Up In The Morning And Off To School

I took Joey to school this morning. We arrived in plenty of time coz I wanted to make sure his mom had turned in the registration paperwork.

And Joey wanted to say hey to Ms. Sandra, the woman in charge of pre and after care for the school. We got out of my car and, en route to Ms. Sandra, Joey said, “I hope I don’t get in trouble for wearing these shorts.”

“They’re not the uniform shorts I bought you?”

“No.”

“Then, why are you wearin’ them?”

“Mom made me.”

“Jesus Christ, ” I thought. “What is wrong with her?”

Ms. Sandra hugged Joey and said, “Those are cargo shorts. All those pockets are not allowed.”

Now, I’m not much for rules but Joey’s mom wanted him to return to the Catholic School she pulled him out of 2 years ago, she knows the guidelines and, by God, I’m gonna do my best to make sure she abide by them. Joey’s gonna have enough problems bein’ an active, impulsive, ready to test every limit 9 year old boy without havin’ to bear the brunt of his mother’s arrogant incompetence.

“That’s why we came early,” I told Joey on our way to the administration office.

The guidance counselor said Joey could wear the-not-sanctioned-by-the-school short pants “just for today.” She also gave me information to give to his mom about the “free lunch” program. Then she said, “Go on now to the gym for morning meeting.”

I gave him money for lunch and told him I’d be on the look out for “P.E. shoes.”

“Okay,” he said as he waved me off so he could make it to the gymnasium on time.