter what we do and how right we are in our thinking. We are the only people we have control of. We can change how we feel about it and what we do when they act a certain way, but we can’t make them do anything they don’t want or feel any different than how they feel now.
But there is a practice we do at the end of each session for a couple of minutes. It’s called Metta. Metta means loving-kindness, which is a good emotion. We send good feelings to ourselves and other people. We send these emotions to people we know and love and people we don’t need much at present, hoping that by sending them Metta, our relationship will change. We can also send Metta to specific people like your mother.
Let’s practice sending Metta right now. We’ll close our eyes and, for a moment, start sending loving-kindness to yourself, your family, your friends, kids you have a difficult time with, and then to all the people of the world.”

They sat quietly, sending loving kindness to themselves and others, and then Johnny said, “I get it. When I send Metta, I don’t do something that could get me into trouble. I don’t argue with anyone or convince them they do something wrong. It’s a quiet action. I like it!”

“Great,” laughed Ms. Williams, and the other kids joined her.

“We have to practice Anapana for ten minutes twice daily for the most benefit,” said Chuck.

“Yes,” continued Ms. Williams, “it’s a practice, not a mental understanding. My teacher, Goenka, asks us to practice it when we get up and in the evening before bed. Is it something you can do, Johnny?”

“Yes, Ms. Williams,” said Johnny, “I’ll do it when I get up and in the evening before my prayers.”

“Great, Johnny,” added Ms. Williams, “remember, kids, this is not instead of any religious practice you may have. It’s only a tool to make it easier in your life.”

They nodded and put the chairs back.

“Thank you, Ms. Williams,” said Johnny, “Betty, do you still want to help me with my chores?” He looked at her sheepishly, “You don’t have to.”

“Of course, Silly,” Betty said, “It beats going home to my empty house since my mom is not going to be there.” She sent one of her most radiant smiles at Johnny.

“Ms. Williams, when are we going to read the parts of the play?” asked Vivi, “I can’t wait to see it all coming alive!”

“Yes, Ms. Williams,” said Chuck, “I want to invite my grandma to the play. She’ll love it!”

“Sure, Chuck. We will send invitations to our family and friends when the time comes. By the way, Johnny, we will also transmit it on YouTube live in the evening, so you can watch it with your mom if she can’t make it to the play.”

“Thank you, Ms. Williams, that’s helpful. I want to see the role Jamie plays as the little prince. I bet she’ll be awesome. She’ll send me her Zoom number, and I’ll catch up at home.”

“I’m happy you’re already getting organized to work together,” said Ms. Williams, “I’ll see you all tomorrow.”

The four friends left the school building but stopped before they went their separate way.

Vivi said, “I don’t know why, but I want to stay together for a minute longer. I don’t want to say goodbye to you all right now.”

They all nodded, and Chuck said, “I feel the same way, as if we went through something amazing. I feel the energy between us, and I don’t want to let it go.”

“I know what you mean,” added Johnny, “Thank you for being with me when I learned the Anapana technique. It’s a memory I’ll take for life.”

“We’re in this together,” said Betty, “Now, let’s go to the cleaner, Johnny. I’ve never been to a dry cleaner before. My mom takes care of all those things for me. Maybe I’ll ask her to let me do some of those chores. It could make it easier for her.”

“That’s such a new way of thinking for me,” Johnny shook his head, “I never thought how I could help my mom, but how to avoid helping her. It feels good to think positively. I bet it will help me get along better with her.”

“Ok, kids,” said Chuck, “I’m hungry. I must go home and have one of my grandma’s tasty meals. I think she made me mac and cheese.”

“Yeah,” said Vivi, “I’m hungry too. I’ll ask my mom to make some mac and cheese too. She always asks me what I want for dinner. Bye, everyone; I see my mom’s car.”

The friends parted for the day. Chuck to his grandma, Vivi to the waiting car, Betty and Johnny to the cleaners. But in their hearts, they stayed connected. They had a powerful tool to ease their way – Anapana.

הפוסט Johnny הופיע לראשונה ב-Aviva Derenowski – Poet.

הפוסט Chuck הופיע לראשונה ב-Aviva Derenowski – Poet.

“Sure, Mom,” Betty said as she descended the stairs.” Isn’t it great that Vivi is here? Now she can play with Cadmus before we go to school.”

“Yes, dear,” smiled Mrs. Thompson, “Vivi is a beautiful addition to this household. I prepared some sandwiches with the leftovers for lunch today with the hummus she made for us last night. I believe her mom will return tomorrow from visiting her friend. I got used to Vivi being around here, walking Cadmus to the park. Where is she, by the way?”

“I told you, Mom,” said Betty impatiently, “She practices Anapana when she wakes up for ten minutes. It’s that breathing technique Ms. Williams taught her at the beginning of the year to make her transition easier. I wish Ms. Williams had taught me that too. It seems to help Vivi focus and not get overwhelmed by people’s reactions. I have so much to learn from her.” Betty sighed and ate her pancake with maple syrup quietly.”

“Why don’t you ask Ms. Williams to teach you Anapana, Betty? She seems very open to it.” Mrs. Thompson said, drinking her Green Tea slowly. It was her favorite drink to start the day.

“I don’t know, Mom. She seems so busy with other students. I don’t feel close to her. Maybe Vivi could help me approach her.” Betty said pensively, “Here’s Vivi,” her face brightened up, seeing her best coming to the kitchen table.

“Pancakes!” Vivi exclaimed, “My favorite breakfast. How did you know, Mrs. Thompson?”

“Your mom told me before she left you in my care,” said Mrs. Thompson, “Betty, please check on Cadmus. It’s getting a bit late.”

“I’m doing it!” Betty rolled her eyes in exasperation, opened the back door for Cadmus, and stared at an empty yard. There was no sign of Cadmus, her lovely two-year-old mutt dog.

“Mom!” Betty yelled, “Cadmus is gone!”

Mrs. Thompson and Vivi jumped out to join Betty, trying to locate their beloved dog. Vivi pointed at a hole under the fence, “He must have dug his way out. What a creative creature!”

“What do you mean, ‘creative creature,’ yelled Betty, her face flushed. “He’s My Dog. He can’t just dig himself out! I would have taken him to the park myself. I can’t believe he did it to me!”

Her mom hugged her soothingly, “I’m sure he’ll be back, Betty. Go finish your breakfast.”

“I can’t eat. I must find Cadmus!” Betty said between sobs.

“Betty, it’s time for school,” said Vivi. “What if we ask Mary, the librarian, to print some posters with Cadmus’s picture? After school, we can distribute them around the neighborhood.”

“I can’t go to school if Cadmus is gone like that. Maybe something has happened to it? A great dog like that, somebody may have kidnapped him, and I’ll never see him again!” Betty started sobbing again.

Vivi and Mrs. Thompson looked at each other. “Honey,” said Mrs. Thompson, “I’m not teaching today. I’ll print some posters at home and post them around the neighborhood. I will also post a message on our neighborhood Facebook group and email the list serve. Please, go study.” She looked at her daughter’s flushed face and kissed her on the nose. “Now, get ready. The bus will be here any moment. We’ll find Cadmus.”

“I know,” Betty admitted as they got on the bus. “I’m so attached to him. It’s like he knows all of my deepest thoughts and feelings. Sometimes Cadmus crawls into bed with me, and I hold him. It’s such a comforting feeling.” She let out a sigh.

“Do you think we should suggest it as a topic for Ms. Williams’ class?” Vivi asked, leaving Betty her favorite window seat close to the end of the bus.

“Sure,” said Betty, thanking Vivi for her gesture, “You will represent the side of freeing the dogs, and I’ll suggest why we should keep it as it is. ok?”

“Sounds good, but please don’t be mad at me, Betty. You’re my best friend. I don’t want to hurt you.” said Vivi with concern.

“How can you hurt me, Silly? It’s about dogs, not us.” Betty laughed nervously as the bus stopped at the school, and they rushed to class.

Ms. Williams spotted them on the way in and said, “Hi, girls. Do you have a moment?”

“Yes?” they both said in unison.

Ms. Williams smiled and continued, “I have to take over my colleague’s class and write tasks on the board for the students to work on. It will take me around twenty minutes to do attendance and complete this task. Can you please engage the class in a discussion during this time?”

Vivi and Betty looked at each other in amazement. It was as if Ms. Williams knew what they intended.

“Sure,” said Vivi, “Don’t worry, Ms. Williams. We have a great topic. It’s about dogs.”

“Thanks,” sighed Ms. Williams, “I knew I could count on you. Come in, and we’ll start attendance here before I go to the other class.” She entered the classroom, and the girls followed her. Vivi still felt a bit concerned about Betty’s reaction to her, but she trusted Betty’s friendship that things would end well.

“Kids,” the teacher called after reading attendance, “I have to attend another class for a few minutes. Vivi and Betty will conduct a discussion. Please don’t give them a hard time. After all, they’re your friends. Be nice. See you in a few.” Ms. Williams left the room, and the kids looked curiously at Betty and Vivi, anticipating entertainment.

“Well,” said Vivi, “how many of you have dogs?” She counted fifteen hands. “Wow, that’s impressive,” she said, “I don’t, but Betty does. She has a charming mutt called Cadmus. I had a dream last night that brought up the idea that dogs are not friendly because they like us but depend on us. We feed them, take them on walks, and tell them when to eat and when to go. We train them not to bark. All in all, we control their life, something like we’d do to an enslaved person.

Betty interjected, “But it’s not like that at all! I love my Cadmus. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for him. And he loves me. He always shakes his tail when he sees me. He always licks my hand when he greets me. He’s my best friend.”

Vivi raised her hand to take her turn when Mike shouted excitedly, “We want blood! Come on, Betty! Show how much you care for Cadmus. Hit that little Miss Know-it-all!”

Jamie sitting next to Mike, said, “Stop that, Mike, you bully. These girls try to show two opposite ways of thinking—something you can’t imagine possible. For you, it’s hit or run. My brother brought a puppy home a few months ago – all eager to take care of someone else. Still, I feed it and take it out when I return from school, not because I want to, but because it’s there, and everybody else is too busy to care. I started thinking of giving it to a shelter. It’s so complicated.”

Chuck said, “I don’t like dogs. I’m afraid of them. I worked a summer delivering mail, and a dog jumped on me and almost tore my arm. I have a scar. Why can’t people take care of their pets?” He said in a troubled voice and looked at Betty as if she had anything to do with his experience.

Johnny desired a furry friend: “I want a dog to welcome me home.”

Vivi interrupted, expressing concern for the well-being of animals kept in apartments all day waiting for their owners. “Isn’t it selfish to only think of our needs? Think about the quality of life for the animal.”

Betty, who had a soft spot for Johnny, defended his desire for a dog, saying, “It’s a good life for them. They’re cared for and not out on the streets scavenging for food. Vivi, don’t criticize those who love dogs. You’re the selfish one.”

As Ms. Williams walked down the hallway, she heard the sound of children fighting. She quickly entered the room and shut the door behind her, causing the kids to quiet down immediately. Although they were relieved to see her return, they felt frustrated that they couldn’t express themselves fully. Ms. Williams noticed Vivi staring at her shoes and Betty breathing heavily with messy hair. She took a moment to compose herself before calmly addressing the class. “Thank you, Betty and Vivi, for your lively presentation. As you may recall, we studied in Biology about Symbiosis. There are three basic types of symbiotic relationships: mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism.
Mutualism is a relationship in which both organisms benefit. For example, bacteria live in the digestive system of cows. The bacteria help the cows by breaking down plants that the cows eat. In turn, the cows provide a place to live and a food source for the bacteria.
Commensalism is a relationship in which one organism benefits, but the other is neither helped nor harmed. Remora fish and sharks have a commensal relationship. Remora fish attach themselves to sharks. The fish eat scraps left over by the sharks, and neither harms the other. Parasitism is a relationship in which one organism benefits but harms the other. The organism that gains from the exchange is known as a parasite. Ticks and fleas are examples of parasites. They attach themselves to a dog, a cat, or another host and feed off its blood. Please grab your notebooks, write about your perspective on the presentation about dogs, and think about what kind of symbiosis people have with them.”

Vivi and Betty returned to their seats and sat together for the rest of the class without speaking. Ms. Williams noticed the tension between them and made a note to talk to them after class to help them resolve their negative emotions toward each other.

Fifteen minutes later, Ms. Williams said, “Please raise your hand once you’ve finished and are happy with your writing. We’d love to hear your composition.” Jamie raised her hand.

“Jamie, would you like to read?” Ms. Williams asked with enthusiasm. Jamie responded with a nod, said, “Yes, I’d love to,” and started reading confidently, “On my way to the grocery store recently, I came across a pit bull walking beside his owner, who was busy texting. The dog seemed to gaze at me with confusion and humility, questioning the purpose of his presence and why this man was holding his leash.
As I walked, I couldn’t help but feel drawn to the pit bull I saw. I wanted to take the dog home and play with him as The Little Prince did with his fox. However, the fox warned me against doing anything rash. “Keep walking,” he advised. “You can’t change someone else’s world, only your own.”

I continued arguing with the fox, insisting that the pit bull looked so sad and that I couldn’t leave him there. But the fox reminded me that we needed to get to the grocery store for flour and tomato sauce to make pizza for my mother.

Although it was a hard decision, I agreed with the fox and thanked him for his wisdom. As much as I wanted a dog, my mother and I were both away from home too much to give one the attention it deserved.
I once read in a book given to me by my father that dogs became our companions because we were nomads who left behind scraps of food for them to eat. Over time, we domesticated them, and they depended on us for everything. We control their bathroom habits, put collars on them, and claim they are happy. I would not want to be a dog. I would rather be a free cockroach than a captive pit bull.

Last night, I had a dream that I was the dog liberator. I traveled from town to town, encouraging dogs to leave their owners and reconnect with the wolves who could teach them about their ancestry. Each wolf was paired with a dog, teaching them how to hunt and raid chicken coops. However, things worsened when people began to view dogs as pests. I realized then that I had made a mistake. I begged the dogs to return to their masters, but it was too late. The dogs had tasted freedom, and a war broke out between dogs and humans. It was a chaotic and unsettling situation. I take full responsibility for my actions as a dog liberator. No one requested or pressured me to take on this role. I realize now that I failed to consider the potential adverse outcomes that could arise from starting such a movement. I had good intentions when I wanted the dogs to experience freedom. Still, they must remember their gratitude towards their owners for providing them with food and walks. Instead, they are angry about being held captive for many generations. The presence of the wolves served as a reminder of what it truly means to be free. This dream left me uneasy, and I vowed never to ask my mom for a dog. The situation is quite complex.” After finishing reading, Jamie glanced around as if she had just returned from a different time and place.

Ms. Williams expressed her gratitude, “Thank you, Jamie. Your work was exceptional and showed creativity and thoughtfulness. With your permission, I would like to share it in the school newsletter.” As the bell sounded, Ms. Williams said, “Vivi and Betty, please come see me before heading out on your break.”

When class ended, the girls approached Ms. Williams, and Vivi immediately apologized to Betty, “Betty, I am truly sorry. I was insensitive. I knew you were grieving Cadmus’s loss, and yet I blamed dog owners for being inconsiderate. It was inappropriate timing. Please forgive me.”

“I am responsible for what happened,” Betty admitted. “I told you on the bus that your opinions on dogs would not affect our relationship, yet I accused you of selfishness. I overreacted, and it was not your fault. I am simply concerned about Cadmus. I pray that my mother has put up posters and shared them throughout the community. I can’t believe I won’t see Cadmus again.”

“I completely understand your concern, Betty, about possibly losing Cadmus,” expressed Ms. Williams. “Pets become like family, and it can be difficult to imagine life without them. However, we must remember that dogs are animals, and during this season, they may become attracted to females in heat. Cadmus may have followed his instincts and gone after a female dog. Once they have finished mating, Cadmus will likely return home safely.”

“Thank you, Ms. Williams.” Betty unexpectedly wrapped her arms around Ms. Williams’s waist and began to cry. “I don’t know what to do. I’m overwhelmed by these intense emotions. I even yelled at my best friend to express her opinion. Can you teach me, Anapana? Vivi has been practicing it, and I can see how much she has changed. I want to experience that change too. I want to be more like you!” Betty laughed, and they both joined in.

“Betty, you don’t have to try to be like me,” Ms. Williams said, “Just be yourself. I would love to teach you the Anapana technique after school today. Vivi could join us too. Practicing in a group can help us observe the changes we experience moment by moment and create powerful energy. Could you ask your mother if you and Vivi could study and practice Anapana with me after school? Ms. Williams shook a stubborn brown curl off her face while speaking.

“Ms. Williams,” Vivi asked timidly, “Could we ask Chuck to join us? He and I practiced Anapana together for ten minutes before the first period in school for a while.”

“Vivi, that’s a wonderful suggestion,” Ms. Williams exclaimed before turning to Chuck, who was patiently sitting at his desk. “Chuck, would you mind joining us for a moment? I will be teaching Betty the Anapana technique after school. It would benefit us all to practice together as a group, as it will create stronger energy and lead to quicker positive changes.”

Chuck nodded as he approached them and said, “I did feel my practice was deeper when I did it with Vivi.”

Vivi blushed and said, “So did I. When I practiced Anapana with you before the first period at school, the whole day went smoother. I was calmer than when I practiced on my own at home.”

“All right, kids,” Ms. Williams said, checking her watch. “The break is almost over. I’ll see you all in my office after school. It will be cozy in that little room.” She added, exiting the room and leaving behind the lingering fragrance of her well-known jasmine scent.

“I’m sorry about Cadmus, Betty,” Chuck said, looking at her with concern, “I know how close you are to him. I still think he’ll be back. After all, where will he find a better master? You’re the best!” he added with fervor.

Vivi nodded and said, “No hard feelings, right? We’ll do everything to find Cadmus. I’m so glad you’re going to learn about Anapana. Then we could practice it together! Hey, guess what. We have a few minutes before the end of the break. I have an alfajor for lunch. Let’s not wait but eat something delicious to celebrate Betty’s learning of Anapana today. It’s going to be awesome!” She hurried to her desk and took her lunch out, taking special care of the delicious cargo. “Here, Betty, you take the largest bit. Chuck and I will share the rest.” Vivi gave Betty, who was already feeling better anticipating the heavenly flavor of the alfajor, and Chuck felt glad Vivi took him as her trusted friend.

On their lunch break, Betty told Johnny the exciting news, “Ms. Williams is going to teach me the Anapana technique, and I’ll be able to practice with Vivi every morning. You should ask her to teach you too!”

“Yeah,” Johnny nodded, chewing on his veggie burger with extra ketchup, “I don’t like sitting in one place for a long time, but maybe it could work. I have lots of time by myself when I get home.”

The children exchanged glances. Johnny’s parents worked long hours, leaving him alone until they returned. “You know what,” Betty suggested, “maybe you could wait for us after practice and come home with us. If Cadmus isn’t home, I’ll need your support.” She added shyly.

“Of course, Betty, I should have thought of that myself,” Johnny replied. “I’ll wait outside when you’re finished.” He smiled at Betty. Chuck and Vivi exchanged looks. They understood how he felt. They all shared a close bond, but Johnny and Betty were becoming particularly close.

***

“Come in,” Ms. Williams invited the three kids into her small office. They all sat in the seats Ms. Williams prepared for them, and Betty looked around in astonishment. “Wow,” she whispered, “This office is so green and warm! I wish we could study here instead of in that harsh classroom.”

“You know what,” said Ms. Williams looking at Betty with admiration, “It’s not a bad thought. I’ll talk to the principal and ask permission to transform our home classroom into a more intimate space. What do you think? A few plants and pictures. It could add to concentration and a relaxed feeling when we study. It’s a wonderful idea!” Ms. Williams moved her hands as if redesigning the space. “But now, let’s concentrate on the reason we’re here. Let’s practice Anapana together, but before that, Betty, I’d like you to read this paper and see if you can comply with it.” Ms. Williams presented Betty with The Five Promises. Betty read the paper aloud in a solemn voice:

“I promise to try to treat all beings kindly and not kill them or harm them in any way.
I promise to take only what is given to me and not take anything which belongs to others without permission.
I promise to treat other boys and girls like brothers or sisters or best friends.
I promise to speak truthfully, kindly, and gently and not to tell lies or to say hurtful things to anybody or about anybody.
I promise not to take alcohol, drugs, or intoxicants but to keep my mind clear.

I do, Ms. Williams. Especially now that I’m afraid Cadmus is gone, I need to be close to my friends and support them.” Betty looked at Vivi and Chuck, who nodded in reassurance. “Can I have The Five Promises? I want to hang it in my room and remind myself of their importance.”

“Of course, Betty. It’s yours. You can even decorate it and make it pretty,” said Ms. Williams, “Now, I would like you all to close your eyes and observe your breath. Don’t control it. Observe it. If your breathing is fast, let it be fast. If it’s slow, let it be slow. If it’s deep, continue breathing deeply; if it’s shallow, keep it shallow. Just observe your breathing as it is. Keep your eyes close for a few minutes and feel your breath. I’ll do the same.”

Ms. Williams closed her eyes and joined the kids silently for a few minutes, then said calmly. “While breathing, please concentrate on the area between your nose and upper lip and feel the air touching that area as you breathe. Feel how the air touches the area between your nostrils and the upper lip. Let’s do that for a couple of minutes. When your mind wanders away, and you catch yourself thinking of other things, bring your mind back to the breath with no judgment. It’s ok. This technique is a new process to cultivate. It may not feel natural at first, but keep doing it. Notice your breath, the air touching the exit of your nostrils, between your nose and your upper leap, and keep your eyes closed. This way, it would be easier for you to concentrate on your breath and keep your mind engaged on the breath.” They all sat quietly, practicing the new technique. Then Ms. Williams said, “Ok, you can open your eyes now.” She looked at Betty, who looked much calmer than before.
“There is one more part at the end of the meditation. We call it Sending Metta. In that part, we send loving-kindness to ourselves, our friends and family, people we don’t necessarily like, and all sentient beings on the planet. It takes just a couple of minutes. Now that Cadmus is missing, we could send him Metta to ease his path home. Would you like to join me? I will lead the process this time, but you may say your own words when you practice it.”

Betty nodded, they all closed their eyes again, and Ms. Williams said confidently, soothingly.

“May I be happy, be peaceful
May my mother be happy, be peaceful
May my father be happy, be peaceful,
May all my brothers and sisters be happy, be peaceful
May all my classmates be happy, be peaceful
May all my schoolmates be happy, be peaceful
May all my neighbors be happy, be peaceful
May all the people of my country be happy, be peaceful
May all the people of the world be happy, be peaceful
May all the sentient beings of this world be happy, be peaceful.”

They sat for another moment in silence, and then Ms. Williams said, “Betty, do you have any questions?”

Betty asked, “How often should I practice Anapana?”

“My teacher, Goenka, recommends ten minutes in the morning and before bed. You can also practice when you need extra help, like before a test or when you’re feeling nervous or tense,” replied Ms. Williams. “Do you have any other questions?”

“Ms. Williams, now that Vivi lives with me, can I practice it with her?” Betty asked.

“That’s an excellent question, Betty. To help with wandering thoughts, practice with others to keep focused and inspire each other is very beneficial. This way, you inspire each other, and your mind gets calmer. Anything else?” Ms. Williams added, scanning her students amiably.

They shook their heads and remained quiet for a moment. The energy in the room was so clear and calm. They didn’t want to leave. Chuck said, “Thank you, Ms. Williams. Since I started practicing Anapana, I’m not as skittish as before. Sometimes I even forget to check if Mike is after me.” He laughed nervously.

Vivi shared, “I practice Anapana twice daily and have noticed that it helps me stay calm. However, when Mike says something hurtful, my breathing becomes fast, and I lose control. I try to do Anapana as soon as possible, which prevents me from becoming mean or crying.”

Ms. Williams kindly explained, “Meditation is a process. Doing it in a group can help steady the mind and strengthen the practice. You can even do it virtually if you’re not in the same physical space.”

Chuck interjected, “That’s a great idea! Do you mind if we do it virtually? I’d love that!”

“Of course, Chucky! It would be awesome!” Vivi replied.

Betty asked, “Do I have to become Buddhist to practice Anapana correctly?”

Ms. Williams clarified, “Anapana is a non-sectarian breathing technique that can benefit anyone, regardless of religion or belief in God. It helps cultivate inner peace and see reality as it is. If you’re Jewish, it helps you to be a better Jew. If you’re a Christian, it helps you to be a better Christian. It’s just a breathing technique to help you be a better you,” she smiled.

She continued, “Ok, kids, I’m here for you. The most important part is to continue your practice of ten minutes of Anapana in the morning and ten minutes of Anapana at night. I’m always here for you if you have any questions or want to share something with me. I don’t know about you, but I’m getting hungry.” She smiled and opened her office door.

The kids still didn’t move as if they wanted to stay in the safe environment of the office, where every corner was filled with love and care, plants, and smiling students.

Ms. Williams continued to stand at the open door, radiating love and compassion. Slowly they got up, nodded to Ms. Williams in gratitude, and joined the herd of children leaving the school after a friendly basketball match. The different energy hit them like a storm. They looked at each other in surprise and started laughing.

“Welcome to the real world,” Vivi said to them and shook her head on the way to the exit. “Can you imagine a world where we lived surrounded by the same energy we felt at Ms. Williams’ office?”

Chuck reflected on the situation and said, “Maybe it’s not the world that needs to change, but how we experience it. Before entering Ms. Williams’s office, if I experienced such intense energy from the basketball-winning team, I would have been paralyzed with fear and checked my pockets for candy. But after practicing Anapana for a few weeks, I can feel the guys’ enthusiasm and excitement without fear.”

“That’s amazing,” said Betty, “how our feelings change depending on the story we tell ourselves. When I saw Cadmus disappear from the yard this morning, I felt desperate, as if it was all my fault. I wasn’t good enough for him, and he went to look for a better master. I was even angry at him for leaving me. After Ms. Williams explained that Cadmus’s behavior may have nothing to do with me, but it was natural for male dogs to follow the scent of female dogs in heat, I calmed down. I still miss him terribly, and I hope to see him soon, but I lost my anxiety.”

Vivi interjected, “I just got a text from your mom. Your phone is on mute. She’s waiting outside the school. Let’s go! Chucky, you want to come with us? I’m sure Mrs. Thompson won’t mind.”

Chuck shook his head, “Sorry, but I must go home and see my grandmother. She probably prepared this great vegetarian meal for me and waited for me. I want to share what we just experienced at Ms. Williams’ office with her. She talked about wanting to take the Ten Days Vipassana Retreat, the Anapana course for grown-ups. Let’s go!”

The kids hurried up outside. Now there were very few people waiting to get a ride home. At the corner, they could spot Mrs. Thompson. She was not alone. Cadmus was with her, swaying his bushy long tail right and left and barking. Mrs. Thompson let him off the leash. Cadmus and Betty ran toward each other like lovers in a slow-motion movie.

“Cadmus!”Betty cried, hugging her dog, caressing it, and kissing it.

Cadmus barked in kind, licking Betty’s face and caressing her face with the soft part of his foot.

Vivi and Chuck joined them while Mrs. Thompson and Ms. Williams watched the scene from afar.

Betty kept mumbling and humming into Cadmus’s long fur. “You’re home! You made it home! We sent you metta, and you showed up at school.” She looked at Ms. Williams, who approached them and caressed Cadmus’s head.

Ms. Williams said, “We say it’s the way of Dhamma, The Path. When we work with Dhamma, Dhamma works with us ten times fold. If you continue to practice Anapana and do your best to follow the Five Promises, Dhamma will always be on your side. Now go home, and give Cadmus some water. He must have great experiences to share with you, but he looks thirsty. Bye, kids, see you tomorrow.”

“Bye, Ms. Williams,” they waved at her, “See you tomorrow.”

הפוסט Betty הופיע לראשונה ב-Aviva Derenowski – Poet.

Sidi’s eyes followed Trunkless sucking the mush of leaves into his mouth.

“Tell me again how it happened,” she asked shyly.

Trunkless’ face softened after gulping his breakfast; he burped and said, “When I was a tiny little elephant, I clumsily bent down to drink water directly with my mouth. I was so engrossed in satisfying my thirst that I ignored the crocodile who glid by. It bit my whole trunk in one bite and swam away.

הפוסט The Trunkless Elephant הופיע לראשונה ב-Aviva Derenowski – Poet.

***

Vivi made it to the lunch break, and nothing terrible happened on her first day at school. The teacher was kind and didn’t call her to the front of the class to introduce herself. The children said nothing intimidating, and nobody seemed to notice her. That was cool. She didn’t need anyone. She was ok. Being invisible was ok. Vivi watched the schoolyard of All Stars Students, her new school. Her mother chose it because of its mission statement and location within the city limits. It was also a small school, which encouraged attention to students according to their needs. Vivi liked that the idea of inclusion. She always felt different, no matter where she was, even though she tried to act like everybody else. Kids were busy playing basketball, jumping rope, and sharing food. She held her lunch tight, which included an alfajor, the dessert her mother gave her as encouragement for her first day.

Suddenly, one of the kids approached her and asked, “I heard you talking to the teacher this morning. What’s with that accent? Why do you talk funny?” He smiled as if he wanted to get to know her. She tried to turn away, but it was too late. Other kids joined them and waited for her response.

For a moment, Vivi felt awkward and lost her breath. Then she smiled, straightened her posture, and said, “I don’t know, I have an Argentinian accent when I speak English. Maybe because I’m from Buenos Aires. When I speak Spanish, I talk with no accent at all.”

“You speak Spanish?” The boy asked in awe. “I don’t speak anything but English, and even that needs help.” The children around them nodded in agreement. “Say something in Spanish!” He challenged her.

“Like what?” Vivi’s eyes sparkled, her mouth regained moisture, and she felt like an ambassador from another country.

“Say, Johnny’s an idiot.” A girl next to him sputtered and laughed.

The boy who was talking to Vivi blushed and lowered his head. Then he looked her straight in the eye and said, “No, Say ‘hello, nice to meet you’ in Spanish,” The circle around Vivi grew tighter, and Johny pushed the kids around to continue and be close to her.

“Hola,” Vivi said, and her smile widened, “Encantada, nice to meet you.”

“Encantada,” said the boy named Johnny.

“No, no, ‘encantada’ is for girls. “You’d say – encantado.” laughed Vivi.

The girl who introduced Johnny extended her hand and said, “Hola, encantada. I’m Betty.”

Vivi shook Betty’s hand vigorously, holding her lunch in the other like a life preserver. “Hola, encantada. I’m Vivi.” They both giggled.

Johnny grabbed Vivi’s hand and said, “Encantado. I’m Johnny.”

One by one, the kids shook her hand and introduced themselves.
“Hola, I’m Jamie, encantada,” said a tall girl with glasses.
“Hola, I’m Chuck, encantado,” said a chubby boy with curly hair.

Vivi kept shaking hands and laughing with relief. She didn’t remember any of the names, but Johnny’s and Betty’s, and it was ok. Vivi noticed that the kids had a funny American accent when they spoke Spanish. Her weird feeling about her accent vanished, and she started breathing more calmly. Soon after that introduction, the kids all dispersed to eat their lunch, and Vivi spotted a sunny place near the fence. She still had some time before the end of the break. All that activity made her yearn for the alfajor and the avocado sandwich her mom had prepared, all wrapped in a thin paper decorated with hearts and a note reminding, “Be kind, be smart, be loved – kisses, Mom.” Vivi kissed the message, folded it carefully, and placed it in her pocket.

Vivi saw Betty reaching her sunny spot and waved. Betty’s spiky blue hair looked great, framing her freckles. She wore a purple t-shirt with the bold words ‘Why Not?’. Betty said, “Hola,” and waited for Vivi to respond.

“Hola,” Vivi responded and politely scooted over to make space for her new friend.

“What’s in your sandwich?” Betty pushed her buttony nose to Vivi’s lunch.

“Avocado and red pepper on sourdough bread. Want some?” Vivi asked and offered her half.

Betty examined the sandwich suspiciously. “I got a hard-boiled egg, a granola bar, and a banana.” She shrugged, “Do you want half of mine?”

Vivi’s heart was set on having an alfajor. However, she found pleasure in sharing and exchanging her food with Betty. As they began munching, Vivi was pleasantly surprised by the delicious taste of the granola bar, which contained chunks of chocolate. Adding half a banana made enhanced the overall flavor.

“Hmm… I like your avocado sandwich. It feels so healthy; I’ve never used avocado in a sandwich.” Betty said with a mouthful.

“Yeah, my mom enjoys preparing my meals and snacks; after all, food becomes our body,” Vivi said, thinking about her alfajor and its final destination. “I’ll ask my mom to get me a granola bar once in a while,” she said, licking the banana off her fingers, “Banana is an excellent source of potassium.”

Betty looked at her wide-eyed, “What do you mean? All I know about food is that I either like it or it makes me fat. I never thought of how it feeds my body.” They giggled.

“Your egg contains protein to build new cells and repair old ones.” Vivi said, “It’s pretty awesome. Do you eat meat? That’s full of protein.”

“No, I don’t,” Betty said, “I hate the idea of killing animals just because of their flavor. After all, there’s enough food for everyone. Did you ever see how chickens, cows, and pigs turn into cutlets and steaks? It’s horrible.”

“You’re right,” Vivi said, thinking about those tiny cages. “With all the healthy things my mother taught me, I never considered becoming vegetarian. I love meat. In Argentina, people eat steak like you eat burgers here. By the way, another typical Argentinian dessert is the alfajor. Would you like to share one with me?” Vivi said, forgetting how much she craved it.

“Sure, what does it taste like?” Betty asked.

“Like heaven,” Vivi sighed and split the alfajor in the middle, letting the Dulce de Leche sip on her fingers.

Betty looked mesmerized at two delicate wafers embracing a luscious glob of creamy caramel. “Oh, my God, Vivi! This is amazing,” Betty looked at Vivi as if she had performed some magic. Vivi touched the note in her pocket and knew her mom would be proud of her kindness in sharing her favorite dessert with a new friend.

They heard the school bell announcing the end of the break and ran inside side by side.
“Come, sit next to me, Vivi.” Betty said, “I left room for you even before you shared your alfajor with me.” Vivi moved her backpack from the seat at the back to the one next to Betty.

“You’ve got a new friend.” Ms. Williams smiled at Vivi as the arithmetic lesson started. Betty and Vivi nodded with enthusiasm. It felt so good to have friends. Vivi glanced at Johnny in the next row, who looked eager to participate in the coming lesson. She remembered he was the first to introduce himself to her. Johnny seemed to like the dreaded arithmetics. Her numbers never added right. Betty blushed as she noticed Vivi peeking at her notebook, all smudged with corrections.

“Hey, Betty,” Vivi whispered, “why don’t we ask Johnny to help us with this monster of math? He seems to enjoy it.”

“That’s a great idea!” Betty’s breath quickened, “I wanted to ask him, but I was afraid he wouldn’t be interested in helping me.”

“If we ask together, it would be easy to take a no for an answer,” Vivi reassured her.

The lesson started with the teacher inquiring, “Does anyone have an answer to the question about translating the duration of their commute to school into seconds?”

Johnny’s hand shot up together with a dozen others. Betty and Vivi shrugged sadly. Jamie, the tall girl with thick glasses, responded, “It takes me eight minutes when my father takes me, which equals four hundred and eighty seconds. When my mother does, it’s fifteen minutes because she drops my brother first in his kindergarten. Then it’s nine hundred and sixty seconds.”

“Well said, Jamie,” said Ms. Williams, “Who can give a different answer?”

Johnny waved his hands as if he were drowning.

“I see you, Johnny. What is your answer?” The teacher spoke calmly and reassuringly.

“I walk to school. It takes me forty-five minutes. That’s two thousand seven hundred seconds.”

Vivi realized she could calculate the seconds it took her to get to school by multiplying the minutes by sixty. With some hesitation, she raised her hand.

The teacher addressed her, “Yes, Vivi?” Her heart was pumping blood to her ears, but Vivi tried to ignore it and responded calmly. “I come by bus. It takes me about thirty minutes which is one hundred eighty seconds.”
The kids laughed at her mistake, and she cursed herself for trying.

“That was a good attempt, Vivi, but I think you forgot a zero in your multiplication. It’s a common mistake; don’t worry; you’ll get it quickly with determination and courage.” Ms. Williams smiled with encouragement.

Johnny turned his head and said, “I’ll help you, Vivi.”

“Thanks,” Vivi smiled. Her mistake led to an opportunity to work on something specific. She winked at Betty and said, “I’ll ask him to help you, too, ok?”

“You’re a true friend.” Betty beamed.

Vivi thought that if she wanted to make good grades at school, she had to pay more attention to the lesson instead of focusing on her new friends.

“Betty,” she asked quietly, “let’s pay attention.”

Betty withdrew instantly as if Vivi had slapped her. “Sorry, I didn’t want to bother you,” she said, sitting as far from Vivi as possible. Vivi was at a loss. Betty was her only friend, but she’d learn math only if she concentrated.

“Betty, please, “Vivi whispered anxiously.

“Don’t worry; you don’t need to invite me for your sessions with Johnny. I saw how he looked at you.” Betty said between her teeth and glared forward.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Vivi whispered, trying to concentrate on the teacher’s words. “I want you to get together. You’re my friend!”

“Vivi, Betty, please pay attention,” Ms. Williams called on them. “We’re learning reasoning questions. You may not need to know about rectangular prisms when you graduate, but using your reason will always be handy.”

Vivi couldn’t help herself and snapped at Betty, “Did you hear that? Use your reason.”

“I’m sorry,” Betty blushed, “let’s concentrate on the lesson.”

Ms. Williams continued, asking, “What is the volume of the rectangular prism on the board?”

Johnny’s hand shot up, and he answered while the teacher pointed in his direction, “You multiply four by three by four. The volume is forty-eight inches.”

“Excellent! And how could this calculation be relevant to you? Anybody else wants to answer this? Yes, Jamie?”

“My father wants to get me an aquarium, but I don’t know if it would fit in my room. By calculating its volume, I’d know if there is space for it before my father hires someone to bring it home.” Jamie and Johnny seemed to be the best students in math.

“Right,” The teacher commented, “We want to use what we study at school to solve problems in our life.”

“Hey,” Vivi nudged Betty and smiled, “I’m sorry I cut you short. I got overwhelmed trying to understand math. I’m horrible at this.”

Betty turned and smiled, “I know how it feels. I get overwhelmed all the time.”

“Betty, Vivi,” the teacher said, “please stop your conversation and pay attention to the lesson. Math doesn’t come easy to either of you.”

“Many people have difficulty with math,” Johnny told the teacher, “When I show them the basics, it will be easier for them to concentrate.”

“I’ll give you extra credits.” Ms. Williams said with enthusiasm.

“I won’t do it for credit, “Johnny shook his head, “I’ll be happy to help them.”

“Great,” Miss Williams said, “You are a good friend, Johnny. Class, let’s continue with the following problem.”

Mike raised his hand, “Yes, Mike?” The teacher asked.

“I think if someone can’t deal with the level of this class, they shouldn’t attend this school.” He looked straight at Vivi. The rest of the class remained silent.

Ms. Williams said calmly, “That’s an interesting approach, even though I remember you having difficulty in other subjects, Mike. Anybody else can offer comments?”

“I can also help with Math.” Jamie said, “I like helping because when I do, it’s easier for me to understand the problem and find a way out.”

“That’s a great point, Jamie,” praised Ms. Williams. “Let’s move away from the next problem for now. Instead, gather in teams of four and identify the person who understands how to calculate volumes the best. They can help explain the problem to the rest of the group.”

Desks moved around, and havoc took place for a short while, but then they were all busy exploring and learning what was difficult for some and easy for others.

Moving from one group to another, Ms. Williams brought lively energy to the classroom. Her focused and calm demeanor transformed the kids, shifting the atmosphere from dull to vibrant. Vivi observed her and wished she could possess the same qualities.

Johnny, the leader of Vivi’s group, excitedly explained, “Calculating the volume of prisms is simple. However, the challenge lies in determining the volume of any object.”

Vivi was feeling breathless and didn’t comprehend what “volume” meant. She hesitated to ask and wanted to leave the group to avoid dealing with it. She whispered to Betty, “I’m not feeling well. I need to see the nurse.”

Betty nodded but wasn’t paying attention. Instead, she timidly asked Johnny, “What is volume?”

“That’s an excellent question, Betty. Volume is the space that any object occupies – even you!” Johnny smiled at her, “To find out the volume of any object, we multiply its length, width, and height.”

“But Johnny, I’m round,” Vivi asked, forgetting her plan after hearing Betty’s question, “How can you measure my length and width?”
Johnny agreed, “We have to sink you in a tub of water and measure the amount that spills over. Your volume is the difference between the two water levels. Do you understand?” He asked with concern, and she nodded with relief. She felt comfortable in this little group.

Betty suggested using a small stone she had in her hand. They carefully placed it in a measuring cup. The water level rose a bit. “That’s it!” Betty exclaimed. “The change in the water level represents the volume of my pebble.” They all agreed, feeling like great scientists confirming a theory.

As the teacher approached their table, they looked at her with pride, and she said, “This is no longer math but physics. It demonstrates how things work. Excellent job!”

Johnny’s team was so occupied with the new learning that they stayed during the break to test different objects and their volume. Solving problems became more manageable and practical.

As they were leaving, Vivi suggested, “Why don’t you ask your parents if you could come to my place and do homework together? My mom will drop you off afterward wherever you live.”

“Sorry, Vivi, maybe another time,” Betty politely declined. “I promised my mom to help her make dinners and freeze them for next week. She’s a teacher and doesn’t have much time to cook.”

Johnny looked at his shoes and muttered, “My parents are coming home late tonight. I’d love to study at your place, Vivi. Maybe your mom will have something for dinner,” he added.

“Actually,” Betty interjected quickly, “I changed my mind. I’ll ask my mom if I can visit Vivi. We could all study math together, right?” She gave them a playful wink.

Vivi let her backpack fall and yelled at Betty, “Either you have to help your mother with dinner, or you don’t. Stop making up stories, Betty. Why did you change your mind? You want help with homework or use me to be around Johnny.” She dropped to her knees and started sobbing.

Johnny and Betty looked at each other in confusion. A circle of curious students started to gather, and the least they wanted was to cause more drama.
Vivi felt shocked at her words and looked at Betty with remorse. She said, “Please forgive me, Betty. I’m such a horrible person. You’re my friend, and I mistreat you. I’m so sorry, Betty. I just had a moment of being a nervous wreck. Are you still my friend?” She pleaded and went down again, crying and sighing, her eyes closed and her whole body shivering.

“Vivi,” Johnny whispered, “are you feeling ok? Would you like me to call someone?”

Betty knelt beside Vivi and said, “It’s been a hard day. The first days are always tough. Come, drink some water, and calm down. If you prefer to go with Johnny, it’s fine. Don’t worry; calm down.”

Vivi stopped sobbing and heaved heavily. She was ashamed of her behavior. She had no idea what came over her. Betty was right. Being in school for the first day was too much for her. Everything was strange and different, and she had to pretend it was ok. She hated to share that alfajor with Betty. Vivi thought she would die when her answer in math was wrong. She was under so much pressure. Nothing could make it easier for her. Maybe Mike was right; this private school was too stressful for her. She remained curled and kept shivering. Johnny and Betty’s voices were soothing and inviting, but Vivi couldn’t look at them. She felt too awful. This should never have happened.

The circle of students around them thinned down, the students losing interest in this whining new girl. Johnny and Betty kept kneeling beside her, not knowing what to do next.

“Betty,” said Johnny, “go and fetch Ms Williams. I think she’s still in the homeroom. Please ask her to come over. I think she can help.” Betty nodded and felt relieved being able to do something to help her friend. What Vivi had was true. She did have a crush on Johnny from the first time she saw him raising his thin arm to answer a question. He was so cute. She sighed, but this was not the time to think about him. Her new friend had some emotional problems and needed immediate help. Luckily, Ms. Williams was still in the homeroom, as Johnny suspected.

“Ms. Williams,” Betty said hurriedly, “please check on Vivi. She’s having a meltdown near the lockers. Johnny and I tried to help her, but she refused to get up. I hope you can do something for her.”

Ms. Williams rushed to check on Vivi, who was still on the floor. Johnny was handing her one Kleenex after another. He looked relieved when he saw Ms. Williams and Betty approaching the scene.

Ms. Williams sat beside Vivi and said soothingly, “Hi, Vivi. I know you’re feeling overwhelmed, but it’s normal. The first days in school can tax a young person with a sensitive constitution. It’s all right. You’re lucky to have friends like Betty and Johnny. It’s ok. You can sit up and look at us. You’re doing fine.”

Slowly, Vivi’s breath returned to normal; her body stopped shivering, and she could sit up. She looked at these three people who wanted only the best for her. She still felt ashamed and remorseful. She hoped she could have gone back in time and erased what happened, or at least make sure this reaction would never happen again. It was so humiliating.

As if listening to her thoughts, Ms. Williams said to her calmly, “Right now, you’re vulnerable. Maybe going home with Johnny and Betty is not a bad idea. Are you ok with seeing your friend home?” She smiled as Betty and Johnny nodded in unison. Vivi looked at Betty and said, “I’m so sorry for saying all those stupid things to you. I had no right. You’re such a good friend. I don’t think I deserve friends like you.” Vivi wiped her eyes and felt so small.

Betty shook her head, “Hey, things happen. Don’t worry about it. Let me walk you to the girls’ restroom. Everything will look better once you wash your face and comb that hair.” They smiled at each other, and Vivi raised her hand. Betty readily helped her up.

Johnny faced them and said as if to himself, “Vivi, I think you’re right. Betty has a thing for me, and I feel the same about her, but I didn’t recognize it. You’re in good hands walking to the girls’ restroom with her. I’ll wait for you here.”

Ms. Williams lowered herself to Vivi’s height and said, “Some emotions are scary, but they pass. If you want, come to my room tomorrow after school, and I’ll show you a technique that can help you calm down and ground wild thoughts when they hijack your mind.”

Vivi nodded in relief, “This is not the first time I’ve behaved like this, Ms. Williams. When I do, I feel scared of the people I hurt and walk away from them. Thank you for offering me your help. I’ll tell my mom I must stay after school tomorrow to learn how to deal with my emotions. She’ll be pleased.” Vivi smiled for the first time after the incident and started walking away. Betty rushed to her side, and both girls disappeared into the girls’ restroom.

Ms. Williams looked at Johnny, who watched the girls and took care of all those backpacks on the floor. She smiled and said, “Well, we can’t say nothing happens in All Stars School! You did good, Johnny, by sending Betty for me. See you tomorrow.” She returned to the homeroom to collect her things. He was still standing there when she peeped back from the homeroom door. She smiled to herself—the mysteries of love.

***

Vivi snapped out of her trip down memory lane and scanned her room. The walls were a gentle shade of pink, adorned with a portrait of her late father, who passed away before they moved to this country. Bookshelves lined the room, stocked with her favorite reads, both in Spanish and English. A poster hung across her bed displaying the Five Promises.
She read them as was her habit of integrating them into her life:

I promise to try to treat all beings kindly and not kill them or harm them in any way.
I promise to take only what is given to me and not take anything which belongs to others without permission.
I promise to treat other boys and girls like brothers or sisters or best friends.
I promise to speak truthfully, kindly, and gently and not to tell lies or to say hurtful things to anybody or about anybody.
I promise not to take alcohol, drugs, or intoxicants but to keep my mind clear.

On Vivi’s second meeting with Ms. Williams after school, her teacher introduced her to Metta – sending loving kindness to others at the end of her practice of Anapana.

Ms. Williams said, “The power of sending Metta to yourself and others is powerful and beneficial. You will experience it by doing it. It’s impossible to explain how it works, but it does. If you see someone suffering, the best thing you can do is send them loving-kindness. It works better than giving them advice. You close your eyes and send them Metta. It’s good to do it at the end of your Anapana practice for about two minutes – start with yourself, then with people you love, people you don’t get along with, and then you send Metta to everyone else. Everybody can benefit from this powerful medicine.

Vivi closed her eyes and sent Metta to Chuck and Mike. They both needed Metta. She learned from Ms. Williams that not only the victims need Metta but also the bullies. They hurt others because they suffer. If they feel happy, they won’t harm others.

“Vivi? Are you all right?” Vivi heard her mother calling from the kitchen downstairs.

Her mother was a bit worried, but not much. She was used to her daughter drifting into thought when she returned from school. She covered the homemade pizza she had prepared for Vivi and went up to check on her daughter.

“Sorry, Mom,” Vivi smiled apologetically, “something happened in school today that reminded me of my first day in All Stars School. She showed her the sticker.

“That’s horrible, and what are you going to do about it?” her mom asked, seeing the spark in her daughter’s eyes.
Vivi grinned, “Chuck has already started researching what people have in common with pigs, so I thought of making a presentation about them.”

Vivi’s mom laughed, “Could you ask someone to video your talk? I’d love to post it on your YouTube channel.”

“Will do.” Vivi nodded, “Would you like to practice Anapana with me, Mom? Today was so stressful that I could use Mom’s energy.”

“Sure, Honey, but don’t you prefer to practice Anapana after dinner?”

“You’re right. I’ll be down in a few minutes.”

Her mom returned to the kitchen and put the pizza, and thought of preparing something calming to drink, maybe chamomile tea.

Vivi texted Chuck, “How was your meeting with Ms. Williams? Did she tell you about Anapana?”

His response was immediate, “How did you know? Do you practice?”

She smiled and continued, “Yep. How did it feel?”

Chuck texted, “So natural and helpful. I wish I knew it at the beginning of the year.”

Vivi continued, “I know. At least you have it now. Will you practice it twice a day, as Ms. Williams suggested?”

“You bet! It’s a lifesaver.”

“How about we come to school earlier tomorrow and practice it together?” Vivi asked.

“Come earlier? I hardly make it on time.”

“I know, but if you wanted to, you could, right?” Vivi pushed through his resistance.

“Right,” he admitted.

“So?”

“Ok, I’ll see you in school fifteen minutes before the lesson. You know, it’s not a bad idea.” Vivi read his text and sighed with relief. They were becoming good friends. She concluded her text with a smiling emoji.

He answered with an emoji of thumbs up.

Vivi went downstairs two steps at a time, “I’m hungry, Mom. What’s for dinner?” she uncovered the pizza and squeezed her mom’s waist, who chuckled in delight.

“Homemade pizza! How did you know I was craving it?” Vivi lifted her eyes in wonder.

“Moms know their kid’s hearts,” answered a happy mom. “now tell me, What caused Mike to put that nasty sticker on your locker?”

“To make a long story short,” Vivi said, “Mike spat a comment to Chuck about pigs in the middle of our presentation. Chuck took offense and ran out of the classroom in tears. Ms. Williams asked me to bring him back. But the best part is that Ms. Williams taught Chuck Anapana today after school hours. Isn’t that terrific? Now he can use it to strengthen himself against all kinds of nastiness that Mike throws at him. We’ll practice Anapana together before class. Isn’t it great?”

Vivi’s mom nodded. “I pray for Ms. Williams every morning, remembering the skittish girl you were before you started Anapana. You’ve come a long way, dear Vivi! I thought of going away for a few days to help my friend Sonya with her newborn. Do you think you could ask Betty for her mom’s number? Maybe you could stay with them while I’m away.”

“I’ll ask Betty.” Vivi said, “It would be an opportunity for us to get closer. Betty’s mother is a teacher at All Stars. I’ll help them cook, and they’ll take me to school. Maybe Johnny will come and help us with math!”

“Vivi,” her mom laughed, “I’m telling you of my plans to go away, and you find solutions to make my absence something to celebrate. You’re a doll!”

Vivi smiled at her mom and started eating the pizza. She tried to practice Anapana while eating because she learned that using that breathing technique improved her experience. And now, her mom’s pizza with mozzarella cheese and homegrown tomatoes tasted even better because of her meditation.

“Mom,” Vivi remembered asking, “Can you put two alfajores in my backpack for tomorrow? I want to give one to Chuck after we practice Anapana. And for lunch, can you get me a granola bar? Last week during lunch, Betty brought some. They were so good.”

“Sure, Vivi,” smiled her mother, “But are you sure it was the granola bar that was so delicious? Maybe it was because you shared your lunches; what each of you brought tasted much better.”

“That sounds true,” contemplated Vivi picking up the last crumb of her pizza, “Keep doing what you’re doing, Mom. You’re the best, and you know best.”

Vivi’s mom kissed Vivi on the crown of her head and said, “Thank you. Let’s go up and practice Anapana and Metta. When I do it with you, I sleep much deeper.”

Vivi did her dishes and went to her room to practice Anapana with her mom. She sent Metta to all beings, visible and invisible, far and near, small and big, and bid them all good night.

הפוסט Vivi הופיע לראשונה ב-Aviva Derenowski – Poet.

“Yes, Vivi, what’s on your mind?” she asked.

“I had a weird dream last night. Can I tell you about it?”

“Walk with me to the teachers’ room; I’d like some lemon tea. My throat is a bit sore.” She smiled.

“Sure,” I felt warmth in my chest, walking beside my teacher. “I had a funny dream last night about liberating the dogs. We hold them on a leash and program their responses. They are like our slaves.”

“That sounds interesting, Vivi. Would you like to present it to the class and see how they feel?” My teacher asked, reaching the teachers’ room.

“I don’t know if I can. I don’t know anybody.” I lowered my eyes and sighed.

“But that’s a great way to get to know your classmates and, more importantly, for them to know you. You sound very passionate about it. How much time do you need to present it? You don’t need to write a paper; just come to the front of the class, say what you think, and ask their opinion. Would you like to do that? Maybe during the first period tomorrow, so you won’t have too much time to be nervous about it.” She touched my shoulder affectionately.

“Tomorrow?” I gasped, “I guess you’re right. The sooner I deliver it, the less I worry about potential potholes in the conversation.”

“Ok, it’s set then. I’ll let you go now.” She smiled and disappeared behind the glass door.

I went to the yard pensively, rehearsing the points I knew about the dogs when I heard my name.

“Vivi, Vivi!” There was Betty and two other girls I didn’t talk to yet. “Join us.”

“Hi,” I said shily.

“I saw you walking with Ms. Williams. What was that about?” Betty asked, and the two others focused on my face.

I shared the idea for the next day, and they nodded with interest.

“I never thought about that; I’m Millie, by the way,” said one of the girls, laughing self-consciously.

“Hi, Millie,” I smiled at her, “So, what do you think about it now?”

“We have had Bonnie, my dog since I was a toddler. We love her to pieces. I could never think of her as my slave! She’s closer to me than any of you!”

“But I thought I was your best friend!” said the other girl.

“You are, Jamie, but it’s not the same. She’s so familiar. She accepts me in any mood. She sleeps next to my bed. We’re buddies. You Are my best friend.” She grinned and hugged Jamie.

“Well, it seems like a great conversation warmer.” said Betty, “Bring it tomorrow to class, and we’ll see what happens.” She gave me her hand, and we went back to the classroom.

I don’t know what the next lesson was about. I was in my world, thinking about what Jamie said, wondering what they would bring to the conversation the next day. Hearing their opinions sounded more enjoyable than going out there, and liberating dogs were happy and uninteresting in changing their lives. Most dogs I knew had a very comfortable existence. Betty nudged me. “Mr. Thompson has his eyes on you. Pretend to be into what he’s saying.”

I had no idea. Everybody looked like different kinds of dogs to me. Mr. Thompson, with his flat face, could easily pass for a bulldog. A grunt escaped my mouth. That was enough for him to say, “Vivi, I see you’re very involved in the material we’re studying. What are the two countries bordering us?”

I flushed and said, “Sorry, Mr. Thompson, I don’t know, maybe Canada on the North?”

“That is correct, Vivi! And who wants to help Vivi and say the country in the South?”

Many students raised their hands, and I felt stupid for not knowing something so obvious. I’ve been in the States for only six months, but I should have known.

“Yes, Mary?” asked the teacher, the tall girl with glasses who was great at math and obviously in anything else.

“It’s Mexico,” she said triumphantly, smiling at me as if I needed her help. I could use Google and answer that just fine.

“And what language do they speak in Mexico?” asked Mr. Thompson.

“Mexican?” she asked hesitantly. This time I could help her.

“It’s Spanish,” I said without being asked, looking at her with the same smile she sent me.

“That’s correct, Vivi, but please wait till I ask you next time.” Mr. Thompson said and kept on with the lesson.

I went back to my more immediate question. Which dog resembled each of the students? Johnny was a Labrador, loyal and playful. Betty reminded me of a Collie with her intelligent eyes and friendly approach. And I? What dog was I? My mom laughed inside me, “You’re a German Shepherd, responsible and quick on your feet.” I guess she was right. I always felt an affiliation with them. They seemed to be the ones that were the original dogs, closest to the wolves, their ancestors.

“Hey, Vivi,” Betty whispered, “Would you like to visit me after school? I told my mom about you, and she wants to meet you.”

“Will Johnny also come?” I asked, knowing how she felt about him.

She blushed, “I’ll ask him. I never thought of inviting him.”

She wrote a note and asked the boy in front of us to pass it to Johnny, who read it and nodded enthusiastically in our direction.

“Cool,” Betty said, “but we don’t have Pizza. Is that ok?”

“We come for you, Betty, and meet your baby brother, and your mother wanted to meet us.” She calmed and added, “I loved your peanut and jelly sandwich. Will we get some?” We both grinned and turned back to the teacher.

“Ahhhh!” We heard Jamie screaming and jumping up her chair. She pointed under her desk, “A cockroach!”

Other girls joined the hysteria and climbed on their chairs.

“Calm down,” said the teacher in a stressed voice, “please get down. There is no danger.” She sounded a bit frightened herself, not so much of the cockroach as the motion taking place.

Johnny tore a paper from his notebook and crawled where the critter was.

“What are you doing?” Jamie screamed and stepped on her chair.
“I don’t want it to touch me!”
“Oh My God, this is so gross!”
“Step on it, Johnny, just step on that roach.”

I held hands with Betty and danced to the sounds of the racket in the classroom. “This is so much more fun than Math!” Betty was saying with bright eyes. My eyes followed Johnny’s movements. How was he going to get rid of the roach without harming it?

“Children, sit down,” The teacher was waving her hands up and down. There’s no need for excitement. It’s only one tiyn beetle. Johnny will get rid of it.” Her voice drowned amid the scene. Johnny let the roach step on the piece of paper and carried it cautiously to the window when Bob, a boy I had never noticed before, pushed Johnny aside and stepped on the beetle.
I heard the crack in my mind and cringed. There was dead silence in the classroom. Johnny got his bearings and was going to hit Bob, but I ran and stood between them.

“The roach is dead, Johnny.” I pleaded with him, “Starting a fight will only get you in trouble.”

Bob glared to get support, and when he saw he wasn’t getting it, he shrugged and returned to his seat.

I picked up the beetle with a tissue and threw it into the garbage bin to the right of the classroom door. It looked so harmless. How did it gain such a terrible reputation?

“It’s over, kids,” The teacher said in relief, “Thank you, Vivi, for stepping up. Let’s take a few breaths, relax and contemplate what happened. Forget Math. Johnny, Bob, and Jamie faced the roach differently. Who represents you? Johnny, why did you choose to act the way you did?”

Johnny ignored the question and glowed at me with relief. “You saved me from facing the principal. You’re my new superhero!” The tension in the classroom broke, and we all laughed. My face, neck, and ears felt impossibly hot. I didn’t know what to say to him. Instead, I answered the teacher’s query.

“I think people overreact when they see a roach. I don’t know why. I think it’s quite harmless and minds his business, just like us. I wouldn’t kill it. Why did you step on it, Bob?”

Bob said flatly, “It was the right thing to do. Roaches carry diseases. It’s him or us.” His pimpled face looked at me with no malice. For him, it was the sensible thing to do.

Johnny jumped up and said, “That’s ridiculous. Roaches are harmless. A mild stomach ache is the worst if they touch your food. Your fear of them doesn’t make sense.”

Bob jumped up and snarled, “I’m not scared of those little monsters. They are scared of me. Who ended up in the garbage bin? Ah?”

“That’s because you’re a hundred thousand times bigger than they are, but with how we treat other humans, a day will come when roaches will inherit the earth.” That was my voice, and I thought I had nothing to say. The words just poured out of me, and once again, in the last five minutes, I was as red as a ripe tomato.

“Easy for you to say,” exclaimed Jamie, agitated. “I don’t know why, but I feel threatened when I see a roach. It’s not logical, but it feels real. I’m scared of them. It sounds stupid, and I never thought of it before. But I have this reflex, and I don’t think it’s only me.”
Quite a few students nodded in agreement.

“Johnny, what was your reaction to the roach?” asked the teacher.

“I saw a poor little guy surrounded by many human monsters going after him. I felt alone for him, running from one end of the room to the other as a fugitive. I wanted to help him. He was not my enemy. He was an alive creature just like me, with a different appearance. Not that different; feeling scared for his life. I wanted to help him stay alive. He doesn’t carry diseases. He doesn’t threaten me. We can easily live side by side.”

The bell saved us from another conflict, leading to a fight, but we left the class pensive—Roach – friend or foe. Some of us looked at the trash bin on our way out. I wanted to be in their head. Did they change their view of the roach? I don’t know, but I knew I could ask Johnny to help me with the talk tomorrow about the dogs.

“Hey, Johnny, are you coming to Betty’s after school?” I asked him, walking to my sunny spot in the yard.

“Sure,” he grinned, “We’re buddies now. Where you go, I go.” We chuckled. I felt as if I had gained a brother. I wish I had an alfajor to share.

“Johnny,” I said hesitantly, “I had a dream last night that I would liberate dogs of their slavery. I know it sounds ridiculous. Everybody likes dogs, and dogs have a great life, so what is there to set free, right?”

Johnny chuckled, “Right!”

“But are they happy?” I asked, “Would you like to be led on a leash when you go to relieve yourself? Depend on others for your food, shelter, and all your needs? I know we say we love dogs, but I think we mean we love that dogs obey and show affection to us. We relish in their loyalty, but what do they gain? Their nature is all about us. Isn’t it spooky?”

“Vivi,” he said, shaking his head, “You keep pulling the invisible carpet under my feet. Whenever I think I get you, you come with something new from a corner in a round room!” We both laughed.

“What can I say? You win,” He shrugged, “I never thought about it that way. We are selfish in our love of dogs. If they weren’t all about us, we probably would forget to feed and neglect them. We play fetch with them and think they love it, but they love it because we trained them to love it. We compensated them by rubbing their ears and giving them snacks that constipate them. Very few of us know how to be good masters. I’m glad I don’t have pets. I’m very forgetful. What is your plan? I know you enough by now to guess you have a mischievous plan. What is it?”

The sun was touching my neck, and it felt like a distraction. “You saw Bob crushing the roach, thinking he would have a standing ovation.” I turned to him and showed him my best impersonation of an evil smile, “I don’t have a real plan yet, but I want to talk about it in class and see how the other kids respond. My dream will shatter many of their beliefs about people and dogs, or I may be the one changing her mind. I don’t know. Would you like to stand with me before the kids tomorrow?” I gave him my best impersonation of Bambie and Oliver together as one.

“Uh uh,” Johnny shook his crown of curls and said, “This is your dream. I’ll support you from my desk.”

“Good enough,” I smiled. Betty joined us.

“Dogs?” She exclaimed, “I love dogs. My mom says we can’t have a dog because our place is too small, but I haven’t lost hope. I want to adopt a small dog from a shelter. One day I’ll have my will.” She sighed.

“Well,” Johnny said, “This is the point. Vivi will present a different point of view tomorrow in class. But let me not spoil it for you. Wait and see.”

I felt anxious but not anxious enough to go through the whole dream again, so I smiled and nodded, joining my friends on the way to Betty’s house.

Betty lived on a third floor of a huge apartment building. Her mother waved at us from the porch holding her baby brother, and we waved back.

When we exited the elevator, she was waiting for us, “Come in,” she exclaimed. “Thank you for coming. I’ve heard nothing else but your names since the first day of school. You must be Vivi and Johnny!” We laughed and nodded.

“We are,” I said, following her into the tiny apartment. Even though it was small, there was an atmosphere of serenity around it; everything was in its place. There was no clutter. The living room was inviting, but she led us to the kitchen, where a plate of peanut butter jelly sandwiches and grape juice awaited us.

“Wow,” Johnny and I said in tandem, “We were looking forward to having that since Betty shared some with us.”

Betty’s mother blushed and signaled us to sit and dig in. While we stuffed our faces with those yummy sandwiches, she asked us about our interests.

הפוסט Vivi Chapter Two הופיע לראשונה ב-Aviva Derenowski – Poet.

I looked around the schoolyard; students were busy playing or sharing food. I held tight to my lunch that included an alfajor, the dessert my mother gave me as encouragement for my first day in school. “I don’t know; maybe because my family came from Buenos Aires. I don’t have an accent when I speak Spanish.”
“You speak Spanish?” The boy said in awe. “Say something in Spanish!” He chuckled.
“Like what?” My eyes sparkled, my back straightened, and I felt like a visiting agent from a different planet.
“Say, Johnny is an idiot.” A girl sputtered and laughed, blushing. The boy who was talking to me, probably Johnny, blushed too. Maybe they had a thing for each other.

“No, no,” Johny pushed the kids around him since the circle around me grew tighter. “Say hello in your language.”

“Hola,” I said, “Encantada, nice to meet you.”

“Encantada, too,” said Johnny, and shook my hand vigorously.

“No, no, ‘encantada’ is for girls. “You’d say – Encantado.”

The girl who liked Johnny made her way next to me, extended her hand, and said, “Hola, encantada. I’m Betty.”

I extended my hand and thanked Betty while not letting go of my alfajor and my lunch on the other hand. “Hola, Encantada. I’m Vivi.” We both giggled.

Johnny grabbed my hand and said, “Encantado. I’m Johnny.”
One by one, the kids shook my hand and introduced themselves. T
“Hola, I’m Sue, encantada.”
“Hola, I’m Rick, encantado.”

I kept shaking their hands and laughing with relief. I didn’t remember any of the names but Johnny’s and Betty, but it was ok. My funny accent was not a problem anymore.

I spotted a sunny spot near the fence and took my lunch there. I still had a few moments before the end of the break, and all that activity made me yearn for the alfajor after my mom prepared the avocado sandwich.

“Your new friends helped you,” I heard my mother say in my heart. “They reached out to you and included you. I’m glad. Remember, focusing on your love for your friends is more important than being anxious about their love for you.”

I was lucky to have a mother who gave me good advice. Her voice guided me even when she was away. It was not the first time she advised me to concentrate on my attitude toward others. It made sense. I can adjust only my perspective, not others.

I saw Betty reaching my sunny spot and grinned. Her spiky blue hair was in contrast to the freckles on her face. Her purple t-shirt announced “Why Not?” in bold letters. Why not, indeed, I thought, whatever it was.

“Hola,” she said.

“Hola,” I moved to make room for her in the sunniest spot.

“What’s in your sandwich?” She pushed her buttony nose to my lunch.

“Avocado and red pepper on sourdough bread. Want some?” I asked and offered her half. She examined the sandwich suspiciously.

“All I get is peanut butter and jelly.” She shrugged, “Do you want half of mine?”

Peanut butter and jelly were not my favorites, especially when my alfajor awaited me. Still, it would be more fun to share everything. We exchanged half sandwiches and started chewing them with gusto. The peanut butter was better than I expected; it had chunks of peanuts, and the jelly made it easier to swallow. It was good.

“Hmm… I like your avocado sandwich. It feels so healthy!” Betty said with a mouthful.

“Yeah, my mom spends much time preparing our meals and snacks. She thinks it’s important to eat nutritious food, which makes sense; after all, food builds our body.” I said, contemplating what part of my body the alfajor would be.

“Hmmm, I like your sandwich; never used avocado this way before,” she said with a mouthful,

“And I like yours. I’ll ask my mom to make me a peanut butter sandwich occasionally. After all, peanut butter is an excellent source of protein!” I replied, wiping the jelly off my fingers.

Betty looked at me wide-eyed, “What do you mean? All I know about food is that I like some things and some I don’t.” We giggled.

I said, “You need protein to build new cells in your body and repair the old ones. It’s pretty useful. Do you eat meat? That’s full of protein.”

“No, I don’t,” said Betty, “I hate the idea of killing an animal for my consumption. After all, there is no lack of food otherwise. Did you ever see how chickens or cows get raised to turn into cutlets and steak? I find it disturbing.”

“You’re right,” I said, thinking about the chicken in those little cages. “With all the healthy things my mother taught me, I never considered becoming vegetarian. I love meat. In Argentina, people eat steak like you eat burgers here. By the way, another typical Argentinian delight is the Alfajor. I have one. Would you like to share it with me?” I said, forgetting how much I craved Alfajores.

“Sure, what does it taste like?”

“Like heaven,” I sighed and cut the alfajor in the middle, letting the Dulce de Leche sip on my fingers. The two delicate, melt-in-your-mouth cookies embraced the luscious dollop of creamy dulce de leche caramel, which was gone too soon.

“Oh, my God, Vivi! This is incredible,” stated Betty, looking at me as if I performed some magic. I felt happy to introduce her to my favorite taste.

We heard the school bell announcing the end of the break and ran inside holding hands—nothing like food to make friends grow closer.

“Come, sit next to me, Vivi. I left room for you even before the alfajor.”

“You’ve got a new friend.” The teacher smiled at both of us as the Arithmetic lesson started. I glanced at Johnny, who looked keen for the dreaded Arithmetics. My numbers never added right. Betty’s notebook looked all smudged with corrections – we both needed help.

“Hey, Betty,” I whispered, “why don’t we ask Johnny to help us with this monster of math? He seems to enjoy it.”

“That’s a grand idea!” Her breath quickened, “I’ve always liked him but didn’t know how to approach him. Let’s ask him after class!”

The teacher questioned, “Who got the answer for how long it takes you to get to school, and how to translate it to seconds?”

Johnny’s hand shot up together with a dozen others. Betty and I shrugged sadly. A tall girl with thick glasses responded, “It takes me eight minutes when my father takes me 480 seconds. When my mother does, it’s fifteen minutes because she drops my brother first in his kindergarten. Then it’s 960 seconds.”

“Well said, Cindy. Who can give a different answer?”

I saw Johnny waving his hands as if he were drowning.

“Yes, Johnny, I see you. What is your answer?” The teacher asked in a soothing voice.

“I walk to school, teacher. It takes me forty-five minutes. That is two thousand seven hundred minutes.”

I was getting the drift. All I had to do was multiply my minutes by sixty. I could do it. I raised my hand hesitantly.

“Yes, Vivi?” The teacher asked. I heard my heart pumping, but I paid no attention.

“I come by bus, teacher. It takes me about thirty minutes which is one hundred eighty seconds.” I heard the kids laughing, and I cursed myself for trying.

“That was a good try, Vivi, but I think you forgot one zero in your multiplication. It’s a common mistake. Don’t worry; you’ll get it quickly with determination and courage.” The teacher smiled with encouragement.

Johnny turned his head back and said, “I’ll help you.”

“Thanks,” I smiled and was glad for my mistake. Now, there was something specific we could work on.

“Betty, you’ll get his help, too, right?” I winked at her, and she threw her hands around me.

“You’re a true friend.” she beamed.

If I wanted to make it at school, I had to pay attention to what the class was about, especially if it was something incomprehensible as math.

“Betty,” I implored, “Let’s pay attention to what the teacher says.”

Betty withdrew instantly as if I slapped her. “Sorry,” she blushed, and her tears started rushing down.

I didn’t know what to do. Betty was my only friend, but I’d only learn the lesson if I concentrated.

“Betty, please,” I implored anxiously.

“Don’t worry,” and she glared, seeing nothing.

I had to choose my battles. This time I decided to learn math over making amends with my only friend. I wanted to know if I did it right. Mom came to my aid, as always. I heard her say,’ Don’t worry about Betty. She’ll come around. Now, say sorry and turn your attention to the teacher.’

“Sorry, Betty,” I whispered and smiled apologetically.

“We are learning reasoning questions,” I heard the teacher say. “You may not need to know about rectangular prisms when you graduate, but using your reason will always be handy. What is the volume of this rectangular prism?”

This time Johnny’s hand was shooting to the stars, and the teacher acknowledged it.

“You multiply four by three by four. The volume is forty-eight inches.”

“Excellent! And how this computation be relevant to you?”

“My father wants to get me an aquarium, but I don’t know if it would fit in my basement room. By calculating the aquarium volume, I could know if there is space for it before my father hires someone to bring it home.” The tall girl with glasses sounded confident.

“Right,” The teacher commented, “What we study is an example to use in your life. If you don’t find use to it now, it may help you in the future. It’s a tool for life.”

Betty was still not looking at me, but now that I knew how to calculate volumes, I could attend to my friend.
“Hey,” I nudged her and smiled, “I’m sorry I cut you short; my fault. I got overwhelmed between my friend and the school material. Maybe I didn’t make the best choice. Can you forgive me?”

Betty turned and smiled, “I know how it feels. I get overwhelmed all the time.” We both chuckled. “Only yesterday…” I didn’t hear the end of that statement.

“Betty, Vivi,” the teacher said curtly, “please stop your conversation and pay attention to the lesson. Math is not your strong suit – either of you.”

“Many people have difficulty understanding math,” Johnny told the teacher. “Once Betty and Vivi get the basics, it will be easier for them to concentrate.” The class was dead silent.

“Would you be interested in helping them? I’ll give you extra credits.” The teacher said,

“I won’t do it for credit, “Johnny shook his head, “I’ll be happy to help them.”

“Great,” said the teacher, “Get together after class and see how you can proceed. You are a good friend, Johnny. Class, let’s continue with the following problem.”

The tall girl with glasses raised her hand, “Yes, Emily?” The teacher asked.

“Johnny is not the only one who can help those struggling to understand math. I can also offer assistance to whoever needs it.”

“That’s a great idea, Emily,” The teacher said, “You know what, forget about the next problem. Pull your desks in teams of four. Find the one who understands best among you and let them explain the problem to the rest of the group. Start now!”

Desks moved around, and havoc took place for a short while, but then we were all busy exploring and learning what was difficult for some and easy for others.

The teacher moved from group to group, and the whole vibe of the class changed from mild boredom to high excitement.

Johnny was the leader of our little group, and he said with enthusiasm, “The problem is how to calculate the volume of any object.”

I said shyly, “Johnny, I don’t know what volume means.”

“That’s a good question, Vivi. Volume is the space that any object occupies – including you! We multiply the object’s length by width and height to measure it.”

“How can you find my length and width, Johnny? I’m round! Please clarify this for me.

“You’re right, Vivi. To find your volume, we’d submerge you in a tub full of water, and the quantity of water that would be spilled off the tub is your volume. Does it make sense?” He asked, searching for a response.

Betty suggested experimenting with a glass of water she was holding and a little pebble in her hand. We placed the stone, and the level of water was raised. “That’s it,” Betty exclaimed, “The difference in the level of the water, that’s the volume of the pebble.” We nodded firmly.

The teacher reached our table and sighed proudly, “This is not math anymore, but Physics. It will show you how things work in general. Well done!”

We were so engrossed in the new learning that we stayed during the break to test different objects and their volume. Math became real, and so did our friendship. We got closer and appreciated each other.

‘Why don’t you invite your new friends home.’ My mother suggested it in my heart. ‘You can study together, and I’ll prepare you something to eat.’

“Hey guys,” I suggested on the way out. “Call your parents, and ask them if it’s ok for you to come and study in my place. My mom will take you home.”

“Sorry, Vivi, maybe another time,” Betty said, “I have to help my mom with the new baby. I just got a brother, and it’s lots of fun, even though he keeps all of us awake at odd times.” I felt sudden jealousy and forced a smile. “Good for you. Maybe, I could visit you sometime.”

“I’d also like to come,” mumbled Johnny to his shoes, “but visiting Vivi today is tempting. My parents come home late from work, and I’m alone. I’ll call my pa for permission.”

“You know what,” Betty rushed in her words, “I changed my mind. I’ll also ask my mother if I could visit Vivi. After all, we’ll be learning math, right?” She winked at us.

After making all the necessary arrangements, we took the bus home. I was going to show them my room. I hoped they’d like it and Johnny would help us understand the trickery of math. Most of all, I was grateful for my new friends. They seemed cool.

“Hey, Vivi, come sit in the middle,” They yelled at me from behind the bus. I rushed, not accustomed to such affection from peers. My grin was so wide it hurt, but I didn’t mind. I felt in heaven.

“Do you like pizza?” I asked, “Monday is pizza night, and my mom makes it from scratch.”

“Oh, My God,” Johnny sighed, “Pizza is my favorite. Can I have anchovy as a topping?”

“And I want it with much cheese,” Betty said.

Time to call Mom. “Mami, I have two friends coming for dinner, and they are very particular about what pizza they eat.”

I heard my mom laugh. “It’s not a problem, querida. I’ll make it once you are here, so they’ll get their pick. ok?”

“You’re the best,” I whispered. I was so glad. Everything was coming together like magic.

Six stops later, we skipped off the bus and rushed home. I ran to hug my mom and got flour on my school jacket. “Be careful, mi amor,” she said, smiling at the two examining our kitchen.

It had red brick color walls and a big window facing our backyard. The kitchen utensils hung from the ceiling around the concrete table across the stove. Mom grinned at us, with two pizzas waiting for their topping.

“Hi, Vivi’s mom, I’m Johnny, encantado.” Johnny practiced his Spanish vocabulary.

“And I’m Betty, encantada.” Betty joined the chat.

My mom couldn’t help herself but laugh. “Hija,” she smiled, “I see you were busy teaching your friends some basic Spanish. But it’s your turn to educate me and tell me what you’d like as a topping.”

I had to butt in, “Jonny wants anchovies, and Betty prefers much cheese.”

“Coming right up. Why don’t you take your friends to your room, and I’ll bring the Pizza with refreshments when it’s ready.”

I hugged my mom. This time, I made sure there was no flour on my clothes. “Come, kids,” I said and rushed up the stairs.

I put my shoes on the rack and went in. Betty and Johnny shrugged and did the same. Once they were in, they scanned my room silently.

“What is this?” Johnny picked up the ram horn next to my father’s picture.

“That’s a Shofar,” I said, “We blow it on High Holidays.”

“Can I try?” He asked.

“Sure, it’s not that easy. I had to train for months, and still, I don’t do it like my father did.”

Betty shifted her glance from my father’s portrait to me, “What happened to him?”

“He died in a car accident three years ago,” I whispered as tears started swelling in my eyes every time I recalled his name.

“I’m sorry,” They both said in tandem and stayed silent for a while. I felt awkward. That’s not right! My friends were in my room for the first time, and I wept like a baby.

“Sorry, everyone, I can’t help it but don’t worry about me. Let me give you a grand tour of my little room. The poem “If” by Kipling is on the wall before you. It inspires me every morning as I wake up. I feel energized by it.

On your right is a shelf with the few books I brought from Argentina – Harry Potter, El Princesito, Wonder, and Charlie y la Fabrica de Chocolate. I couldn’t leave them behind.”

“Wow,” exclaimed Betty, “I have the same books in English! How rare is that!”

“I only have Harry Potter,” mumbled Johnny, “I prefer Science Fiction,”

“That’s ok,” I said, “I’d love to expand the themes I read. Do you have a favorite?”

“I couldn’t choose between ‘Stranger in a Strange Land’ and ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.’ They’re both excellent and completely different.”

“I read Stranger in a Strange Land. It changed my thinking about many things,” said Betty. “Especially the first part. It opened my eyes to the fact that things go on behind the scenes in government and religion. Flag-waving patriotism and holiness of our so-called leaders. It will help if you read it. I’m sure it’s in the library.”

“The school has a library?”

“No, silly, I meant the New York Public Library. I’ll take you there tomorrow. It’s within walking distance from the school. If you want, of course.”

“Of course, I want. Thanks!”

“Are you ready for the pizza?” I smiled. My mom’s accent rolled the r’s like raindrops on the window pane beside my bed.

“You betcha!” Exclaimed Johnny, “And I can see lots of anchovies, awesome!”

“And mine is covered with a thick layer of cheese,” said Betty, “What are you having, Vivi?”

“I’ll have some of each. I love my mom’s Pizza. Let’s eat!”

We sat crossed legs on the thick carpet and dug in. It felt so natural. It was so fun to have friends in my room. I knew little about them, but they felt familiar.

“What about math?” asked Betty, mouth full.

“I think better after Pizza,” said Johnny seriously.

We nodded in agreement. We all thought better after Pizza.

I brought the empty dishes to my mom and returned to attack our math problems. Johnny was a master teacher. With his assistance, vague concepts became tangible, and I started to like this math thing.

An hour passed too fast, but my friends had to go home, and my mom gave them a ride as promised.

“See you tomorrow,” I waved and threw a kiss at Betty after dropping off Johnny in front of a big apartment building across the waterfront.

The school will be better than I predicted.

My mother touched my arm affectionately.
“You see, Vivi, everything comes together right when we focus on what is good for the people around us and us.”

I recalled the day’s events – splitting my alfajor with Betty at lunch and teaching some basic Spanish to my classmates during the break.

“You’re right, mama. Could you give me three alfajores for school tomorrow? When I connect with the needs of my friends, it’s easier for them to respond in kind. Betty loved the alfajor I shared with her today.”

“You shared your alfajor?” My mom faked astonishment, and we both chuckled.

“I couldn’t help it,” I said, “Alfajores are the best, but watching Betty taste them is even better.”

“I’ll have to order more alfajores than I expected. I’ll be glad to do it.”

We silently enjoyed the songs of Mercedes Sosa on the way home. We saw her in person once. She was short and stout, but her vibrating sound moved the crowd in the theatre who bought tickets months in advance. I thought I’d share “Gracias a la Vida” with Betty and Johnny, a song about gratitude for our life.

As we got home, I got a call from Betty, “Thank your mom for the Pizza. Your room is so different from mine. Maybe we could do homework in my room next time.”

“Can you show me your room on the phone?” I asked,

“Too messy,” she replied instantly.

“I don’t mind messy,”

“I do. Ok. I have to tend to Stu. His name is Stewart, but he’s too little for such a name, so we call him Stu.”

“That’s a terrible name for a kid. They will call him Beef Stew in school.”

“I told my mom, but she wanted to name him after my father. Can’t help it.”

“I see. When Stu goes to school, you’ll protect him.”

“You betcha. I count on you too.”

I didn’t know what to say. I just met Betty, and I was nominated to be her brother’s bodyguard, and I never even met the guy. That was weird, but I liked it. I felt important.

“Betty, maybe we should start learning some fighting techniques, like Karate?” I laughed, but she didn’t think it was funny.

“I agree. I’ll look up courses in our area. See you tomorrow.”
Once I disconnected, I imagined us in twin uniforms, growing bulky biceps, army camouflage, and dark glasses. We had to have dark glasses. I have seen it in all the movies. We covered for little Stue, making him feel safe by terrorizing everybody else. There was much space around us. Stu was safe but alone. Maybe bodyguards weren’t the answer.
My mom joined me and said as if continuing a conversation.

“Being small can be an advantage in the right environment. Stue could climb on top of everybody else on a manufactured pyramid or sneak among the bars and open the gate for everyone else to enter a secret garden.”

I got the drift and smiled in relief; yes, that sounded better than intimidating his classmates.
“He could also excel in math or be funny, so kids would like to be around him. We’ll teach him some social skills, but first, we must learn them ourselves. Oh, Mom, you inspire me.” I jumped and hugged her. “I bet you have lots of social skills. I need them now. I feel so lonely.”

“Don’t worry, hija,” my mom patted my back, “I’m here for you, and your warmth and wit will help you through.” She kissed my head and returned to the kitchen, where she felt most at home.

I looked around my room for solace, and Kipling’s poem, “If,” reverberated in my memory. I read it aloud, as I did whenever I got lost in my heart and needed a compass.

“If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
…
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!”

Yes, I thought, I have big dreams. I want to be part of this new school. I like Betty to be proud to be my friend and Johnny to come often and eat Pizza after teaching me math. And I want my father to be proud of his little girl for joining this new community.

My eyes touched my father’s picture, and my heart ached. He used to be the most competent man alive. If he were alive, I wouldn’t need Johnny to teach me. My father would have taught me everything I needed to know. Then, I remembered how strict he used to be. He gave me a hard time when I brought home a letter from my first-grade teacher asking him to spend more time with me on my homework.

He said, “My daughter doesn’t know Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentine. Stop reading those picture books and pay more attention to facts!” His words carved my heart, and, for the longest time, I didn’t touch a picture book. I only read what he prescribed for me – dictionaries and history books. At least, that’s what he thought.

My mom fought for my right to be a child, but he was the one I craved to make him happy.

My mom was the one who bought me El Princesito, Harry Potter, and the other books Betty and Johnny saw on my shelf. Those books became my dearest friends. The fox in El Princesito was always there to give me advice.

Only the other day, on my way to buy some groceries, I saw a pit bull next to his master, who was texting. The pit bull looked at me, all humble and lost, as if asking, ‘Why am I here? What am I doing with this man who is holding my leash?’
I wanted to tell the pit bull to come home with me. I’ll play with you and be your friend, just like the fox became the best friend of El Princesito, but the fox asked me not to do anything weird. ‘Keep on walking,’ he said. ‘You can’t change anybody’s world but yours.”
While walking to the grocery store, I argued with the fox that the pit bull looked so sad; how could I not help him?
The fox said, if you try to help the dog, you’ll get in trouble, and your mother needs the flour and tomato sauce for the Pizza she was preparing.
It was sad, but the fox was right, and I thanked him. My mother said we couldn’t have a dog because neither was home during the day. I agreed with her.
I only understood some of the stories with dogs. In one of the books my father bought me, I read that the dogs adopted us historically because we were nomads. We left all those yummy leftovers behind, and they lived on them. Later, we tamed them to be our pets and dependent on us for all their needs. We tell them when to poop and where, put a nuzzle in their nose, lead them by the leash, and say that dogs are happy creatures. I would never want to be a dog; I’d better be a free cockroach than a captive pit bull.

I fell asleep dreaming of becoming the dog liberator. I walked from town to town, urging the dogs to leave their masters and rejoin the wolves who volunteered to remind them of their ancestors. Each wolf is paired with a dog, teaching him how to hunt and get into the chicken coops. Before long, people added dogs to the list of pests. It became a nightmare, and I woke up begging the dogs to return to their masters, but it was too late. The dogs enjoyed their freedom. A war opened between dogs and men. It was a mess; it was all my fault for becoming a dog liberator. Nobody asked me to do it. I was short-sighted, starting a movement, not imagining the catastrophic consequences. I meant well. I wanted the dogs to be free, but now they didn’t remember their gratitude for their masters for feeding them and taking them for walks. They were enraged for being enslaved for so many generations.
The wolves were there to remind them what it was to be free. I woke up sweating, swearing that I’d never ask my mom for a dog. It was too complicated.

I was relieved to see my mom smiling at me, preparing my clothes for school tomorrow.

“What is it, hija?” she asked, caressing my forehead, “did you have a bad dream?”
I sat up and hugged her tightly, “Mom, promise never to get me a dog. I don’t want to participate in enslaving creatures for my needs.” I shared my dream with her, and she nodded in understanding.

“You are right, Vivi. I never thought of it that way. A new idea is a gift to those who hear it. Bring it to your teacher and create a project for your class or the whole school. It could shift their thinking into focusing on others and their needs. Good night, my love. See you in the morning.”

Life was good. I recalled all the amazing things that happened today: Meeting Betty and Johnny, sharing my alfajor with Betty, inviting my friends home for Pizza and homework.

Tomorrow I’ll share my idea about liberating the dogs with my teacher and see what she says. I don’t know about her. She doesn’t seem adventurous.

הפוסט Vivi Chapter 1: First Things First הופיע לראשונה ב-Aviva Derenowski – Poet.