“Howwasschool,Ben?”Iaskedmygrandsonafterhebegankindergarten(幼儿园)thisyear.“Theworkistoolong…andthere’snotenoughtimetoplay,”hereplied.
Icouldn’thelpbutrememberBen’sownmother,mydaughter,Jane,andherreaction(反应)tothefirstdayofschool.Juliewasalsodisappointedwiththefirstdayofschoolandsowasherlittlesister.Mythree-year-olddaughterannouncedangrilyafterherbigsistergotonthebigyellowschoolbus,“Iwanttogo‘sool’andyounotletme!”
WhenJuliereturnedhomethatafternoon,IaskedherthesamequestionthatIaskedBen,“Howwasschool,Julie?”Juliereplied,“Ididn’tlearntoreadtoday.”
Thisyearastheschoolbuspassedmyhouse,mymindwentbacktothoseschooldaysagain.Icouldalmostsmellthechalkdustintheair.Ialsowonderwhatthechildrenthesedaysmanagetogetchosentodoinordertogetoutofschoolforafewmomentssincetherearenoeraserstoclean.Itwasfuntobe“chosen”forerasercleaningduty.Thiswasataskfinishedbygoingoutsideandbeatingeraserstogetherwhilesneezingandcoughing.Nowondersomanybabiesnowhaveallergies(过敏症),andit’ssimplybecauseweallhavechalkdustinourlungs!
Onthefirstdayofschool,theexpectationwassogreatthatIwouldbereadylongbeforeitwastimetoleaveforschool.Wedidn’thavebackpacksbecausewehadcigarboxes.Wecarriedoursmallsuppliesinsideacigarboxfromoneofthelocalstores.Wesavedthecigarboxesandusedthemfromyeartoyearuntiltheyfellapart.
Thefirstdayofschoolwasexciting.Itwasanewbeginning.Thedoorsofknowledgehadbeenopened.Thefirstdayofschoolisaneventinourlivesthatmostofusremember.It’sabigstepforasmallchildtowardleavingbabyhoodandso“thereisn’tenoughtimetoplay”.
小题1:WhydidJanebecomeangryaccordingtothepassage?