Outlook

Let poets speak of spring as a new beginning. For me, fall is the time of renewal. It is when there is a touch of energizing cool in the air however distant, the time when vacations are a pleasant memory and school and work begin in earnest.

The bell rang, signaling the end of 6th period. I watched Christina struggle out of her cramped desk, hoisting a heavy book bag over her shoulder. Was she...?  All the signs were there: dozing off in class, excessive absences, wearing the baggy uniform sweater long after summer clothes were in season to hide her thickening waistline. It was five weeks before graduation and Christina was on her way to becoming a single mother.

Vocabulary is not just a matter of communication but can express a point of view to our advantage. For example, little Suzy thinks of herself as a leader of the sandbox set while playmates see her as bossy. Mamma may call her little darling a bundle of energy while teacher sees her as hyperactive.